This is a PSA. Brace yourselves. As some of you probably know, my mother died of breast cancer at a relatively young age. She saw a bruise on her breast that refused to heal and then she waited for months to go to the doctor, because that’s the way my mother did things. It took her 18 months to die. Today I went for my second ever mammogram. Mammograms are very stressful for me, because I have to relive my mother’s death and because I’m always afraid that they may find something. To top it off, they don’t tell you results until a week later. However, having a mammogram is still one of the best ways to detect breast cancer, and I can’t help but think that if my mother had gone to the doctor when she first noticed something odd, my children would still have a grandmother. So this is a gentle reminder: if you are a woman over the age of 40, most insurance plans cover an annual mammogram, so if you’ve been putting yours off, please make an appointment. It’s important.
Ilona, please sign up for whatever patient portal your physician offers. Most physicians release test (lab, radiology) results to the patient via their portal within 1-3 days – avoid those extra days of stress!
Thank you very very much for all of the hours of pleasure you’ve given me through your books and your blog. I own all of your books and order your new ones as soon as available. You are a light in our world.
What she said.
My mother is a breast cancer survivor. This isn’t something to ignore.
Please don’t ignore it. My mom’s cancer was super aggressive and so was her treatment. She’s going strong more than 5 years later but it aged her by about 5 years in one year. Get your mammograms.
If they find something suspicious, they will call you sooner, but imply there was a problem with the picture. My sister almost didn’t return for that follow up, but a few days after the second mammogram, the doctor called. She’s thankfully now cancer free, but it was a scary time!
Thank you for stressing this. I found out about my breast cancer through a mammogram. It was fast growing and deep, so I probably wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had a routine mammogram.
Even though I’m a male I will second this we buried a long time family friend this weekend who insisted it was nothing for months until her husband made the appointment and made her go. By that time it was too late. Also although it is not common men should check as well since while rare it does happen to men as well. I know that one since I lost a male cousin to the disease.
I’m about to turn 35, and since I have significant family history of breast cancer I get to start early :/ This is my year.
Me too. Every year since I was 33. It’s getting to be about that time of year again.
Me three. Started at 35, and will have #30 this spring.
just so happens I scheduled mine today for next week – you are so right!
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Ilona, I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for turning a devastating blow and an unpleasant day into a public service.
I get mine, along with the all the other regular maintenance, in September. February is all about the cars in this house! <3
Thank you for this timely reminder.
Also, for those who do not have health insurance, *many* hospitals have free days scheduled throughout the year, as do many breast cancer awareness groups, who generally sponsor such days.
Yes, and if you don’t know who to call to find out about free health care screenings, I suggest calling your city’s Health Department. They will often give you the needed information over-the-phone.
This resonated with me a lot. My grandmother died on April 1, 2016 from Breast Cancer. She let it go for years and lied to us when she said she went to the doctor. When she finally went because it was hard as a rock, she was already late term stage 3, early stage 4. Don’t let something go because you are too proud or don’t trust doctors or don’t feel like, you make not be able to make it to your first granddaughter’s graduation.
My mother died of breast cancer when I was 30 years old. She had pain in her breast and by the time I figured out what was going on she was already stage four. Obviously they have started my mammograms early and I wanted to give you and all the other women information on 3-D mammography. Insurance doesn’t cover it and it’s an extra $65 but I think it is totally worth it. My doctor is a huge supporter and the literature on it seems to suggest that it is far more accurate at detecting things that may not be seen on a regular mammogram. You can check out if anyone offers 3-D mammography in your area. My doctor actually sits with me to look at the images as soon as she has read them. Maybe you can find someone in your area that does that too!
