Waiting is the hard part

[kansasgal]

I had a mammogram last week due to pain in my breasts, although I could not tell if I had any lumps (my boobs are lumpy anyway).

My grandmother had breast cancer and both my great grandmother and great aunt died of breast cancer, so I am concerned.

Although my family knows I had the test, they think it is just my yearly checkup and don't know about the other problems that caused me to schedule the test, because I don't think my hubby and son could handle it. Hubby is having enough issues right now dealing with his health and son would not be able to cope with possible problems.

If it is cancer, I am okay with losing one or both boobs. I won't be using them anymore and the thought of not having to wear a bra is something that I like, lol.

Waiting for the results is what is nerve wracking. If I just knew, I could deal, but not knowing makes my stomach hurt.

[Gizmo]

Having gone through mamograms and biopsies at 20 I agree - waiting for those damn results near killed me.

In my case my step sister and step father were way too cancer concious and they never knew until years later when my step father got diagnosed that I'd even been checked since they were benign. On my mother and my current boyfriend knew.

Good luck. Hope all comes back clear. xx

[Valentinian]

Best wishes for good results!

[Sapphire Silk]

I've declined getting a mammogram because all too often the results are not cancer.

One of my grandmothers had breast cancer in her late 80's. She also had a lot of other health problems. So I consider myself low risk. You're high risk because of your family history, so getting the mammogram was a smart call on your part. I don't blame you for holding your cards close to the chest; people hear the word "cancer" and just flip their shit before they know what's really going on.

If you get a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ, don't panic. See a specialist before you do anything and then get a second opinion. It's a common diagnosis that seldom progresses to the real deal breast cancer. A lot of women hear ductal carcinoma in situ and flip their shit. Don't, if you get that back on your results. See a specialist and go over what it means very, very carefully before proceeding. Many times this does not progress any further. You'll need a biopsy.

Hopefully, it's something benign like a cyst or inflammation and will self resolve. If not, getting the diagnostic means you will likely get an early enough diagnosis for successful treatment.

What I would say to you is that breast cancer, if you get it, is very treatable. Many women are scared to death of surgery, radiation, and chemo. And to be fair: it's nasty to go through. But with early breast cancers, the five year survival rates are very good IF you complete the full course of conventional treatments.

It's when people don't complete the full course of treatment, and go for woo based "nutritional therapy" and other BS quack treatments that the cancers come rip roaring back and kill the patient. What happens is, the first round will put it into a temporary remission that the patient attributes to the quack therapy. Then, a few years later the cancer comes roaring back, and does not respond to ANY treatment, and the patient dies. So if someone in your family encourages you to try one of these "alternative" treatment, run! Run like your very life depends on it. Because it does.

[wolfie]

It's when people don't complete the full course of treatment, and go for woo based "nutritional therapy" and other BS quack treatments that the cancers come rip roaring back and kill the patient.

One thing I read (I believe it was on CS somewhere) is: Do you know what people call alternative medicine that works? Medicine.

Basically, if some folk/herbal/new age method is found (by a controlled study) to actually work at least as well as conventional methods, doctors will be quick to adopt it. If doctors (other than one whose name brings to mind images of a cowardly lion and a tin woodsman) aren't recommending it, there's a reason.

[Seshat]

I know what the wait is like, too.

I found a breast lump during a regular check - on Christmas Eve. Next available scan? Late january.
Next available appointment with a breast specialist (which it turned out I needed)? Mid February.

Diagnosis: fibrocystic breast disease. Not cancer, just means that I have particularly lumpy breasts. (I think the doctor asked if I intended to breastfeed, so it might impact on that.)

But the long wait is awful.

[kansasgal]

So, got the result back..it is NORMAL!! WOOT!! Because of the pain, they took extensive pics, and think it is due to my back/neck/nerve issues and is just referred pain. I am SO thankful!

[Valentinian]

So, got the result back..it is NORMAL!! WOOT!! Because of the pain, they took extensive pics, and think it is due to my back/neck/nerve issues and is just referred pain. I am SO thankful!

HOORAY~!

[Gizmo]

wahooo! Great news.

[fireheart]

One thing I read (I believe it was on CS somewhere) is: Do you know what people call alternative medicine that works? Medicine.

Basically, if some folk/herbal/new age method is found (by a controlled study) to actually work at least as well as conventional methods, doctors will be quick to adopt it. If doctors (other than one whose name brings to mind images of a cowardly lion and a tin woodsman) aren't recommending it, there's a reason.

That would be me and the guy who originally said it was Tim Minchin.

[greek_jester]

Glad things turned out ok for you Have they said whether they'll be able to do anything about pain management?