Long day but worth every minute! This is Holy Thursday and I will say I felt as if every person i met today ‘washed my feet’ so to speak. It was humbling. The best way to divulge is to give play by play through pictures.
6:00am – Picked up Lauri and headed to MDA (M D Anderson) for my 2nd opinion mammogram.
7:20am – Registered in the “Undiagnosed Breast Clinic” and given a schedule for the day and my arm band with my MRN (Medical Record Number which is good for the rest of my life at MDA…for whatever issue I might have in the future cancer related. As morbid or odd as it sounds, it’s a comforting perk. 😉 )
8:00am – Called back to meet with the P.A. Ana
9:30am – After being informed by Ana that my slides from my past five years of mammograms (including the ones taken last week) were not ‘good enough’ for the Radiologist to view I was in another room getting dressed (rather undressed) for another set of mammograms.
10:00am – Every doctor and technician were thorough beyond belief. They took more pictures of my boobs than I can count. And ultimately I was asked to go back for an ultrasound as well since my left breast (the one in question) was ‘dense’.
10:30am – Back in the waiting room I am not able to get into the ultrasound until my scheduled 1pm appointment time. Lauri and I go explore.
12:30pm – I sign in for the Ultrasound.
1:15pm – I’m called back. It gets busier in the afternoon!
2:10pm – Ultrasound technician comes in and wakes me up. 😉 She puts the cold gel on my chest and the screen comes to life. I’m at peace. Even though I’ve been there 6 hours I knew that whatever they said to me at this point I’d trust and it would all be okay. She told me the mammograms were ‘clear’ but explained as she was looking and taking snap shots that they wanted to get a better look through ultrasound as well to make sure nothing was ‘hiding’ in the dense tissue. (Thorough!)
2:25pm – Radiologist comes in and does another ultrasound and explains I have a bunch of cysts in my left breast but they are not solid masses. Some are filled with liquid calcifications but it is nothing to be concerned about. She explained how the calcifications lined up on the mammograms as well and that they are certain they are benign. YEAH! 🙂
I would not need to go back in 6 months, I am CLEAR. I was told to get dressed, wait for a report to take to my last and final appointment (the final review) and I would see them in a year.
2:45pm – Lauri and I went back for the final review where they reiterated my good news and asked if I wanted to continue my mammograms at MDA. I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I was given a thorough review and a definitive answer – praise God!
4:35pm – Made it home to find a sweet gift from Karen – what a blessing with all the texts and emails from friends as well who were praying for me! Thank you….so nice to have the reassurance of prayers from family and friends. Better to give them good news!!! 😉
HUGS & KISSES? 🙂
Thank you Karen!
5:15pm – Neal, Ryan, Seth and I left for dinner and show downtown. JERSEY BOYS!
7:20pm – Wait?…What? Who is this putting her arms around my son?? :/
Oh, yes, she has been in many plays with him. Abby. 😉 (I’m not freaking out, really. I’m not….)
10:30pm – Happy boys, GREAT SHOW, blessed day, and God showed up in every single moment.
By the way, all in all getting a second opinion was the best decision for me. I feel good and it is behind me. No guessing, no wondering, no questions and certainly no waiting! Definitely looking forward to the rest of this Blessed Easter Weekend.
Blessings
Shannon