Friday, June 29, 2012

Mammograms

Mammograms can be a tough subject to write about. In all likelihood half of my readers can't relate, and the other half, generally, want to put time and distance between their annual ordeals. Yesterday was my annual. An annual event into the mystical world of being checked for what no women and some men don't want to hear, "You have breast cancer." See it's not just effecting the ladies of our population. But I'll leave that for another post.

For years now, I've been following the routine of: making an appointment, showing up, undressing to a certain point, being squished between two plexiglass plates, dressing and leaving the facility, with hardly a word from the tec. Oh they say such things as, put your arm here, hold that back with your other flattened hand here, twist your head this way, feet straight, and don't move. Oh you can breathe, but don't move... But as far as explaining the films and what they might be looking for, not a word; until yesterday.

Rest assured, no specifics were discussed. I know the tec is not allowed to diagnose. But yesterday I learned about milk ducts, blood vessels, starlike formations, puckerings, and micro calcifications. I learned about thickenings of the skin. I viewed last years images and got to see the same similar topology in this year's images.

Do I have cancer? I don't know. The doctor will read the films and get back to me within the week. I have had callbacks before, and have been one of the lucky ones; not cancerous. What I do know is it is always cool to see a side of me not very many people get to see, the inside.

4 comments:

jeff noel said...

Praying for routine news...the tests are negative.

Patty Hebert said...

Thank you. That's a prayer for every woman and even some men.

Unknown said...

I went the day before you and I know that exact feeling. Last time, I went in without hardly a thought and got a phone call for an ultrasound which thankfully turned out to be a cyst and a follow-up has proven nothing to worry about. This year's appointment was treated with more respect. Likewise waiting on the word. Hopefully, the word for both of us will be only "next year".

Patty Hebert said...

Tammy, the letter arrived yesterday. All is good. See you in a year.

Exactly what every woman prays to read.