I finally did the inevitable. I went in for a baseline mammogram. {Normally women need to do this at 40, but since my maternal side has a history of breast cancer....my doctor up'd it by 5 years.}
All in all, not quite as bad as some would have you believe.
The real shocker though, was when they found something. So I was taken in for an ultrasound. Though not exactly sure what it is - the radiologist felt confident enough to pronounce it "benign". He just was unsure what the mass is made of. He recommends watch and wait - come back in 6 months for another mammogram and ultrasound. So, fast forward a couple of days....
My parents *freaking* out that something was found, and then balking at the idea that I wait it out. My Dad's freaking out - telling me I need to insist they take whatever it is out - NOW. This only increased after they read my aunt's weekly letter - in which she tells us my other aunt (her sister - who is currently being treated for breast cancer and in the final days of radiation treatment) had some tests and the doctors found that she carries a mutated cancer gene that is in fact, hereditary. So, erring on the side of caution - my aunt got tested (she's not a carrier) but on the bright side for her - no more mammograms...she gets MRI's to look for cancer in the future! :)
The test recommended to screen myself and my mom and sisters is a BRAC 1. I am now awaiting the paperwork to weigh the pro's and con's. Mom's getting tested first....if she's a carrier, it's likely she's passed it down. After a lot of thought and prayer - IF mom's a carrier, I'll be tested. If not, we'll wait and check the mammogram in May.
I'm actually okay with this...unlike my parents....I feel nothing but at peace with this decision - its a big one, but whatever the outcome (if I'm a carrier or not) I feel confident that everything will turn out okay - and the way its supposed to.
And on a brighter note, Stann got a last minute temp job that required him to head to Pennsylvania (Scranton to be precise) and he left EARLY saturday morning (3 am...ugh!) and he will return to me late Friday night....just in time for the holidays. :) It's amazing how much you miss someone when they leave! I can't wait to pick him up Friday night! :)
All in all, not quite as bad as some would have you believe.
The real shocker though, was when they found something. So I was taken in for an ultrasound. Though not exactly sure what it is - the radiologist felt confident enough to pronounce it "benign". He just was unsure what the mass is made of. He recommends watch and wait - come back in 6 months for another mammogram and ultrasound. So, fast forward a couple of days....
My parents *freaking* out that something was found, and then balking at the idea that I wait it out. My Dad's freaking out - telling me I need to insist they take whatever it is out - NOW. This only increased after they read my aunt's weekly letter - in which she tells us my other aunt (her sister - who is currently being treated for breast cancer and in the final days of radiation treatment) had some tests and the doctors found that she carries a mutated cancer gene that is in fact, hereditary. So, erring on the side of caution - my aunt got tested (she's not a carrier) but on the bright side for her - no more mammograms...she gets MRI's to look for cancer in the future! :)
The test recommended to screen myself and my mom and sisters is a BRAC 1. I am now awaiting the paperwork to weigh the pro's and con's. Mom's getting tested first....if she's a carrier, it's likely she's passed it down. After a lot of thought and prayer - IF mom's a carrier, I'll be tested. If not, we'll wait and check the mammogram in May.
I'm actually okay with this...unlike my parents....I feel nothing but at peace with this decision - its a big one, but whatever the outcome (if I'm a carrier or not) I feel confident that everything will turn out okay - and the way its supposed to.
And on a brighter note, Stann got a last minute temp job that required him to head to Pennsylvania (Scranton to be precise) and he left EARLY saturday morning (3 am...ugh!) and he will return to me late Friday night....just in time for the holidays. :) It's amazing how much you miss someone when they leave! I can't wait to pick him up Friday night! :)
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