Check Out My Breasts!

Back in September I found a lump in my right breast while doing my own breasts check. It was scary! I went to the GP as soon as possible, mind you, My GP only do two morning sessions a week without appointment, the rest of the week are appointment only.

After an examination, I was told to go back within a month. So, I thought it was nothing. There is no history of breast cancer in my family, my risks are small and I knew the statistic of breast cancer, most of the cases involve women above 50 years old. Then I talked to my colleagues and Sandra was adamant that I have to be careful about it because in her experience it was also harmless at the first time around she found a lump. However, last year she found another lump (I believe it was for the 3rd time), it was cancerous and was removed immediately. That's not something I want to hear.

One month past, I went back to the GP as the lump still there and it almost always hurts. Those who know me understand when I said I am in pain; I 'm not kidding or looking for attention. I am used to pain, my pain level is quite high. So, I don't normally complaint about pain unless it really bothers me. He said the pain is a good sign; it is rarely cancerous, it is probably just fibrocystic change. Well, it's easy for him to say, he's not the one having pain in his breast, is he? Anyhow, I was told to wait three months to see the progress.

Last January I went back to his office on a Friday, and after another examination he made me an appointment with... Mammae (Breasts) Clinic for Monday! He said he just wants to make sure. The thing is, most of the time in Holland it takes ages to get an appointment with the hospital, except if you are an urgent case. It took me 2 months just to get an appointment to do CT scan a couple of years ago. So, an appointment for next Monday was unnerving to say the least!

By Sunday evening I was getting anxious, so I searched Mayo clinic to read about what kind of things they are going to do with me on the next day and what I can expect from the result. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. I freaked out. At first I thought I was going to the clinic by myself just like I always did, but by that time I was starting calling out my friends. Most of them were either unreachable or already got something planned. At the end U said he would swing by the hospital after his interview. Fine. I am not afraid about the mammography or the USG, but I need someone with me during the consultation, in case I am getting some bad news.

In the morning I was surprisingly calm and went to the hospital alone. First I met this nurse to do the intake interview and a physical exam, and she drew the area of the lump on my breast. Then, I was sent to the Radiology department. While waiting for my turn, I called U to tell him that he didn't have to come by, as I was my-old-self by then. First I did the mammograms. You know, I bet the inventor of mammograph is a guy, because most of the time guys won’t need to do mammograms. Boy, it hurts. First, the nurse had to positioned my breast in a certain way and then pressed it like when you make a waffle to take the x-ray. I don’t know how they do it with guys (yes, there are men who got breast cancer) or women with not much flesh up there; I think some pulling (ouch!) of the breasts is required.

Then came the USG, it was a walk in a park compared to the mammo. The only discomfort was the cold gel the doctor was using. After getting the result from the radiologist, I met my surgeon. A female doctor who once worked at Cikini hospital back in the 80's for a couple of months. The verdict was: a cyst, a fluid-filled sac about 1 cm³. Nothing to worry about. But I still have to go back in 3 months for check up.

In the end, (both Sandra's and) my story ended up well. But there are many other stories that ended up in tears. Therefore I urge you, male and female readers, to go to that site, and learn to check out your own breasts before it was too late.