This Is My Story ~ Mammogram Part 2

image credit: Robert Durrell

This Is My Story ~ Mammogram Part 2

 

If you missed the first part of this series of post, I encourage you to read part 1: This is My Story ~ Mammogram Part 1.  I go into great details on what can be expected from having your first mammogram.

At the end of this post, I received the news that my left breast might have a mass on it and I needed to have another mammogram and possibly an ultrasound to do some further investigation on the spot in question.

So lets take the story from there…

The Results and The Emotions That Follow

 

When I received the phone call that there was reason for concern from my first screening, they explained that there was a suspicious spot that needed to be looked at a bit closer.

The technician explained that being that this was my first mammogram, they had nothing to compare this to and this might be normal for me but we needed to take a closer look.

It was a Wednesday and unfortunately the screening center where I needed a second mammogram was booked up on Thursday and the doctor was out of the office on Friday so I had to make the appointment for Monday.  I know that seems like a quick appointment, it is only a few days out, but when you are dealing with something that might be breast cancer…that is a LONG time to wait.

So I made the appointment and waited.  So many emotions come to surface when you have time to think…what if?  

My advise to anyone who is going through this.  Find your support team of friends and family…have a good day to cry it out, it totally helped and keep yourself busy.  Again, this might not be the best strategy for everyone, but it helped me.

Heading In For Mammogram 2

 

So Finally Monday has arrived and I am a bundle of nerves.  I head in and go through the whole procedure that I did for my first mammogram.  There were 2 people in front of me who were getting their mammograms.  First person…”Your Normal” the nurse says.  Second person waiting, “Your Normal” the nurse says…Oh I hope I am “normal” too!

So there really was nothing different about the second mammogram.  They wanted to make sure that this was not a possible shadow or something.  3 x-rays were taken and they took me to the waiting room.  

I have to tell you…I was almost in some kind of a daze.  Kind of like no emotions what so ever.  I am always upbeat in ANY situation and always find the positive side to any situation, but for some reason I lost the ability to cope.

The technician finally came back in and informed me she wanted to do one more round of x-rays…Mammogram 3 here we come.

I returned back to the waiting room and the doctor came in and explained that they would like to do an ultrasound of my left breast.  My heart sunk again, Oh my gosh…it isn’t just a shadow, they have found something real!

The Ultrasound

 

In the ultrasound room, the ultrasound technician explains to me that they want to see if they can see what they see on the x-rays on ultrasound.  I lie there anxiously awaiting some positive news.  The ultrasound technician was very nice and began her search for the mass.  

After about 10 minutes she says “I have been doing this for 8 years and I am confident in saying that I don’t see anything!”  Oh my gosh, a ray of hope…please let this be true!

A few minutes later the doctor came in and I finally get to meet the person who has been analyzing my x-rays.

She assures the tech that there is something there and that we just have to look a bit harder.  So the search begins and they spend another 20-30 minutes looking for the mass.

The two speak amongst one another and even if they included me, I was still in that daze and am not sure I would have even heard them.

They inform me that they want to do yet one more mammogram…Mammogram 4 lets do this thing…I am so ready to get out of here, it’s been 3 hours!

And We Wait…

 

I was put back into the “public” waiting room once again.  There were 3 older women that were close to 70.  You could tell they came in together to get their yearly mammogram.  These ladies were so cute, all 3 of them were cleared for a clean bill of health and I was still left there to wait.  

A nurse comes in and tells me that the doctor will be in to talk to me in a moment.  She shuts the door on her way out of the “public” waiting room and I immediately know that the news is not good.  Oh my goodness, I can’t believe this is happening!

A few minutes later the doctor comes in to inform me that there is indeed a “finding” and that we need to do a biopsy as soon as possible.  I tried so hard to be strong through this whole process and embrace it, but at this point I just burst into tears.  The only thing I kept thinking is I have 3 babies that still need me!

I collected myself and really have no idea what the doctor is saying about the procedure that needs to be done the next day…my daze was so thick.  I made the appointment for the biopsy…I need to pull myself together so I can go home and be a mom without alarming my girls.  They know something is up and I can see that they are frightened too.  Oh this is so hard!

You Can Read Part 3 Here: This is My Story ~ Mammogram Part 3-The Biopsy