# 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:** 6
**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:** [October 19, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/101 "2017-10-19T22:59:20Z")
Truly the finest, and healthiest poop in all the land. Even the President is envious of how great, truly great, that particular poop is. The Greatest in fact!! IOW … Your rump humbled Trump! 😃 Seriously, congrats. One of the ugly side effects of the disease is a reduced sense of trust in every other part of your body. Walking the right line between appropriate caution and paranoia is hard. Doing what it takes to close out other avenues of surprise early is all to the good. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/102 "2017-10-20T13:05:19Z")
I think now that my body is free of hair, I’m going to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist for a melanoma scan. I don’t see anything odd, but it’s one thing I can cross off my list. Jeez, it sucks getting older! Your own body starts turning on you. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/103 "2017-10-22T15:20:24Z")
Yay! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/104 "2017-10-23T21:43:05Z")
I had the axillary lymph node ultrasound this morning, and the doctor did not see a need to do a needle biopsy, because they looked normal, as did the surrounding tissue. 🆒 Woo-hoo! ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/105 "2017-10-23T23:48:46Z")
Yay! ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/106 "2017-10-24T11:10:49Z")
nearwildheaven, that is really good news. I’m done with round 2 of 12 chemo. (4 A/C + 12 Taxol). I’ve had good days and bad days, but every day is one step closer to the end of the chemo. Keep the faith and keep fighting, my friend! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/107 "2017-10-25T00:13:11Z")
I’ve always thought breast cancer only strikes strong women. Keep up the good fight! ---
**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 25, 2017, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/108 "2017-10-25T05:06:00Z")
Excellent news! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/109 "2017-10-27T23:35:56Z")
My mother is having a very difficult time comprehending that my surgery will probably be an outpatient procedure, and I will be headed home within a few hours. :rolleyes: But then again, she also has a hard time believing that women in labor are not transported to multiple rooms, the way they were when she had us kids. That’s parents for you, I guess. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/110 "2017-10-28T01:43:24Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > My mother is having a very difficult time comprehending that my surgery will probably be an outpatient procedure, and I will be headed home within a few hours. :rolleyes: But then again, she also has a hard time believing that women in labor are not transported to multiple rooms, the way they were when she had us kids. > > That’s parents for you, I guess. How do you do with anesthesia? My lumpectomy was supposed to be outpatient, but I reacted so badly to the anesthesia that they had to keep me overnight. I’ve never felt so sick in my life. I’ve had general anesthesia so seldom in my life that I wasn’t expecting that to happen. The next time I had to have general anesthesia, acting on advice I got here at the Dope, I told everyone–nurses, aides, doctors, clerks, janitors, parking garage people (okay, maybe not _everyone_)-- that I had a bad experience with anesthesia in the past, and this time the anesthesiologist put a patch behind my ear and I had no problem at all. Part of it was the time under. For the lumpectomy, I was under for 4 hours–the surgeon was very careful, wanted to get clean margins, and not mangle my boob too much. She did a very nice job. For the later procedure (removing uterine polyps) I was under less than an hour. Anyhoo, keep this in mind. Might as well get the anti-nausea med going into it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/111 "2017-10-28T02:53:13Z")
I’ve never had general anesthesia, other than sodium pentothal when I had dental surgeries 30-plus years ago. IDK what they plan to do for me; my surgeon will have more information on Monday. My cancer is just below the surface, so getting it out shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ve also heard that the lymph node dissection leads to a longer recovery than the breast incision, because they have to cut through muscle, and that’s also why they can’t use local anesthesia with sedation. For the first time, tonight I am experiencing real, honest fear, although our wonky weather has to be a contributing factor. :rolleyes: ---