Last year my sister went in her for annual mammogram and was offered the option for a 3-D mammogram. She was told that, although the insurance wouldn’t cover the difference, it was only going to cost an additional $60 dollars. Our family has a history of cancer(s) so my sister chose to buy the “up-sell”. They found a tiny spot. When she went to MD Anderson Hospital, her doctors there said they were surprised that it had been seen at all due to the size. However, it was a fast growing cancer and had already moved into one lymph node. Thankfully, the early detection allowed them to find, remove and/or treat the cancerous cells. Turns out $60 dollars really can save your life. My sister never missed her annual mammogram and had no indication of any problems. If she hadn’t chosen to pay for the 3-D version, she would not have found out for another year.
I too lost my mother to breast cancer that went untreated. She felt the lump, but refused to go in. She passed away 17 years ago when I was 15 and I wish every day she had gone in for regular mammograms. I’m 33 and too young for a mammogram myself; but I make sure to check regularly and my doctor always makes sure to take a look when I go in for a physical.
If the guidelines haven’t changed in the last few years, if you have a first degree relative who had “early” breast cancer (43 is the cut off, I believe) then it is recommended that you start mammograms ten years earlier than the date at which their cancer first appeared. Obviously, I don’t know how old your mother was, and there’s a lot of debate in the cancer community about the appropriate guidelines, but if any of this might apply to you, it might be worth discussing with your doctor (I started getting regular mammograms at 33, which is usually considered too young, but with my family history it was recommended.)
(I’m at a teaching hospital, and even then, my PCP wasn’t sure about the guidelines, and had to ask around.)
Thank you for the information. My mom was 54 when she passed away (I was a late life child) and she was diagnosed when she was 51 or so. I will make sure to keep checking with my doctor about the best time to start and the current guidelines.
I also started “young” at age 30 based on family history. It’s worth looking into.
I know there’s another group of people who are supposed to start at 35, I’m not sure what the criteria are for being in the group – it might come down to whether you have other relatives with histories of breast or ovarian cancer. (I used to stay much more current with the guidelines, but with my own research and other obligations… I’ve let it slip.)
I’m not sure, but my family history is all on my dad’s side. My dad’s mom, my dad’s dad’s mom, dad’s dad’s sister, dad’s dad’s sister’s daughter.
Hm. I get my mammogram results right away. I’m in Seattle for what it’s worth, and 2 of the main health clinic chains in the area give the results right away as long as you schedule your mammogram for normal working hours. If you love your doctor, stick with her/him. If you don’t, you could try calling different clinics to see if any give results more quickly. A couple weeks is a long time to wait.
Before I discovered “results right away” I was with another clinic where I was called back twice over 5 years. Both times I was lucky. If you get called back, don’t immediately freak out.
My best friend got breast cancer but it was detected early. What I’ve learned from her is that the treatment for breast cancer isn’t that bad and is usually successful these days as long as it isn’t caught too late. As Ilona says: don’t be afraid of what the results might be. Be afraid of what could happen if you wait.
I am also in the Seattle area and I have been annual mammos for 20+ years. In general I have found that 1) if they see something obvious and a radiologist is available they will have you wait while someone reads the slides, 2) if they do not read them immediately, they will call you within a couple of days (usually 24 business hours) if they find something that needs rechecking, and 3) if you don’t hear from them until you get a letter its good news. Don’t know if its true everywhere. I have had all three results over the years ending up with a couple of biopsies and one diagnosis for ATH (a condition that can lead to cancer). The picture quality has improved greatly over the years which has resulted in more rechecks since they compare the slides year to year. Yeah, its annoying and time consuming but it works.
I’m in NJ and also visit a facility that reads the results while you wait. This year the radiologist was troubled by the results and also had me do an ultrasound immediately. Everything was good but it was probably the longest 10-15 minutes of my life and cannot imagine the stress for anyone that has to wait days/weeks for the results.
Although not the most comfortable ordeal, such an easy test that literally can be lifesaving should not be avoided!!! Thanks, Ilona for using your tragedy as a positive for the rest of us!!!
Keep in mind that false positives are not uncommon. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/limitations-of-mammograms.html
Plans on the ACA must cover many preventive services for women without charging a copayment or coinsurance, even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible. That includes mammography every year or two. https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-women/
They are annoying and you can feel vulnerable standing there with it all hanging out, but they are not as bad as I was lead to believe before my first one. I approached it with trepidation and now it is just routine. It is definitely a must for all women!
