Mammogram

Annabelle41415
Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I just went in for my mammogram today - it's been a year, but my radiation oncologist said make sure I get it done this month before surgery so I did. I have been so nervous about this. My mom died from breast cancer at 56 and I'm 50. Last year and two years before that I received a call at home telling me I had to come back and be retested and I was feeling so anxious about that phone call or waiting to see if I would even get a phone call. The technician was flattening me out (ok you ladies know what I mean) and I just started bawling. She probably wondered what was happening. I'm crying saying I've got cancer already and I go in next week for surgery and it's not like I have any symptoms and this is just a yearly and I was talking so fast I can't even remember what I was saying. But bottom line I wondered if someone could tell me today if everything was ok, or not. Well I got done at 12:15 and all the doctors were gone but she did tell me that she would try and have someone read it when they got back and then she would call me. Waited and waited and no phone call. She finally called and said that everything was just fine. I immediately said a prayer of thanks. I just know that worry is my "middle" name, but I'm glad this test came out good. I give all my worry up to God too - lots and lots of times - I'm sure glad He's strong for His sake and mine. I can relax for all of one day before I start worrying about the scan I have on Friday, and then the worry for my surgery next week. Well one hurdle at a time. Kim

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    Don't worry at all............
    When God is walking with you there is no worry....Instead of worrying about something you can't control why not turn it into a positive and do something special for yourself today. It will not change a thing whether you worry or enjoy your self so why not enjoy the time you get away from the Dr office and scans and such. Go buy you some fuzzy house shoes.The kind that have ears on them. Then go to your favorite restaurant and have a meal by yourself and think about how God has changed your life for the better and everything that has value in your life make a list of the things that summer brings that you will be involved in.....Long range planning makes the mind and neuro-transmitters put out endorphins that make you smile. Smiling has its own healing power....Worrying shuts down your ability for your brain to produce neuro-transmitters that tell you to laugh or smile or be happy...........if it goes to long it becomes a disability that you can't control. I take Flourextine (prozac) in a 10 mg dose once a day to allow me to not dwell on this disease and it also allows my brain to produce these endorphins that make me happy again...I am very happy now and can face it all with no qualms.....It helps that I have God and His Son on my side..........God Bless you Annabelle......and He will......
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    Buzzard said:

    Don't worry at all............
    When God is walking with you there is no worry....Instead of worrying about something you can't control why not turn it into a positive and do something special for yourself today. It will not change a thing whether you worry or enjoy your self so why not enjoy the time you get away from the Dr office and scans and such. Go buy you some fuzzy house shoes.The kind that have ears on them. Then go to your favorite restaurant and have a meal by yourself and think about how God has changed your life for the better and everything that has value in your life make a list of the things that summer brings that you will be involved in.....Long range planning makes the mind and neuro-transmitters put out endorphins that make you smile. Smiling has its own healing power....Worrying shuts down your ability for your brain to produce neuro-transmitters that tell you to laugh or smile or be happy...........if it goes to long it becomes a disability that you can't control. I take Flourextine (prozac) in a 10 mg dose once a day to allow me to not dwell on this disease and it also allows my brain to produce these endorphins that make me happy again...I am very happy now and can face it all with no qualms.....It helps that I have God and His Son on my side..........God Bless you Annabelle......and He will......

    Annabelle


    darling Girl: I so identify with what you are saying. It is the absolute pits to have cancer and then be testing for breast cancer. I did the same thing last time with the nurse who was going to examine for breast....I burst into tears.....I already have cancer!!! same as you......you are not alone.

    I even called the breast clinic to see if I could skip this year because I had a PET scan that showed cancer only on the liver....they said well at least wait till you are finished chemo....

    Hang in Annabelle....you are OK

    best hugs,
    Mags
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    maglets said:

    Annabelle


    darling Girl: I so identify with what you are saying. It is the absolute pits to have cancer and then be testing for breast cancer. I did the same thing last time with the nurse who was going to examine for breast....I burst into tears.....I already have cancer!!! same as you......you are not alone.

