Stress Bunny
Active Member
I went for my first mammogram this week. I'm 42 and had been putting it off for the past couple of years, but my mom's sister recently was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, so that prompted me more.
The results came back abnormal. I knew something was up when the technician kept leaving the room to check with the radiologist and then came back to take more scans and magnifications and angles, etc.
I have a cluster of microcalcifications on one side, and these are sometimes indicative of cancer. If they are clustered, show up in only one breast, and have irregular shapes, they are more worrisome. It is my understanding at this point that if cancerous, it will probably be an early cancer in the ducts, which is usually confined to the ducts.
The radiololgist is not comfortable taking a wait-and-see approach and just rechecking in 6 - 12 months. So . . . a biopsy is recommended, and I am meeting with a surgeon soon.
Of course I am feeling very anxious. I have a long history of endometriosis and failed fertility treatments. I wasn't able to have children. My body has betrayed me on many occasions.
I'm kicking myself for not having a mammogram a couple of years ago, but that's when JT graduated high school and his downward spiral began. I put the mammogram on the back burner.
I don't have a huge support system, as dealing with our children has been so consuming we haven't been able to develop a great social life. Also, we have moved multiple times, and that hasn't helped either.
Most likely the test will show a benign condition, I know. I just feel really anxious about this, and it's been a tough 48 hours so far. I'm trying very hard not to "borrow trouble", as my mother used to say and just take things as they come.
If nothing else, this is opening my eyes to the fact of how important it really is to take better care of myself, despite whatever is happening with difficult children.
The results came back abnormal. I knew something was up when the technician kept leaving the room to check with the radiologist and then came back to take more scans and magnifications and angles, etc.
I have a cluster of microcalcifications on one side, and these are sometimes indicative of cancer. If they are clustered, show up in only one breast, and have irregular shapes, they are more worrisome. It is my understanding at this point that if cancerous, it will probably be an early cancer in the ducts, which is usually confined to the ducts.
The radiololgist is not comfortable taking a wait-and-see approach and just rechecking in 6 - 12 months. So . . . a biopsy is recommended, and I am meeting with a surgeon soon.
Of course I am feeling very anxious. I have a long history of endometriosis and failed fertility treatments. I wasn't able to have children. My body has betrayed me on many occasions.
I'm kicking myself for not having a mammogram a couple of years ago, but that's when JT graduated high school and his downward spiral began. I put the mammogram on the back burner.
I don't have a huge support system, as dealing with our children has been so consuming we haven't been able to develop a great social life. Also, we have moved multiple times, and that hasn't helped either.
Most likely the test will show a benign condition, I know. I just feel really anxious about this, and it's been a tough 48 hours so far. I'm trying very hard not to "borrow trouble", as my mother used to say and just take things as they come.
If nothing else, this is opening my eyes to the fact of how important it really is to take better care of myself, despite whatever is happening with difficult children.
Caring hugs sent your way...