Thank you, I needed this push.
A caring and considerate reminder, thank you for sharing. There’s certainly nothing I could say to lessen the pain of losing your mother, but I’m immensely grateful that she raised such a loving daughter. May your test results always be negative so you may meet any grandchildren your girls may have someday.
Thanks for the reminder. I will second the caution on false positives; I have micro-calcifications which have been stable for years. After consulting with the radiologist, I told my doctor I was fine with watchful waiting. We did mammograms every three months for a year, then every six months for another, now back to the regular schedule (I’m overdue though, so thanks again for the PSA).
On a lighter note: I worked for several years with a couple of Chinese women who were younger than I was. It was fun over the years introducing them to U.S. culture and learning about their culture. I cooked them a traditional turkey dinner, where the verdict was that turkey was great, but stuffing was strange. I learned from them that Spam works just fine in stir fry. We went for a weekend at the cabin and roasted marshmallows over the fire to make s’mores. They decided that marshmallows were fun to cook but not something they really wanted to eat.
Later that year I went in for a mammogram and one of them asked me what the process was like. I described it, and her comment was that it sounded like making s’mores. I have found mammograms less intimidating since I started thinking of myself as a human s’more.
I would like to add that even if you are below 40 you should do monthly self examinations. They shouldn’t be in lieu of a doctors examination but Its important to know what is “normal” on your breast. That way if you ever find something you know that its something to get checked out.
I’m in my 20’s so breast cancer isn’t something most of my peers think about but I’ve been doing self examinations since high school so when I found a lump I knew was new, and knew I needed to see a doc.
I thank G-d that it was benign and the surgery to remove it is small, but it was a wake up call. Just because the statistics are ower for one age group or another doesn’t make them safe. Know yourself an know your body that can save you even before its recommended to start with mammograms.
I love all of you for this.
A friend in her 40s had a mastectomy 2 years ago because of cancer. This year she partnered with a radiology office to have a “booby party” and invited her friends to come get tested after normal office hours. There was punch, breast cookies, pink balloons and lots of fun and prizes.
My grandmother had both breast removed because of cancer. They got to that one in time. Years laters I was pushing her in her wheelchair to the cash desk at a store. The store was doing a ’round-up’ promotion for breast cancer. When the cashier asked my grandma if she wanted to donate to the cause……she grabbed her saggy chest (she was past caring about wearing falsies), waggled the flesh up and down and said, “no thanks, I’ve already given.”!!!!
Mamograms? Ha Squishograms! Hate them. My women’s center is excellent. They have water, juice and snacks availible in the waiting room before my poor aging boobs are smashed like potaotes. They offer pretty pink capes , and the lady radiologists are sweet as pie. Nonetheless, I think the technology was invented by meanie misogynists in beverly hills. I sympathize with your distress, I have only faint traces of breast cancer in my family, but every year I sweat those results until I get the happy little letter saying all’s well. In fact thanks for the reminder, I am due for yet abother experiece of being mashed without the garlic, butter and cream that makes a banger and mash worth while. Sorry if I sound flippant, but humor makes terror a tad eaiser. Hang in there.
Glad you are going even though it’s hard! Several years ago I got my annual notice but things were hectic and I was not really comfortable going, I put it off. A few months later my spouse said ‘what’s that bump on your chest?’ Fortunately it was found in time and I’m still here, but it could have been much worse. Keeping up with self exams (I didn’t do that either) is another way to find problems early enough to give yourself a fighting chance. Your future grandkids will thank you!
Guyz & gals equally of the book devouring hoarde – get your preventative/wellness checks done annually in addition to the cancer screenings. Don’t procastinate either & just do it. Last year ended with sudden & serious health issues for a close family member it was scary & ended sadly-we kept being told it would have been manageable too if the illness was detected sooner.
