Yep, you read that right...
Couple years ago, when I turned 45, I did my civic duty, and had my very first mammogram. I have always been an advocate on self touch (pleasure), so i was very much aware of what they felt like. I brought some concerns to my Doctor at the time, prior to my mammogram, and the dr didn't seem very concerned. Fast forward to the actual exam, and nothing showed up. Great. My breast are just naturally lumpy in some areas (caused by milk ducts). I remember the doctor telling me, if anything changes, if they feel different then they do now, then come back. OK...
Christmas 2022, I felt something "different" but I dismissed it. Saying to myself, that lump was always there, they always felt like that... or did they?
February 2023, I went for my annual which includes a mammogram, and pelvic exam. (Ladies, get a baseline of all your numbers through blood work... Get your benchmark mammogram) This time after feeling me up, my Dr. explained to me the difference between a "screening mammogram" and a "diagnostic mammogram". She sent me to the hospital for a diagnostic mammogram. At that point I knew something was up, and it wasn't my imagination.
Obviously at this point "CANCER" was not brought up from the official people. After my mammogram i was ordered to get an ultra sound. With the viewing of my pictures of that day, I was told i had a "solid mass" Obviously I had to look up all the different things this "solid mass" could be. Of course, my mind is racing a mile a minute. Looking back, I think i handled it pretty well. I decided early on, only a limited amount of people were going to know. Not even my children knew. I didn't want to stress out anyone, unless it was really necessary.
Next step was waiting on the Biopsy.
I'm going to save you the details of how the Dr. gets a piece of the mass. Needless to say, i was literally black and blue for 3 weeks. They weren't pretty.
This whole process is a lot of Hurry up to Wait
March 8th, with my mother next to me... The Dr explained I will be seeing more of him, because I do in fact have breast cancer.
Something I have learned throughout this process
Breast Cancer is a blanket term. There are so many types, levels, degrees. At the end of the day, I have a tumor and it needs to come out.
There is not a one size that fits all, when it comes to symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. Yes, chemotherapy worked for your cousin Mary, sister...but it might not work for me.
There is a time and a place for western medicine. It was/is my choice to let the doctors do what they know how to do. The holistic practices I know about, have gone along side with what the doctors are doing. I don't have to choose one or the other.
Cancer looks different on everyone. You are not going to always "SEE" Cancer. That doesn't mean they don't have it any less.
"Scanxiety" is the anxiety one feels between test
I am Healing through Cancer, and this is MY story.
Many Blessings
Katrina O.
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