LIFE HAS BEEN CRAZY. Here I go with the caps again. In real life, I tend to speak in ALL CAPS punctuated by wild gestures which have been known to send objects within a three-foot radius flying (watching myself on video can be painful). One of my best friends banned me from red wine at her wedding reception for this reason. She wisely realized that the equation of wild hands + Merlot + white silk gown = potential unpleasant outcome.
As for this latest medical blip, I think it will probably be fine. The odds of me having breast cancer at my age are pretty low. But since my body seems to enjoy flashing the Big Middle Finger to medical statistics - with this one in two million brain thing! - it is certainly not something to ignore.
I saw the nurse practitioner at Hopkins Breast Center on Monday. She was not sure. So the Breast Cancer Tumor Board (bet that is one wild bunch!) reviewed the films. I just heard back that they would like me to come in for a "second look ultrasound" next week and then plan a course of action. Right now, the jury is out on whether to biopsy or not.
The mass is very, very small (@ 5 mm) so if it is something bad ... breast cancer at an early stage is usually treatable, so that is positive. The surgeons do not seem overly worried. I have experienced a "worried" doctor before and hope never to again. Last year when I got THE brain scan reports my then-neurologist cancelled her medical school lecture and all her other patients so she could get me into her office, the day before Thanksgiving. She also gave me her home and cell numbers during the appointment - it was at that moment that I realized, "Oh my, this cannot be good ..." Before I ever knew the rest of the grim facts, I found that singular act alarming.
At this point, I am viewing this latest medical blip as more of a hassle than something to stress intensely about. Not to minimize breast cancer; it is a terrible disease. I lost an aunt to breast cancer just a few years ago. I recognize it is serious - I mean, it is cancer. But I think once you find out that something is wrong with your brain, problems with other areas of the body - even serious ones - seem manageable. It may sound odd, but I am almost relieved that there may be a medical problem that I can actually DO SOMETHING about. Biopsy? Hell ya! Cut that lump outta there! It is a much better place for a Type A individual to be mentally than the watch-and-wait tumor approach.
Speaking of As ... I told Jeff that if I do need replacements, he should be prepared for me to go full-out with the double Ds (for some reason, he did not seem displeased by this prospect). I have always wondered what it would be like to be part of the traffic-stopping cleavage club. Might as well have big loud ta-tas to go with the rest of my ALL CAPS persona.
I saw the nurse practitioner at Hopkins Breast Center on Monday. She was not sure. So the Breast Cancer Tumor Board (bet that is one wild bunch!) reviewed the films. I just heard back that they would like me to come in for a "second look ultrasound" next week and then plan a course of action. Right now, the jury is out on whether to biopsy or not.
The mass is very, very small (@ 5 mm) so if it is something bad ... breast cancer at an early stage is usually treatable, so that is positive. The surgeons do not seem overly worried. I have experienced a "worried" doctor before and hope never to again. Last year when I got THE brain scan reports my then-neurologist cancelled her medical school lecture and all her other patients so she could get me into her office, the day before Thanksgiving. She also gave me her home and cell numbers during the appointment - it was at that moment that I realized, "Oh my, this cannot be good ..." Before I ever knew the rest of the grim facts, I found that singular act alarming.
At this point, I am viewing this latest medical blip as more of a hassle than something to stress intensely about. Not to minimize breast cancer; it is a terrible disease. I lost an aunt to breast cancer just a few years ago. I recognize it is serious - I mean, it is cancer. But I think once you find out that something is wrong with your brain, problems with other areas of the body - even serious ones - seem manageable. It may sound odd, but I am almost relieved that there may be a medical problem that I can actually DO SOMETHING about. Biopsy? Hell ya! Cut that lump outta there! It is a much better place for a Type A individual to be mentally than the watch-and-wait tumor approach.
Speaking of As ... I told Jeff that if I do need replacements, he should be prepared for me to go full-out with the double Ds (for some reason, he did not seem displeased by this prospect). I have always wondered what it would be like to be part of the traffic-stopping cleavage club. Might as well have big loud ta-tas to go with the rest of my ALL CAPS persona.
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