In all things health (not just cancer screening), hopefully early detection will save a life or give a better fighting chance. Don’t procastinate on those preventive/ wellness checks (and tell/take your hubbies too).
I’m so sorry for your loss Ilona. Breast cancer is a devastating disease and I’ve seen first hand how it destroys people so thank you for posting this reminder.
My Nan survived 25 years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, a miracle since she had her mastectomy back in the 70s. She was the UK’s longest surviving breast cancer patient but it eventually spread everywhere and killed her.
We’re now watching my aunt fight the same battle. She lasted 15 years before it came back but we’re now at the point where it’s spread to her lungs, brain, stomach and liver. She’s been fighting hard for nearly two years now but we’ve been told the end is near.
I can’t stress how important early detection is. We had 25 years with my Nan because they caught it early enough and nearly 17 years with my aunt. It’ll never be enough time but I’m so, so grateful for what we did get.
Agreed completely. Both my mother and her sister are alive today due to routine mammogram that detected their cancers early enough to be treated. No one in my generation skips theirs, ever.
Thank you for the post. Breast cancer took my great grandmother before I was born, and I’ve always regretted that I never had the chance to meet her.
Fortunately in Australia mammograms are free, after the age of 40 you get bi-annual reminders, and after the age of 50 they remind you every year. Several things confuse me about the USA, health policies are at the top of that list. Australia is not perfect, but free health care for those with chronic conditions or who cannot afford it, and co-payments for those who can is definitely a plus.
My sympathies, Ilona, Sarah, and all here who lost someone. My mother was another of those 1970s mastectomies — one of the first to have a modified radical, back when it was still experimental. It worked for her, but about ten years ago, when she was 80, they saw a shadow in the other breast. So she had that one off, too, without waiting for a second, more sensitive mammogram, and now has bras in several cup sizes so she can be a pert A or a more voluptuous C as the mood takes her.
The thing is, it turned out that shadow was just a shadow — not cancer, not even a cyst. She didn’t worry about it, though; as she said at the time, she didn’t want them to find the real thing and have to have surgery when she was 90. As she’s ninety now, and more clear of mind and more energetic than I am, I have to agree.
I’ve got that call to come back for a second, more sensitive mammogram because they saw something three times. Each time the thing they saw turned out to be a cyst, into which the doctor stuck a needle to draw off the fluid, fixing the problem. And each time, because they saw something, I had two years of a mammogram every six months instead of every twelve, just in case. So don’t panic if you get that call — the result might merely be an annoyingly reassuring demonstration of how good mammograms are nowadays.
I was 36 when I found a lump in my breast. But no family history of breast cancer, and my sister did chronically get benign cysts, so I thought it was likely nothing. However, since I used to work in a surgeon’s office who did a lot of breast cancer surgeries, I called him to see if he would check it out for me. First words out of his mouth? “I’m scheduling you for a mammogram and sonogram”. So I get the tests done and the radiologist actually breaks protocol to tell me, “oh, you don’t just have one mass, you have two, but don’t worry, we’re 99.9% sure they’re benign”.
My old boss, the surgeon? “I don’t like the way the skin looks right above the one mass, I think you should get a biopsy done.”
Results of the biopsy? An aggressive, invasive type of breast cancer that’s less common than the ductal type that most women get and unfortunately doesn’t show the signs that radiologists look for in mammograms.
It is so, SO important to get an annual mammogram and, if you have dense breast tissue, even a breast MRI. At the very least, it will tell you if something’s there and then you can always go for the biopsy to be absolutely sure of whatever it is. Better by far to endure a little discomfort and have peace of mind, than find out too late.