    I even called the breast clinic to see if I could skip this year because I had a PET scan that showed cancer only on the liver....they said well at least wait till you are finished chemo....

    Hang in Annabelle....you are OK

    best hugs,
    Mags

    Hugs !
    I'm so glad everything came out fine. It's a scary thing to think of going into scans and hoping to God this thing didn't spread. When I was in the hospital over the weekend, they took a chest X-ray and kept thinking "oh no, what if it spread!" and it came out I just had some mucus in my lung they wanted to clear up with Mucinex. I prayed every night I was in that hospital and brought my prayer blanket that some nice women made for me, and then I slept with it every night, and I feel he was with me making me better, I know it could have gotten worse, but it didn't, and I been talking and praying all the time now, just to have some good days, it seems this week everything went wrong with my teeth, being in the hospital, my van is broke down needing bearings now, we're broke, and it's just one thing after another, I been really stressed with crying spells all day today though, and hope chemo will actually make me feel better, knowing more healing will be happening hopefully.

    Hugss to you and good luck with your scan!
    ~Donna
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    I hear ya
    I also had a mammogram done a couple of months ago while on chemo. I was worried and thought it might even be pointless to have, since I was alredy on chemo, Avastin being included, which they now also use to treat breast cancer. But I did have it, and fortunately everything came out fine. I guess it has happened to some women, however, where they ended up with both. I'm SO relieved with and for you that everything came out well!
    Thanks for sharing-
    Lisa
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    Know just how you felt
    I have a mamogram next Monday. I am 18 months out of treatment for colon cancer, Stage IIIA. This is my second mammogram since I finished treatment for colon cancer. I have no reason to believe it will not be fine, no history, no family history - but it still freaks me out.

    My last mammogram was 12 months ago and was fine - but I don't look forward to the day or two I will wait for results.

    You are in good company.

    Pam
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Shayenne said:

    Hugs !
    I'm so glad everything came out fine. It's a scary thing to think of going into scans and hoping to God this thing didn't spread. When I was in the hospital over the weekend, they took a chest X-ray and kept thinking "oh no, what if it spread!" and it came out I just had some mucus in my lung they wanted to clear up with Mucinex. I prayed every night I was in that hospital and brought my prayer blanket that some nice women made for me, and then I slept with it every night, and I feel he was with me making me better, I know it could have gotten worse, but it didn't, and I been talking and praying all the time now, just to have some good days, it seems this week everything went wrong with my teeth, being in the hospital, my van is broke down needing bearings now, we're broke, and it's just one thing after another, I been really stressed with crying spells all day today though, and hope chemo will actually make me feel better, knowing more healing will be happening hopefully.

    Hugss to you and good luck with your scan!
    ~Donna

    Awwwww
    Thank you for your response. I know you have been having a very rough week with your tooth and all and I'm glad that the chest x-ray didn't find anything but more mucus. I bet that prayer blanket is so comforting. I know next week when it's my turn for surgery, I will have my Scapular and all my prayer booklets and rosary. I pray all the time too, that's the first thing I do before I get out of bed.

    I'm hoping that things get better for you and you get your van fixed soon. It's tough to have added stress upon what you are already going through. You are in my prayers.

    I too have days where I just cry at the drop of a hat and today was one of them.

    Hugs! Kim
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    lisa42 said:

    I hear ya
    I also had a mammogram done a couple of months ago while on chemo. I was worried and thought it might even be pointless to have, since I was alredy on chemo, Avastin being included, which they now also use to treat breast cancer. But I did have it, and fortunately everything came out fine. I guess it has happened to some women, however, where they ended up with both. I'm SO relieved with and for you that everything came out well!
    Thanks for sharing-
    Lisa

    Lisa
    Yes it is scary and my thought was well if I don't have breast cancer at least this is one less thing to worry about before surgery. I'm glad that your's turned out well too. It's a scary thing for us woman to have to go through these yearly tests that we do. I know I just had my pap smear too and my radiation oncologist told me that is probably the last "normal" one I will have because of the radiation. Not that I will have cancer, but it will show up differently.

