Intro

This all started in early December 2010, when I found a lump myself.

So I find this lump and wonder, “Did I bruise myself while workinng with the pacas recently. Since I bruise somewhat easily, and can never remember when/where it happened, I paused on this idea for a moment. Or was this the scar from the breast biopsy and tumor removal (benign) five years ago? Nope that was the right side, this was the left breast.

I realized I had missed a recent mammo, and other female check ups, but was not that overdue. It was actually July 2010 when I should have been rechecked. So I started with my OB/GYN for the exam within just a couple of days. Then we scheduled the routine mammogram. Well, that was promptly followed by an ultrasound a couple of days before our Dallara holiday gathering. Of course, all through this I told myself to be positive, that it was probably like the experience 5 years before and not to let it alarm me. Because of this, I kept it to Mark and I as I did not want to scare my girls for sure becuase it was probably nothing to worry about. But when the Radiologist came in after the US and said I needed to be sure and schedule a biopsy because the two lumps were concerning.

So about two weeks later, on 1/6/11 to be exact, so my new HIGH DEDUCTIBLE insurance would not be met first in December and then again a few days later if something more was going on I had the core needle biopsy with mammotone assist performed. Both the Radiology Tech and Radiologist at Sonoma Valley Hospital were wonderful, caring, and gentle. Boy was that needle to numb my breast GIGANTIC, and then the “chop stick” looking cylinder used to take the samples fun to watch on the ultrasound screen. Not to mention the tugging of the cylinder as he had to use force to work it into the right spots. Dr. Chin took samples from two nodules, although we bot clearly saw what looked like a THIRD, bump between those two. Yes, I said THREE. Holly shit - can’t this get better instead of worse? Enough already!!!

So that was on Thursday, and Dr. Chin said I would be notified on Friday. After a couple of calls into the hospital on Hospital on Friday, it was evident he was being much too optimistic and it would be Monday before I learned more. So it was time.... time to tell my sweet daughters what had been going on for the last month. Time to get it off my chest and let them be there for me. Of course Alura and Sarah were concerned but assured me that all would be okay. Donna too was in the loop because we were both talking about mammograms recently and such and she was anxious, yet positive.

So Monday morning at 8am I get a call.....

LIVESTRONG:

I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!