**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 28, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/112 "2017-10-28T03:20:44Z")
It’s normal to have some fear. I had bilateral mastectomy plus sentinel lymph node dissection, no reconstruction. I was done and home in a few hours. No post-surgical pain. (I had some pain from the binder hitting my underarm, but nothing much at the actual surgical sites.) The Jackson-Pratt drains were a bit itchy and weird, but not unlike the Holy Hand Grenade. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2017, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/113 "2017-10-28T12:37:03Z")
I had five lymph nodes removed-- all clear, yay! Not even a whisper of a problem. ---
**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 28, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/114 "2017-10-28T23:52:52Z")
A little motivation for us all: > [@](#): > > **Greater Survival After Breast Cancer in Physically Active Women With High Vegetable-Fruit Intake Regardless of Obesity** > > Purpose > > Single-variable analyses have associated physical activity, diet, and obesity with survival after breast cancer. This report investigates interactions among these variables. > > Patients and Methods > > A prospective study was performed of 1,490 women diagnosed and treated for early-stage breast cancer between 1991 and 2000. Enrollment was an average of 2 years postdiagnosis. Only seven women were lost to follow-up through December 2005. > > Results > > In univariate analysis, reduced mortality was weakly associated with higher vegetable-fruit consumption, increased physical activity, and a body mass index that was neither low weight nor obese. In a multivariate Cox model, only the combination of consuming five or more daily servings of vegetables-fruits, and accumulating 540+ metabolic equivalent tasks-min/wk (equivalent to walking 30 minutes 6 d/wk), was associated with a significant survival advantage (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.98). The approximate 50% reduction in risk associated with these healthy lifestyle behaviors was observed in both obese and nonobese women, although fewer obese women were physically active with a healthy dietary pattern (16% v 30%). Among those who adhered to this healthy lifestyle, there was no apparent effect of obesity on survival. The effect was stronger in women who had hormone receptor–positive cancers. > > Conclusion > > A minority of breast cancer survivors follow a healthy lifestyle that includes both recommended intakes of vegetables-fruits and moderate levels of physical activity. The strong protective effect observed suggests a need for additional investigation of the effect of the combined influence of diet and physical activity on breast cancer survival. [http://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.2006.08.6819](http://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.2006.08.6819) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/115 "2017-10-30T18:30:43Z")
I am officially scheduled to get this done TOMORROW! 🙂 Of course, all the worst-case scenarios are going back and forth in my head, none of which have happened yet. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [October 30, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/116 "2017-10-30T19:17:21Z")
Your knowledge of the evolving reality inside you will ebb and flow. Which is a real roller coaster. But whatever they actually do will only be an improvement. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/117 "2017-10-30T19:48:22Z")
I vomited after my surgery. Ever since I’ve told the anesthesiologist, they put something in the brew, and I’m fine and dandy. Medical advances have come a long way. Hell, if your younger sister gets it in five years the treatment may be even more targeted and focused. Chin up, my dear…you’re doing great! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/118 "2017-10-30T21:41:41Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I vomited after my surgery. Ever since I’ve told the anesthesiologist, they put something in the brew, and I’m fine and dandy. > > Medical advances have come a long way. Hell, if your younger sister gets it in five years the treatment may be even more targeted and focused. Chin up, my dear…you’re doing great! I sure hope she dodges this bullet. Among other things, she had a melanoma removed from her shoulder earlier this year. ☹ :eek: It, too was caught at stage 1 and she needs no further treatment for now. Thing is, I have to check in at 6:45 but my procedure is not scheduled until 12:15. It’s going to be a long morning. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/119 "2017-10-31T01:34:26Z")
Bring your tablet & we’ll all keep you company. Hugs. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018/120 "2017-10-31T03:29:22Z")
Good luck to you. I know you’re going in early, but they’ll find ways to keep you busy. You’ll have lots of conversations with lots of different people about what’s happening, and why. Then you’ll go to sleep and wake up when it’s over. Like **LSLGuy** says, bring a tablet and we’ll keep you company if you have any free time. Thinking of you. {{{hugs}}} [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-an-abnormal-screening-mammogram/797018.md?page=7)