# I had an abnormal screening mammogram. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2017, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018 "2017-09-23T02:47:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/201 "2017-12-15T23:10:58Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I had my CAT scan today and may be able to start treatments as early as Tuesday or Wednesday. If that’s the case, they’ll be spread out over 5 weeks, so it may not be as rough on me as they might if it was straight Monday through Friday. I did ask about the cold-water treatment, and she said, “No, no, no! Do not do that!” and instead recommended vitamin E oil. I’ll get some next time I’m at a grocery store. \ Did she give any reason for saying that? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/202 "2017-12-26T22:34:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > \ > > Did she give any reason for saying that? No, but I didn’t ask. Some people are also recommending Aquaphor ointment. I had my first treatment today. One down, 19 to go. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/203 "2017-12-26T23:51:27Z")
Yaay! Good luck & keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/204 "2017-12-27T03:39:20Z")
Just catching up. Great news all around. Aquaphor is sticky and made me itch. I didn’t need it until well into radiation. You might want to look for Miaderm, which i found very helpful (and didn’t wreck my clothes) and ask about Biafine, which is a prescription cream, also potentially helpful. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/205 "2017-12-27T23:54:00Z")
I saw my surgeon today, and he said I’m healing quite well and he wants to see me, probably one last time, in April. I had a seroma (fluid-filled mass) in my breast that was bigger than an egg, presumably where the tissue was removed, and just in the past few days has it started to shrink. I’m getting little twinges in my breast, which I keep thinking are from radiation but I know it’s from the scar tissue shrinking. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/206 "2017-12-28T03:15:34Z")
I’m glad the seroma is resolving. Soon you’ll get to the freaky part where all these medical people and appointments disappear. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/207 "2018-01-09T19:41:18Z")
As of today, I am halfway through with my radiation. 🆒 I still feel fine, although as of yesterday, the skin on the irradiated area began to darken (tan) but the doctor looked at it today and said that what I am experiencing is normal. Tomorrow, I will have a second CAT scan to plan my boost treatments at the end, and also re-evaluate me due to the seroma’s shrinkage. So far, so good! I wear a sports bra and apply that oil twice a day, and am continuing a normal diet and all my activities. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/208 "2018-01-09T23:41:32Z")
Thanks for the update, and glad to hear it! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/209 "2018-01-12T23:51:22Z")
2/3 finished! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/210 "2018-01-16T03:46:21Z")
Hooray! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/211 "2018-01-23T18:13:46Z")
Just got home from my last treatment. 🆒 The rad onc says I’m doing well and wants to see me again in 2 weeks. Sure am glad that’s over, although everyone at the clinic was very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/212 "2018-01-23T18:39:26Z")
Yay you! Huge milestone. 🙂 Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/213 "2018-01-23T20:24:31Z")
Wonderful news! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/214 "2018-01-24T02:29:10Z")
YAY! StG ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/215 "2018-01-24T02:48:53Z")
I am very late to this thread, but have read it through, and I am so happy for you that the worst is in your rear view mirror! You have cause to celebrate, for sure! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/216 "2018-01-24T04:37:55Z")
Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/217 "2018-02-17T00:53:58Z")
I had a quick follow-up check today, and she told me that I am healing nicely, and said I can use soap on the area once again. I still have a red circle around my incision, where I had my boost treatments at the end, but other than that, my skin is almost completely healed. In addition, as a self-employed person I buy my own insurance, and it has been paying claims without a speck of hassle (so far). Yeah, I met my out-of-pocket expenditures two years in a row, but at least I know much it would be and could budget for it, and do have the money to pay it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/218 "2018-02-17T01:27:39Z")
Great news! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/219 "2018-03-14T02:25:25Z")
I saw my oncologist today for the 3-month checkup. He feels that tamoxifen, the hormone blocker I’m currently using, is not the right one for me due to a drug interaction, and persuaded me (successfully this time) that I should undergo treatments to send me into menopause and use a different hormone-blocking agent, probably anastrozole. I decided to go ahead and do it, pending insurance company approval and probably a bone scan for osteoporosis. Otherwise, everything’s looking good. I also have a visit scheduled with the rad-onc on Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/220 "2018-03-16T02:44:39Z")
And now for what the rad onc told me. Keep in mind that she’s a Pakistani woman in her 70s; she said, “You have beautiful breasts!” :o 😛 I knew she meant that I was healing well, and she told me to continue using the vitamin E oil, and come back in 3 months. 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018.md?page=12)