Not over the process itself, but that they might find something. I have had a couple friends have some scares recently, and now I’m wanting to curl up in a ball and cry until the results come back.
[knocks on wood] I had one aunt who had breast cancer, but I think hers was caused by heavy smoking and being exposed to a lot of weird and nasty chemicals during her working days. This was back in the 70’s and I can remember being scared shitless that I was going to get it.
Please think kind thoughts my way tomorrow morning. Much appreciated.
Sending you all kinds of positive thoughts! I haven’t been to a doctor since 1985. I understand not wanting to find out anything. My husband just went to a doctor a couple of weeks ago for the first time in over 20 years, and was diagnosed with mild hypertension. The only reason he went was because he had some dental work, and they checked his pressure and it was slightly elevated. I could check mine, but I don’t want to. Dammit. Good luck and good wishes to you, BaneSidhe!!! Betcha you’ll be fine!!
BaneSidhe, I had my first mammogram last year. It was no sweat. My mom has had cysts in her breasts, and her mother had a mastecomy at the age of 91. She’s still going at 104!
Try to remember that you’re doing a good thing for your health. Even if something was there, isn’t it better to find out sooner rather than later?
I will think of you and send a little prayer for your peace of mind. Let us know how it goes!
I’m always terrified to go to the doctor for this exact same reason. Well, actually, I’m really scared that they’ll find something seriously wrong and it will be my fault.
I’ve had mammograms. I had breast cancer last year. Believe me, if they find something, they can treat it. PM me if you want, but looking for something and not finding it is better than not looking for something that’s there, hiding and waiting and silently getting bigger.
It is the most ridiculous medical process I’ve ever been through. Uncomfortable - but really silly.
But I will second the thought - on the OFF chance they DO find something - its there whether they find it or not and finding it early is what has made breast cancer a much less scary thing than it was in the 1970s.
And I completely understand - my sister had a mascetomy at 38. My cousin at 43. My aunt (lumpectomy) at 65. My good friend (lumpectomy) at 40 - and they are all doing fine. Even finding something - while terrifying - doesn’t mean you need to polish up your will.
There is nothing quite as disconcerting as looking down at your boob and seeing it as flat as a pancake. The firs time, I asked the tech if she was sure it was going to fluff back up…
My favorite part is the swimsuit model pose you need to get into. “Stand here, face this way, bend this knee, lean back a bit, can you turn like…good…hold it (and smile!).” Plop the breast onto the plate, squish - hold your breath.
I’ve had them call me back to have magnified xrays taken because they weren’t sure about something they thought they saw. I went back, had them done and it turned out to be just some calcium deposits. Don’t worry about anything until they tell you it’s bad news. I learned worring about somthing that isn’t there is kinda silly.
Good luck, I’ll be thinking good thoughts for you.
Kind thoughts to you dear, and good luck on the test. I know testing is scary. Congratulations on being brave enough to confront the fear and get tested.
I haven’t been scared by a mammogram, but I remember being pretty scared before my first colonoscopy last fall, so I know how you feel. My father died of colon cancer, and I had no idea what might turn up. Which made it all the sweeter to hear that the scan found absolutely nothing, other than traces of the green Jello I ate the day before.
I know your friends’ experiences worry you, but remember cancer isn’t catching. Family history is far more relevant, and one aunt isn’t much of a family history. If you self-examine regularly and haven’t found anything, that’s another reason not to worry. (If you don’t self-examine, this is a good time to start.)
Please don’t freak out again when they call you back for magnified pictures–I say “when” because that happens pretty often with first mammograms (it happened to me). It doesn’t mean they found anything bad, it just means they want a closer look at something; they try to get as much detail as possible on a first mammogram, to have a good baseline for comparing later pictures.
