# 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:** 12
**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:** [March 16, 2018, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/221 "2018-03-16T03:29:26Z")
Glad to hear that you’re healing well. 🙂 😉 ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/222 "2018-03-18T00:37:56Z")
I think I’ve read recently that vitamin D is more effective than calcium for bone health. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/223 "2018-03-18T04:36:50Z")
They work together, and the oncologist recommended that I take both. In the meantime, my insurance did approve the Zoladex treatment to send me into menopause for good, and he also said I don’t need a bone scan right now. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/224 "2018-03-18T14:47:49Z")
Will you have the typical symptom? Try to ride the hot flashes, not fight them. Of course, this doesn’t work in business meetings and the like, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/225 "2018-03-18T18:14:07Z")
I’ve already been through menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and anxiety. I have also been averaging a period or two a year for the past 5 years or so (I’m 54) and my LMP was August 21, 2017. That was very easy to remember because it started when I made a pit stop en route to the eclipse. :mad: For several days beforehand, I was kind of jittery and wondered, “Am I having PMS, or am I just really excited about this eclipse?” It turned out to be a little of both, and because of that period, that’s why I was put on tamoxifen and will now have the ablation. I haven’t had my hormone levels measured, but he doesn’t think that’s necessary and said my symptoms shouldn’t be too bad because I’m probably 95% (or thereabouts) through the whole process anyway. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/226 "2018-03-19T22:40:02Z")
Got my Zoladex implant this afternoon; it didn’t hurt except for the needle stick for the lidocaine used to numb the implant area. And they covered it with a Tasmanian Devil Band-Aid. 😛 Might as well have a little fun if you can! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/227 "2018-04-30T21:48:37Z")
Today, I had a 6-month appointment with the surgeon, and he said my healing process is continuing to proceed normally and he wants to see me at the 1-year mark. 🆒 Since I last posted, I did see him in the meantime because I started having pain in my breast again, and he said that it was probably cut nerves re-connecting (still!) and the oncologist, who I also saw in the meantime although that was previously scheduled, told me the same thing. The surgeon also said that I was wise to address a concern like this. So far, I do not appear to be having any side effects from the new medications. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/228 "2018-05-01T01:37:19Z")
Good news all around! ---
**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:** [May 1, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/229 "2018-05-01T02:18:25Z")
That’s great! I still get zaps 3 years out (but now I have a lot more sensation than I did at the point you’re at). ---
**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:** [May 1, 2018, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/230 "2018-05-01T10:36:12Z")
What terrific news to start the day with! Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. Regarding the nerve damage, I had my hip replacement 10 weeks ago last Friday. As recently as two weeks ago I still had blazing hot pain down the outside of my right leg from the hip to the little toe. It was a stripe about 2 in wide and if it was touched in any way it was as though someone was slipping a knife into me. The doctor informed me that it was because of a nerve that have been several that would slowly grow back. It’s mostly gone now but boy can I relate. What you went through will never become a distant memory but in time it will become a less stressful part of being Who You Are. So glad to hear that everything is progressing so well !! 🙂 Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/231 "2018-06-14T20:32:51Z")
I saw my radiation oncologist earlier this afternoon. She too said that everything looks good, and if it stays that way, she does not need to see me again until December. 🆒 ---
**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:** [June 14, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/232 "2018-06-14T20:55:31Z")
WAHOOOOOOOO !!! So happy for this, yet another great milestone. You allowed to drink? Tonight you should raise a glass, if that’s how you’d celebrate! 🙂 Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/233 "2018-06-14T21:00:03Z")
I don’t drink except for a very rare glass of wine if I’m really stressed, but thanks anyway! I’m sure happy about 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:** [June 15, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/234 "2018-06-15T17:04:40Z")
Terrific news! I’m very glad for you. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/235 "2018-10-03T23:10:11Z")
Today is my one-year “boobaversary.” Things are still going well, and I have a diagnostic mammogram scheduled for later this month, along with yet another visit with the surgeon. 🆒 ---
**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:** [October 4, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/236 "2018-10-04T00:37:10Z")
Mazel tov! May it go uneventfully. Me, I’m in the middle of several nuclear scans because I’m having pain. I really think it’s nothing, but my oncologist wisely won’t allow me to try systemic treatment (like acupuncture) without ruling out bony metastasis (done, nothing) and soft tissue metastasis (Pet/CT, upcoming). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/237 "2018-10-04T00:59:12Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Mazel tov! May it go uneventfully. Me, I’m in the middle of several nuclear scans because I’m having pain. I really think it’s nothing, but my oncologist wisely won’t allow me to try systemic treatment (like acupuncture) without ruling out bony metastasis (done, nothing) and soft tissue metastasis (Pet/CT, upcoming). I’m so sorry to read this. Let me know what the results are. Any pain or other symptoms can be scary, aren’t they. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/238 "2018-10-04T02:25:29Z")
Thank you. I try to remind myself that before I had cancer, I would have figured I just injured myself–but of course, I _have_ had cancer now, so I can no longer bet on it not being cancer. Fortunately, I have pretty low scanxiety. It’s while I’m waiting for results that my mood gets dark. Since I had bilateral without recon, all I get is a semi-annual clinical exam, so the up side of this is that I get a pretty thorough look for tumors in my innards. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/239 "2018-10-19T22:43:10Z")
Yesterday, I got a letter from my insurance company regarding next year’s premiums. I was hesitant about opening it, but my fears were unfounded, because not only will I be renewed, the premium went up by just $16 a month. 🆒 I don’t mind, because that’s a combination of inflation and me getting older and presumably having higher medical expenses to begin with. The day before that, I got a letter from the rad onc that included a check for reimbursement of an out-of-pocket overpayment. That was also a pleasant surprise. p.s. I knew that the rad onc, whom I said earlier in this thread is an elderly Pakistani woman, looked familiar. I recently watched the “RBG” documentary, about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and realize that this is who she resembles. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/240 "2018-10-20T04:20:24Z")
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