And the Good News Is

I'm the not so happy but much relieved "owner" of an 8mm fibroadenoma. I still have one in my right breast, so now I've got one in my left breast again. I'd been assured there was a 99 per cent chance this was nothing, but as the weekend dragged on, I was starting to think I could be in that unfortunate one per cent. However, I'm not and it wasn't until the doctor called with the good news that I realized how nervous I'd been. I'm breathing normally now, and apparently, for the last couple of days, I hadn't, because I feel so much better now.

Nothing else to blog about today. That's more than enough! :)

Feeling:

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: health

Why I Don't Use My Real Name

My employer now has a blogging policy. While it mostly covers blogging (and by blogging, they mean all interaction online on social sites as well as blogging) at work, which is allowed if it advances the employer's services in some way, there's stuff about blogging outside of work with regard to what can and can't be said. Not that I'd ever insult my employer online, but it's quite clear that being careful is the prudent way to go.

Meanwhile, I had my procedure and the test results are due back on Monday. Ninety-nine per cent nothing to worry about. So of course, I'm wondering if that one percent could be me.

In writing a post on my LiveJournal, I mentioned that I can be more upfront about some things anonymously than where people actually know me. Some of my LJ friends are real life friends. My Facebook friends are all people I know in real life. While I mentioned on LJ that I had a health issue to deal with, I didn't explain. I haven't mentioned it on Facebook. And yet, while a few people I know offline read this blog, I have no hesitancy in mentioning that I had a biopsy (and the doctor took more sample this time than the last time I had this done. Ouch!) and now my boob is sore (I can see the search string now for "sore boobs"). And it's the left one, yep, the side with the frozen shoulder, so now my left arm aches and I can't do my stretches because that makes the boob hurt more and it's a big annoyance right now. I really don't want to go backward with the arm/shoulder and I don't have another physical therapy session for 2 weeks.

I should go find some fun links to share, but I'm too distracted and lazy to bother. Oh wait, I bookmarked this video the other night, of David Letterman's Election Coverage recap. It's truly amazing. I watched it live, then on a whim, Googled it and the video was online in a number of places. We do live in interesting times, immediate and connected times.

Feeling:

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: health

The Big Sigh of Relief

I am so relieved. I don't get political here much, but I am so relieved and happy about the President-Elect. I usually like watching the returns on tv, but I was so anxious last night, I couldn't bear it. I did watch McCain give his concession speech, which was a good one, and then, Obama's acceptance speech, which was magnificent and full of hope and delivered with the calm confidence we need in a leader, not an aw shucks tone or a macho or arrogant tone.

Then I got pulled back down by reality with my mammogram today. Another likely adenoma that needs to be biopsied, just to completely rule out its being anything else. Mammograms, women! A most excellent idea. And you men out there... men can get breast cancer, too.

The Castle Personality Test

You have no problem diving into new experiences. You're so brave that you don't even notice how courageous you are. You like to think that people see you as dramatic and fascinating. You do your best to seem mysterious. You are a very romantic person. You can't help but see the world as it should be. Right now, you feel like the whole world is open to you. You see lots of possibilities. Overall, your life is calm and steady. Not much stirs you, and each day is full of joy. You feel like the fate of the future partially rests in your hands. You believe you need to help make the world a better place.

The Castle Personality Test

Feeling:

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: quizzes

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I'd meant to do this pic earlier in the month. Actually, I'd taken a picture last November when I got my annual mammogram and planned to use it, but I just couldn't bring myself to post it. So, I used one of my Barbie dolls, instead.

It's recommended that women over 40 get annual mammograms (after a baseline mammogram a couple of years earlier) and high risk women should probably be getting them in their 30s. Men can get breast cancer, too. Everyone should do monthly self checks.

Feeling: Well, really feeling serious, but don't have a graphic for that and don't want to make more until I figure out where to store them.

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: breast cancer

Boob Talk

You guys out there might want to click the Next Blog button or something til another post here bumps this one down a bit.

It's no longer Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or whatever the official name is. That's October. But every November, usually the Wednesday after Election Day because I take the whole week off from work, I get my mammogram/sonogram combo test. And to my relief, my boobs got another year off for good behavior.

Oh sure, there are still my monthly self-exams because lumps can show up at any time and lumps can mean cancer. My father's mother died of breast cancer back in the '40s when she was in her 40s. And there are plenty of other types of cancer in my family to make it a real concern for me. I've previously blogged about my experience with fibroadenomas. And of course, that was before categories here and I can't find the posts, at least, not quickly.

