Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
What to Do When Breast Cancer Knocks at Your Door
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Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
Had a Cancer (remember when it was only called the "big C?" in conversation?) scare a few weeks ago. Partner went for regular mammogram and got the news you never want: "You have a mass."
They wanted to do more tests right then and there, but the imaging was so painful and it had taken so long (she was gone for almost 4 hours!) that she chose to go back at next opening. Since it was at Christmas, that meant Jan. 3. Woo hoo, great start to the new year, but my ovarian cancer was around Christmas too, found tumor, cut out, 3 days in hospital, sent home, all in a week. (I'm a GET IT OUT NOW person.) matter of fact, Christmas memories for us usually include some ER or illness. Anyway, that left us a couple weeks to ugh, research, all about breast cancer.
Now, I don't mean to sound stupid, every female should educate themselves about breast cancer, but so much has changed in diagnostics, treatments, medicine, that we just have focused on the many health issues we already HAVE, ya know? As with all our conditions, the not knowing and waiting for DX is the worst. I wanted time to stop. But, of course it never does...until it does.
As happened when I had ovarian cancer, once mentioned---seemed like so many people had that cancer too! Two of my bestest friends here at my retirement community also have breast cancer for two years. They were a wealth of information, but also showed me how, like MS, no two cases are alike. Stages, severity, and my partner always seems to get the severest case of everything she gets, so...
Anyway, she went back Jan.3. after we played our music loud, danced our disabled-people dance, sang, spoke often of love and future joys---I am a big believer in all that, HEY, don't let your body think it can walk all over you! (?) She got a different doctor. Repeat--SHE GOT A DIFFERENT DOCTOR. (I am big on second opinions too and I'll spend my own money if I have to. No insurance company will be the boss of me, when it comes to life or death conditions.) And he told her it looked like nothing to worry about, just check more often and see what it does. I am guessing a cyst. And the cherry on top was she had MORE tests on that visit, done in half the time and NO PAIN.
We once saw a mammogram lady we called, Hitler. She hurt you and seemed to enjoy that. Really, we both said the same thing, it was so obvious. So we found A DIFFERENT IMAGING CENTER--no pain in all the years we have gone there. (We moved or she would have gone there to start.)
So, now we dance the happy-dance again, take a sigh of relief, and move forward.
Lesson learned? Have regular mammograms, if they hurt so much you scream in pain--talk to your doctor and/or get a different technologist to do the imaging. Positioning is everything and some are better at it than others. If you do fear a cancer DX is coming---turn the music up loud and dance!
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