Thursday, June 7, 2012

My First Mammogram

I went to Washington Radiology Associates, for my First ever Mammogram.  I don't know what to expect, Have no idea what it is going to be like.  If someone had told me about what had happened....I did not remember at this time. 

So as I was sitting in the office, filling out the paperwork, I had to decide if I wanted the standard 2D mammogram or the new 3D one, which the extra cost I have to pay for $50.  Well, What is another $50 when your breasts are concerned, when possible cancer is concerned.  The 3D claims to be better imaging and seeing the lumps. 

I get called, change into the lovely hospital gown, and have my breasts smooched on that machine.  The nurse/ technician was as gentle as she could be, but they have to smash them.  She was like, ok, breathe.....now don't breathe.....She moved my arms and neck in positions where I started to have pain from my back/ neck problems from last year. 

When that was done, I was able to take off my gown and change back into my clothes.  I had worn a strapless sundress to make it easier....and waited in this little waiting room while the doctor looked at the images....

There were two other ladies in the waiting room.  I felt for sure everything was going to be okay at this point.  Nothing was going to be wrong.  One of the women had said she had to have some non-cancerous lumps removed.  I was getting a little nervous....

Then the nurse came back in and said she needed to do a few more images.....I was like, oh please don't let there be anything wrong, I know there is nothing wrong.  I was trying to be positive, the way I tell my clients to be positive to keep my anxiety at bay.  So back in I went for more breast smashing....

I was then called into the doctors office and told that they saw the "lump" and wanted to do a biopsy of it, to see if it was cancerous or benign. Again....I was like, It's got to just be a neurfibroma.  There is no way I have cancer.  They were great, set me up for an appt for a biopsy for the next day June 8, 2012.

I of course informed all my family members, my brother said, it's prob nothing.  It could be a Neurofibroma.  He wanted to be kept in the loop.  Called  Shanna and Denise for support too.  I texted my friend Eric, who I am super close with and he said he had thought he had felt a mass the other week....he did not tell me.  Eric and I have known each other forever(1996) and I am super close to him about personal stuff regarding health and physical illnesses stuff.  Maybe he just did not think to tell me.  I am not sure he realized he should have said something to me, as I do have fibrous breasts.  I never felt the mass and I wash my body everyday feeling myself up.