A lumpectomy, a mastectomy, and chemotherapy, I’ve been in remission for 10 years. Unfortunately, blood work at a visit to my oncologist just this past Monday, is showing some very troubling signs – amongst which, after years of being stable, my tumor markers have suddenly doubled. So I’m going to be getting a lot of tests over the next few weeks to find out whether I’m still in remission or whether the cancer is active somewhere in my body. One of those many tests? Another mammogram and a sonogram of my remaining breast and the mastectomy site. ? They are one of the go-to tests for doctors for a reason – they’re reliable, accurate and with advances in technology, are finding cancers earlier and earlier. So get your mammogram every year and, if you find a lump and you’re under 40, and your doctor tries to say you’re “too young”? Get another doctor and demand a mammogram at the very least. It just might save your life.
Props to your former boss!
And good luck to you. Is there a major cancer care center tied in to your treatment, by one means or another?
Yeah, he was the best. I’d left working for him to work for a corporation and my insurance plan didn’t have him in network. When I called his new secretary, whom I used to work with, he was in surgery so she took my message asking him to recommend some doctors to me to get the lump checked out. She called me back saying, “He called in from the OR to get his messages and says ‘don’t be silly, come in and I’ll check it out for free’. He was even going to my biopsy pro bono but my insurance refused to cover the hospital portion if he did the surgery. He was the only one to recommend biopsy and I’m so very glad I listened to him.
Unfortunately my insurance doesn’t cover Cancer Centers of America or Memorial Sloan Kettering, but I go to North Shore Hematology Oncology and they’re great. Just hope my circulating tumor cell test comes back as 0 and my tumor markers go back down on retest.
Glad to hear it. It’s not about getting the absolute biggest name (with a few exceptions) just making sure you’re working with folks who have good equipment and are current with the latest research, and work on this kind of thing enough that they’re really good at it. I still have the most friends at the Hutch (the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center) which is mostly a research house, but part of a cancer care network in Seattle that’s pretty terrific.
Of course, you still have to get to them in a reasonable time frame. Part of the reason I’m nosy about such things is that one of my cousins, who I’d partly grown up with, had a recurrence of her cancer – not breast cancer, it originally occurred in her knee, from what I understand – while working as an international lawyer and living in Japan. I would have expected that the standard of care there would be high (and her mother’s family is Japanese, and well connected) but when her parents finally brought her back to the US so that her pain would be more aggressively treated, the Hutch affiliated doctors found two softball sized tumors that had not previously been noted. She was put on an experimental genetic medication, and was showing signs of responding – but it was just too late. She was in her mid thirties. I got to speak with her once before she died – even with her parents’ blessings! Which, considering the ridiculous family politics in play, is something I’m deeply grateful for.)
I love my oncologist because he’s very thorough and cautious. Anything concerning crops up and he’s ordering tests to be safe. Exactly what I want in a doctor.
I’m so sorry about your cousin but I’m glad you did get to speak with her before she passed. As I’ve said before, it’s better to be hypervigilant and get tests done to find out it’s benign than risk being too late.
Exactly what you want in a physician.
There’s a lot I don’t know about the specifics of my cousin’s situation – in theory, everyone in that branch of the family had stopped speaking to me. (My cousins sometimes spoke to me anyway, but not often, being so far away – as I said, incredibly stupid family politics.) But… she was very bright and thorough,* as were her parents, and she should have had access to the best available medical care in Japan – certainly, they had no trouble finding excellent care for her in the US, and she should have had no shortage of support, even before her parents moved out there. It sounded like differences in standard practices around scanning technology? But I got that all third hand, and by the time I spoke with her, she was pretty weak and I wasn’t going to waste our time interrogating her about such things. So I don’t really know.
* She, her brother, and I were all part of a program and sent us to the university when we were thirteen (she and I) or fourteen (her brother.) Not the same year, but it was an odd place, and it’s part of the bond.
“then you can always go for the biopsy to be absolutely sure of whatever it is. Better by far to endure a little discomfort and have peace of mind, than find out too late.”
This. Had any of my cysts actually been malignant, trying to drain them would have revealed that a proper biopsy was needed and we would have been able to do something useful. Best wishes for a good outcome, Christina.
Thanks so much! I’m keeping my fingers crossed but very worried – lobular breast cancer (my type) has a tendency to recur after the ten year mark, so we’re being vigilant.
