You may have noticed I have not been posting much these days. I have been preoccupied by doctor visits, tests, and more doctor visits. Last week I had surgery to remove several lumps from my right breast. They were biopsied, and today I learned that I have breast cancer.
"What? Me? This kind of thing doesn't happen to me. I eat all organic food. I use non-toxic home and garden products. I don't smoke or drink. I'm careful about what I furnish and paint my house with. I should be healthy. How could this happen?"
Just over a year ago I detected a lump in my breast. I called the doctor who agreed to see me promptly. He also felt the lump and scheduled me for a mammogram. It was the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced. They took my suspicious little lump and put it in a vice and squeezed it...for good measure. So they think. The doctor didn't even bother to contact me with the results. When I called him he said that the radiologist said it was nothing.
Then about four weeks ago I noticed that I had at least five lumps where previously there was one. I scheduled an appointment with my new doctor; the other one had graduated and left the practice. She confirmed the presence of the lumps. I told her that I would not ever have another mammogram. I insisted on an ultrasound. She scheduled it. When she didn't get back to me with any results I left a message for her to call. Then I left messages for the director of the clinic and one of her peers as well. Finally she called. She told me over the phone that I needed to see a surgeon for a biopsy.
You always hear that time is so critical where cancer is concerned; that early detection is important. Well I detected my cancer early. It took the medical "professionals" over a year to agree with me. I agonize over the unnecessary damage that was done over that period of time; the progression of the disease; the radical solution that will now have to be carried out.
There was a report on the news tonight about a national study whereby mammograms were sent out for readings by radiologists across the country. It was discovered that the accuracy rate for being able to identify cancer ranges from 27-100%, depending on how experienced the radiologist is that's reading the mammogram. So early detection is one thing, but if the person who reads your mammogram, the person who holds your life in their hands, is not experienced with breast imaging, then early detection is of no value whatsoever. Make sure that the radiologist has the experience of reading breast images at least 20% of the time. And get a second opinion.
I would be grateful if anyone has anything to share with me on the subject of breast cancer, or knows anyone who does. I am quite lost at the moment and in need of hearing from those who've have been through this. Thank you ever so kindly.
