Just the other day I was posting to the social networks that I’d just realized that I’d passed the five-year mark since my original breast cancer diagnosis in 2007, and was closing in on five years since I’d been pronounced cancer-free and had commenced reconstruction surgery. (All that got started in 2008, until everything was finished off in 2009.)
I’d just had my latest mammogram this past week, and was expecting it to be routine. They’ve been having me in for regular mammograms ever since the 2007-2009 excitements, and they’ve been keeping a really, really sharp eye on me in general.
Which means that when they see things like new calcifications in a mammogram, this trips all their alarms.
Calcifications in the breast, for those of you who don’t know, are one of the very early warning indicators of breast cancer. They are in fact what got me started on the first round of fun, with my first mammogram back in 2007. Apparently now I have some new ones–this time on the left side.
They are very tiny, only 3mm in size. But the fact that they’re there at all, given my history, is suspicious. So the team at Evergreen has scheduled me for a biopsy next week to see if they can get a better look at them. Since the calcifications in question are so tiny, however, a biopsy might not even work. In that event, we punt to Plan B–sending me to the same surgeon I worked with before, who’d take out the suspicious area. The biopsy is scheduled for Monday. The backup surgeon visit is scheduled for Tuesday.
And Wednesday is my birthday. Which means I get a biopsy for my birthday. And another possible round of DCIS, depending on how this goes. I don’t mind telling you, Internets, I’m really nervous about this, because really not in the mood to do this again.
All good thoughts, crossed fingers, prayers, lit candles, fluffy small cute creatures, awesome bouzouki players, podorythmic fiddle players, or crack ninja assassin teams to take out whatever gnomes have dedicated themselves to taking over what’s left of my breasts would be most appreciated. If I have to do this again, though, at least this time my choices will be much clearer. If there’s anything going on on the left, we’ll be going straight to mastectomy.
More bulletins as events warrant.
Comments
36 responses to “Well, today just got really, REALLY annoying”
AUGH!! 🙁 Here’s hoping it turns out to be a false alarm! *BIG HUGS*
Thanks! *hugs* Me too, most definitely. It’s possible that they might be keying off of scar tissue from the previous procedures. We’ll just have to see.
[…] bad medical news makes me stressy and antsy, and because DAMMIT ALL next week is my birthday and I need a boost of […]
I’m very sorry to hear this, but stay positive, Anna! Will be sending you lots of positive thoughts and prayers as well. Hugs.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate it! *hugs*
That sucks. Hope it’s not anything but a false alarm. Prayers in.
Thank you, Fraser!
Thinking of you, Angela!
Thank you, Cindy!
Saying prayers for you!
Thank you, Natalie! I appreciate it!
Ugh! My thoughts and prayers are with you. Definitely keep us posted but special prayers going out now. Big Hugs!
Thank you very much, Kathy! I really appreciate it.
I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this. Sending prayers and well wishes your way!
Thank you, Shawna. I really appreciate it!
I hate seeing this. Please keep us updated. Sending hopeful thoughts your way.
Samantha, thank you! The part that really just gets me down is that this’d make round three of me having to do this particular dance. Tired of it now and got things to do, books to write!
Will keep the Carina loop posted, I really appreciate you all giving me your good thoughts!
I’m coming up on my two-year post chemo (colon cancer) PET scan…and those things never fail to make me feel twitchy. I’m not in the mood to ever have to go through this again either, so I completely understand what you’re feeling right now.
Sending up prayers that all goes well and everything turns up all clear.
Ooh, many sympathies, Cynthia. Too damn many people I know who’ve fought this battle in one way or another.
Thank you very much!
Thinking of you Angela. Sorry you’re going through this.
Thank you, Shelley, very much appreciated!
Thinking of you, Angela! *HUGS*
Thank you, Kait, I appreciate it! *hugs!*
Sending good vibes your way, Angela.
Thank you very much, Jenny!
Fingers crossed and praying for you! My mom went through the same thing this past year. No fun.
Thank you, Georgie, and many sympathies to your mother!
Sending you TONS of good, positive wishes, as well as some HUGS. Take care of *you*….
Thank you very much, Veronica! I had to be reminded of that very thing a lot the first time this happened, very much hoping I won’t have to do it again. But if I do, I’ll be doing my best to remember that very advice. *hugs!*
I’m so sorry! Praying hard that it turns out to be a false alarm.
Thank you, Susanna! So say we all.
Hang in there, Anna.
You can do this.
Thank you, Toni! I very much appreciate that.
[…] as some of you know, my partner Anna has medical news again. So to break out of that resulting mood, she’s put Faerie Blood on sale, both print and epub […]
Now that is just cosmically unfair.
You’ve got a lot of people in your corner. We’re rooting for you.
Thank you, Sarah! And yeah, I’m deeply unamused by this turn of events, and it will be going on 2013’s performance review.