I go every two years. My maternal grandmother died aged 52 from breat cancer and my paternal aunt had two mastectomies so that puts me at risk. I’m in Canada so it’s covered and the local breast clinic contacts me to remind me when I’m due. Grateful for our health care.
The following link might be of interest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWT09ZDqFlE
Paul Stamets – Breast Cancer – Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Also, these :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0E0l2aIps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ClZ0TbPm8
My sister had a mastectomy of her left breast on 1/31 (just over a week ago). When she was originally diagnosed they thought it was stage 1; pathology after surgery has it at stage 2. She still has some journey to go; what that will be we don’t know yet, but should find out Monday. She has a very good survival chance (93%). The only reason she has this chance is because she went for her routine mammogram. She had no symptoms before.
I know a 25 yr old new mother who died of breast cancer just last year, It was awful. My advice for every woman is to start early with annual exams. This is one of the reasons why Planned Parenthood is so great: no matter your income they will see you, so many women have been saved because of early detection. It’s a problem in America, women can’t afford medical care and low cost clinics take all day, so they put it off, sometimes with devastating results. Cervical cancer is on the rise, so ladies whether you’re 18 or 50 get an annual exam!
Thank you!
I am an Oncology Nurse and worked for 5 1/2 years in the hospital with adult cancer patients. We rarely had breast cancer patients because it is such a treatable disease and there is so much screening for it. When we did it was always a very sad case and usually there was very little left that we could do for them.
I am due for my first mammogram next year and, though I am not looking forward to it, I will go and make the best of it.:)
Go, Sweetie.
Last summer, my doctor suggested a mammogram, since somehow I’d never had one. I should have been past the age for getting one (67), but just in case…
The lumpectomy was in September, then in October the world went crazy for me and the follow up had to wait. Yesterday, I got the prep work for radiation treatment done. (Do the tiny dots count as a real tattoo?) It will probably start in a week or so.
I was very lucky. My lump was tiny, it had not spread and it was not the aggressive type.
I would not have known without the mammogram, not until I was very ill indeed.
Go and know somebody’s mom wishes you the best.
Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories {{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}.
Thank you for sharing your story. My aunt died of breast cancer a few years ago because she didn’t go to a doctor until she had an open, weeping, painful wound. It was just too late for the doctor to do anything but pain management.
This is an important message. I go every year. It’s not pleasant, but it is necessary.
Beautifully said! Thank you for the reminder
I also lost my mother at a relatively young age. She was only 59 and had fought for 13 years. I’ve been getting mammograms for several years now and every time I worry. I am now older than my mother was when she was diagnosed. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Thanks for the reminder. It’s the other I need to book, and I keep forgetting (honestly, I’m not just being wimpy and putting it off).
I give myself one for my birthday every year. Along with a general physical (femaie poke-and-prod as I call it). Last year, I got to add my first ever colonoscopy. Yay! But I hope to have many more birthdays ahead and this is being proactive.
On a Wednesday last October I received a call from my niece letting me know my sister had been diagnosed with metastasized cancer and would be having surgery. I was on the next flight out to Austin to sit with my niece during the surgery. Without going into too much detail, my sweet, loving, and only sister survived the surgery and is currently in treatment, Thank God. As we headed down to the recovery room, my niece and I looked at each other and I said: “So, when is your next mammogram scheduled?” as we had learned my sister had not had a mammogram in years because she hated them. After I got home, I made an appointment with my doctor. The nice thing was the tech who performed my mammogram, given what had preceded my coming in, said if there were any abnormalities seen, I would be contacted within three days to discuss the results, recommendations, and options. Otherwise, if everything were normal, I could call after thee days or wait until I received my results in the mail. I really appreciated her compassion. My results came back in as everything looked normal and a see-you-next-time.