So anyway, I went and had my breasts squeezed and flattened and yes, I won't lie, it hurt, but not so much and not for long and it sure hurts a helluva lot less than dealing with breast cancer, surgery, and chemo would be, and the longer you wait, the worse the treatment is likely to be if something is finally discovered. I have a friend, now past her breast reconstruction phase, who learned this the hard way.

Today's technician was young and friendly and I made sure to compliment her when I got to see the doctor, same as I'd complained about the nasty technician a couple of years ago. A good technician who is pleasant and sensitive and tries to put you at ease, because, let's face it, this isn't a fun time, can go a long way in making this tolerable.

I really can't urge women 40 and over to get this done annually. One day a year, an hour or so of your time, can save your life, or at least, your breasts. Or, as some folks have put it, Save 2nd Base. Sure, donating money, doing the Breast Cancer fundraising walk, help, but that's helping others. Sometimes, you have to help yourself, too, and this is so basic, so simple, it's a no-brainer. Really. Get those boobs scanned, squeezed, and then slathered in gel for the sonogram portion of the festivities. And the sonogram is a must because it catches much that the mammogram alone doesn't.

I took a pic of most of one of my breasts -- the right one -- with the little sticker tag thingie on the nipple (for identification purposes on the mammogram), while I was in the little dressing room they have (I go to a fairly large radiology center here in NYC, which is really nice, with amenities like deodorant, which you can't wear before the tests, nor powder, because as the doctor explained, both can simulate calcification). And I really intended to post it. But I chickened out. I'm just too damned self-conscious, even though my face isn't in the shot. People I work with read this blog. My husband sometimes reads it. My sister knows about it, as does my 16-year-old nephew. And I just can't post that pic, even if there's nothing remotely sexy or salacious about it. I feel a bit bad about that, because it would've been a real attention getter and I wanted to draw attention to this very important subject.

Not a fun post tonight. But an important one, for sure.

Feeling: . Damn. I need a *serious* mood icon.

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: mammograms

Mammogram Day

For nearly 15 years now, I've been getting a mammogram in November and for the last decade or so, the big day is the Wednesday after Election Day, like it's a holiday or something. I take off from work (well, lately, I've been taking off the entire week because the weekend before is usually Philadelphia Miniaturia, and I have other doctors to visit and errands to run, but I digress, as usual) and with the appointment in the morning, I have the rest of the day off to either worry myself crazy about test results or to enjoy the relief of good news. Today was good news.

The boobs are just fine. No changes in the cysts and the fibroadenoma. And as much as I didn't like the technician from last year who I found rude and arrogant and condescending, today's technician was wonderful, very friendly and warm and pleasant. That's half the job, keeping the patient relaxed. And you women out there who are 40 and older and haven't had a mammogram, please do yourself and your loved ones a favor and get one done and keep going yearly. It's really not so bad. Just when you think, Ack, I can't stand this anymore, it's over. I get a routine sonogram, too, done by one of the docs, and I get my results right then and there, which is wonderful.

I did, however, get drenched on the way there and then again, on the way home. There are lakes at some street corners. I half-expected to see fish swimming there. I did see waves, thanks to the wind.

Meanwhile, here's a cheery link: Make your own sculpture. From Generator Blog.

Feeling:

~~~o0o~~~
Technorati Tags: mammogram, health, links

Randomicity

Today's online horoscope:

"A message you were never expecting is due, and you'll want to drop everything and respond by making some big changes. If you start things now -- right now -- you'll have a huge burst of energy to get you off on the right track."

Well, gosh darned it, I'd better get busy.

Meanwhile, had my annual mammogram/sonogram today and all is fine, which is great because I wasn't in the mood for more biopsies and procedures. Didn't have my usual technician, though, for the mammogram. She's older and works only part-time now. The one I had needs to work on her uh, machine-side manner. She displayed not one iota of a sense of humor and talked at me, not to me. I'm not a complainer, but I did tell the doctor I was underimpressed by the woman.

It looks like night outside, but isn't raining. Yet.

Stopped at the little grocery for milk on the way home and found French Vanilla Milano Cookies, and yes, they also have the trademark chocolate inside. I can't wait to taste them, but I have to finish the pack of Double Chocolate Milanos first. Pepperidge Farm is one of my main chocolate pushers. They also have Chocolate Fudge Pirouette Cookies now. I must look for them. Must have. Musthavemusthave. Oops. Sorry. Got a bit carried away.

Now to go find my desk which is buried under a shitload of paper. It's amazing how much can pile up when you're away for 4 days. I've skimmed the newspapers (okay, read the comics) and gone through the magazines. Now to tackle the hard stuff, sorting and filing crap paperwork.


Feeling:

chocolate
personal