Well, I know all that's happened up to
this point but if you're going to follow my story I think it's best I quickly
recap so you have all the background info:
5 July - Routine Mammogram
I think this is my 4th of these
dubious pleasures, although they are not the most terribly painful things
imaginable (as my mother had helpfully told me many years ago). If you
haven't had one yet, it just feels like your boob is being squashed in a vice
(which essentially it is) but it only lasts a minute or so and that's it for
the next 3/5 years.
16 July - Letter from Breast
Screening
Requesting I attend a second screening which would involve more x-rays and clinical examination. Along with this came a very helpful leaflet telling me a little more about what else could happen - but of course this wasn't of relevance to me as obviously my recall was only because the machine had been faulty on that day and they merely wanted a better image.
(Stats: 96 in 100 do not get
recalled after mammogram)
20 July - At The Breast Care
Unit
It was virtually empty when we went for the 18:20 appointment and, despite all the "No Men Beyond This Point" signs, Ian was ushered to the waiting area with me. I was called into the x-ray room and the lovely radiographer explained that they wanted more detailed images of my right boob so she would have to squash it more than usual and sorry if it hurt. Very slowly the penny dropped, maybe not just a faulty machine then.
After the x-rays (didn't really hurt)
I then went to see the Doctor who physically examined my boob and commented
that it was unremarkable - charming!!! She then did an ultrasound and
explained that as there was an area they were suspicious of, she would be
taking some material for a biopsy. A needle is inserted into the boob and
something (I didn't look) then makes a loud click and a sample is taken. Again,
this was not particularly painful but after the first one I was a bit nervous
and tense so I felt the next ones more. She then inserted a "marker
clip" so the area of concern could be easily found again in the future if
necessary. After that I had to have a few more x-rays to make sure the
marker was in the correct place so would need to squash the boob even more and
if I'm honest - which I shall try to be throughout this story - yes that did
hurt.
I had to wait again whilst the Doctor checked the x-rays and was then free to go, except by then I was feeling rather faint. I'm never too good with medical things and quite frankly having gone into the unit convinced I was only being recalled due to a faulty machine, to suddenly find my self biopsed (is that even a word?) and marked for the future was a bit of a shock.
(Stats: 3 in 4 with abnormal screening will not have cancer)
As someone who is naturally pessimistic, I am trying to make myself look at stats in a positive fashion ie. 3 out of 4 good, rather than 1 in 4 bad.
We were then given an appointment to return in 10 days for the result.
24 July - Letter From Breast Care Unit
As is standard practice, I received a
copy of the letter sent to my GP and there, along with various other details,
it was: U4 = Suspicious of Malignancy. Although Ian remained his
usual optimistic self, thinking back to my appointment at no time did the
Doctor say anything about it being just a precaution or unlikely to be or
anything reassuring at all. So I continued to PFTWHFTB which I think Ian
found a little irritating but accepted that it was my way of dealing with it.
31 July - At The Breast Care Unit
Sadly we had to miss a trip to Devon for this appointment but obviously it wasn't something that should be postponed.
We had to wait over an hour so nerves
were pretty frayed by the time we went in. Once again Ian was ushered in
alongside me (is that a bad sign?). The Doctor was lovely and delivered
her sentence with the greatest compassion. She seemed surprised how well
I took it, so I repeated my mantra ......... PFTWHFTB - she wished me luck.
We then went into a side room and met
Cathie the Breast Cancer Nurse who told us an appointment had been made to see a
surgeon the following week and gave us some useful leaflets.
It really is marvellous the way the
appointments are set up for you and you just proceed to the next step. I
guess once you're on the treadmill.
As I said in my opening post, I didn't
fall apart, no tears, nothing. I know Ian thought it was unlike me but I
talked about anything else I could think of, we had dinner and went to bed as
normal.