Good luck! My is scheduled for tomorrow. I get to have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound because last time they found suspicious things and needed to do a biopsy. They found nothing but it seems likely that from now on I get to have diagnostics; extra views and squishy moments, they are so much fun but a lot better than cancer.
De-stress your breasts people! Get checked! Especially if you have a family history. Or, if you’re like me, and are adopted and have NO clue! ( * Y * ) Booooobies (with spangles)
Ilona, thank you for reminding us all, and everyone who has shared here, thank you.
My Mom was a lucky one in regard to her breast cancer. She found a lump, and did nothing. She played mind games with herself. She went through two annual physicals. She didn’t ask about, or point out the lump. She waited, and when the doctor didn’t find or say anything, she told herself she was OK. I don’t remember why she finally said something to her doctor. The specialist didn’t think the growth pattern looked like cancer, but they biopsied. It was cancer. Her cancer was encapsulated. Due to the location, they had to remove the whole breast. They removed I think 5 of the lymph nodes (about 40 years ago) and they were clear. She was incredibly lucky. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how well educated, no matter that you know better, that you don’t have time, human beings tend to find ways to justify or get around some of the tough/scary things. Five years after Mom’s mastectomy, her 5-years-younger than her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. Hers was a different type, and it was in her lymph nodes. She is in her 80s now. I go my baseline mammogram when I was 35 (30 years ago, yikes!), and after 40, annuals. A few years ago, I got my first call back. Stress levels went through the rough, but it was dense tissue. It happened a second time, again, dense tissue, but hasn’t happened again. It is well worth the stress to get that OK for another year, or to have an increased chance of beating breast cancer.
About 12 years after her mastectomy, Mom had unrelated, primary, duodenal (first part of intestine) cancer. She had a partial blockage which resulted in on and off “flu like symptoms.” She saw the doctor because she couldn’t kick the “flu.” Right after the surgery, the surgeon told me there was a tiny whole, so the cancer was loose in her body. When the lab tests came back, they showed that there was a microscopic layer of tissue still there, so there was not a hole. She had other side effects which resulted in two very long stays in the hospital, but the cancer was gone. I always think of that microscopic layer of tissue, and of what if she hadn’t seen the doctor when she did. Time can be of the essence.
Jump to twelve years later, and she was diagnosed with a third primary, unrelated, cancer. A terminal, very fast growing, Glioblastoma Multiforma brain tumor. Her tumor was about two inches by two inches at diagnosis. How the heck was she so normal with a tumor that size in her brain? She said it wasn’t in her plans to die of a brain tumor at the age of 85, and had surgery to give her a little time by slowing the tumor down, and went through radiation and then chemo. She held out for four months. She hadn’t had obvious symptoms from the tumor before she suddenly got confused and then unable to move her body (swelling in brain, which steroids helped briefly).
As far as I know, no one does brain screenings routinely. Glioblastoma Multiforma do not run in families. Mom didn’t have headaches, but I have to tell you, I get nervous if I have a headache, or a couple of headaches fairly close together. That too, is human nature – that worry. At least I can get my routine mammograms, and annual physical.
Mel Burns – thank you for the shout out about Planned Parenthood. I was thinking about them as I was reading some of the comments. A lot of folks forget, or want us to forget, that Planned Parenthood provides many different services to women and men – including lots of cancer screenings.
Best wishes for strength and good health to all fighting, or supporting someone who is fighting, cancer, and good test results for all!
*hugs* Early detection is so, so critical. Thank you for this PSA.
This is just wonderful thank you for sharing and reminding us all.
Had my boobs squished already this year. On the upside, recently met a kickass 89 years young breast cancer survivor. She’s married to a younger man (he’s 85), has taken up driving again, and told me stories about her mom. She happened to be one of my Aunt’s BFFS.
For those of you who like dark humor, there is a great book called The Red Devil: To Hell With Cancer and Back by Katherine Russell Rich, a breast cancer survivor. I read it a few times when my mom was fighting her cancer. It really helped me, might help some of you. Hey, laughter is healing, right? It can definitely take your mind off the pain.