    Kim
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    pamness said:

    Know just how you felt
    I have a mamogram next Monday. I am 18 months out of treatment for colon cancer, Stage IIIA. This is my second mammogram since I finished treatment for colon cancer. I have no reason to believe it will not be fine, no history, no family history - but it still freaks me out.

    My last mammogram was 12 months ago and was fine - but I don't look forward to the day or two I will wait for results.

    You are in good company.

    Pam

    Pam
    Glad to hear that your treatment is done. Yup mammograms are no fun and I'm sure yours will be fine too. Good luck to you next Monday, I'll be thinking of you. Kim
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    maglets said:

    Annabelle


    darling Girl: I so identify with what you are saying. It is the absolute pits to have cancer and then be testing for breast cancer. I did the same thing last time with the nurse who was going to examine for breast....I burst into tears.....I already have cancer!!! same as you......you are not alone.

    I even called the breast clinic to see if I could skip this year because I had a PET scan that showed cancer only on the liver....they said well at least wait till you are finished chemo....

    Hang in Annabelle....you are OK

    best hugs,
    Mags

    Thanks Mags/Buzzard
    Buzzard I know what you are saying and I do find joy in my life with almost everything (have to exclude being poked and prodded), and I trust the Lord in my life to lift me up out of any situation that I am in. I think I might go get a pair of those fuzzy slippers with ears LOL. Thank you for the inspiring message.

    Mags I am so glad that I'm not the only one that breaks down when she has a mammogram. I had a CT scan and they didn't see anything, but I'm sure they want the mammogram because that is what it is made for. Good luck to you.

    Everyone is so kind and amazing on this board.

    Hugs! Kim
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    Ugh...dreaded mammogram...
    Hi Kim ~

    I know what you mean about scanxiety, the term coined by Chip AKA ImpactZone. I try very hard to soldier through during scans and tests, but there are times when that little voice chimes in...what if? So you are certainly not alone in worrying about test results.

    Glad to read your mammogram came out well, so now you can focus on a good result with your next scan and a successful surgery.

    As for me, I'm feeling a little anxiety for my next EGD/Stomach biopsies tomorrow morning. And as is common for all of us, the waiting is the hardest part. My biopsies are always sent to Mayo clinic because the rare nature of my abnormal cells and the local pathologists here think they look dreadfully like cancer, so it always takes a week or more for Mayo's results...ugh. Mayo continues to say they look like cancer, but are not malignant. For me, it sort of feels like waiting for the next Spring of my cancer when those pesky cells will blossom into to malignancy, which would mean I would lose my stomach. If that should unfortunately happen, I figure as long as they can keep taking out the bad parts and keep me alive, I'm grateful...even if my abdomen looks as if I've been hunting with **** Cheney - 10 scars total, but I'm long past my bare midriff stage anyway.

    Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...
    Katie
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    I understand
    Kim,

    I identify so much with your worries on this one. Last year just about this time I was recently out of surgery for my colon cancer, and I had my mammogram. I got the call that I had to come back. There was something worrisome showing. I ended up having a core needle biopsy, and it was okay, but I was SO anxious the whole time.

    I go Friday (on my wedding anniversary), and I am already on high alert.

    I'm so glad your situation turned out well. I have no idea why, but I've read that women who have had colorectal cancer are more at risk for breast cancer. Fun stuff, huh?

    We're already praying for you for your surgery next week.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member

    Lisa
    Yes it is scary and my thought was well if I don't have breast cancer at least this is one less thing to worry about before surgery. I'm glad that your's turned out well too. It's a scary thing for us woman to have to go through these yearly tests that we do. I know I just had my pap smear too and my radiation oncologist told me that is probably the last "normal" one I will have because of the radiation. Not that I will have cancer, but it will show up differently.

