December 1998 Updates!
December 25, 1998
Many things went through my mind at this point. I slightly berated myself for not going ahead with a prophylactic mastectomy last year, but then I thought that if I did have breast cancer that it was at least found early. So luck was on my side again. I even thought about how I was going to be able to work and remain independent. Meanwhile, I sat through several different mammography angles and magnifications, while Brittany counted the butterflies on the wallpaper. The last time the technician left the room, I decided that Brittany and I should cross everything we had and do some visualizations. We sat there with our hands, arms, fingers, legs, hair and eyes crossed, and then we pictured the technician coming in and saying, "Merry Christmas. Go home. You have nothing to worry about.!"
The technician did not return, instead the doctor came in the room. For about 3 seconds I was sure that I was about to hear that I had some big percent of a chance of breast cancer, which is why he likely side right off, "Don't worry, it's good news." Phew. He told me that is was just calcification in my skin, a place that breast cancer cannot exist. He explained that with my history he had to scrutinize me extra close, and that he would like to see me in 6 months instead of a year. That concerned me a little bit, but he assured me that for now I have nothing to worry about. As I left the technician shouted out from behind a door, "Merry Christmas, you have nothing to worry about." Where had I heard that before?
As for Christmas day today, it was just like old times. A photo just might be coming soon, and as photos tend to do, it will describe the day with a thousand words.
January 1998 Updates!
Yesterday, on Christmas Eve, I had a two and a half hour mammogram. I sat in the waiting room with Brittany who was entertaining herself by locking and unlocking all the lockers. There were two women in in the room with me, one who would not look at anyone as she tried not to cry, and a women sitting next to me who told me as much of her medical history as she could before they called her name. She was in for a magnified mammogram and just wanted to hear some good news so that she could enjoy her Christmas. She had her turn before I did, and by the time we met back in the waiting room, I was in the same position as she was, in need of a magnified mammogram. The reason was because they found some density on the left side and some even more suspicious spots on my right side. They even went as far as to say that the spots looked like what could be the beginning of breast cancer. Goody for me.
The other lady getting her magnified mammogram was waiting for me when I returned with my results, she had had good news about herself but she had waited to see how I was doing. How nice was that? We had both had a Christmas scare, and for those hours we were in the same shoes. It was one of those holiday moments.
©1996 Diana L.E.G. Hinnrichs