    Kim

    Kim
    Kim,
    I had never been told by anyone that I might not have normal paps anymore. I had never even thought of it, but I suppose radiation affects everything in the pelvis. I actually had an abnormal pap once 10 yrs ago. I had cryo (freezing) done on it & have had all normal paps since then & had another child a couple of years after I had the cryo done.
    Actually, I just remembered that I did have a pap since radiation- the month before I had the mammogram & it was normal. I guess it will just be good to be aware of the possibility of it not being so in the future.

    Well, I'm thinking of and praying for you for your upcoming procedure, as well as everyone else on here that I'm aware of being in need of prayer.

    You take care- God will be with you the whole time (and will be guiding the doctors and nurses involved, also).

    Lisa
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    usakat said:

    Ugh...dreaded mammogram...
    Hi Kim ~

    I know what you mean about scanxiety, the term coined by Chip AKA ImpactZone. I try very hard to soldier through during scans and tests, but there are times when that little voice chimes in...what if? So you are certainly not alone in worrying about test results.

    Glad to read your mammogram came out well, so now you can focus on a good result with your next scan and a successful surgery.

    As for me, I'm feeling a little anxiety for my next EGD/Stomach biopsies tomorrow morning. And as is common for all of us, the waiting is the hardest part. My biopsies are always sent to Mayo clinic because the rare nature of my abnormal cells and the local pathologists here think they look dreadfully like cancer, so it always takes a week or more for Mayo's results...ugh. Mayo continues to say they look like cancer, but are not malignant. For me, it sort of feels like waiting for the next Spring of my cancer when those pesky cells will blossom into to malignancy, which would mean I would lose my stomach. If that should unfortunately happen, I figure as long as they can keep taking out the bad parts and keep me alive, I'm grateful...even if my abdomen looks as if I've been hunting with **** Cheney - 10 scars total, but I'm long past my bare midriff stage anyway.

    Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...
    Katie

    Katie
    Ty for the encouragement and prayers.

    I will pray for you this morning that all goes with with your biopsies. I'm hoping that you find out soon about the results as the wait can be so hard on a person. God is with you. You have a wonderful attitude.

    Good luck and let us know.

    Kim
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    tootsie1 said:

    I understand
    Kim,

    I identify so much with your worries on this one. Last year just about this time I was recently out of surgery for my colon cancer, and I had my mammogram. I got the call that I had to come back. There was something worrisome showing. I ended up having a core needle biopsy, and it was okay, but I was SO anxious the whole time.

    I go Friday (on my wedding anniversary), and I am already on high alert.

    I'm so glad your situation turned out well. I have no idea why, but I've read that women who have had colorectal cancer are more at risk for breast cancer. Fun stuff, huh?

    We're already praying for you for your surgery next week.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Mammogram
    Gail you are so right that when you get called back the anxiety kicks in big time. I just wish they could get you in that same day and let you know what is going on. They say like 85% of call backs (even higher I think) are because of imaging problems or maybe deoderant on films and its just routine, but for those that get the call back that is no relief.

    Good luck on Friday and let us know. Yes you are right, my radiation doctor told me that woman have a higher rate of getting breast cancer after colon cancer - but the medical field changes their mind on a lot they tell you.

    Thanks for the prayers and same back to you.

    Hugs!
    Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member

    Mammogram
    Gail you are so right that when you get called back the anxiety kicks in big time. I just wish they could get you in that same day and let you know what is going on. They say like 85% of call backs (even higher I think) are because of imaging problems or maybe deoderant on films and its just routine, but for those that get the call back that is no relief.

    Good luck on Friday and let us know. Yes you are right, my radiation doctor told me that woman have a higher rate of getting breast cancer after colon cancer - but the medical field changes their mind on a lot they tell you.

    Thanks for the prayers and same back to you.

    Hugs!
    Kim

    Still praying
    In my case there really was a spot there, but it was declared safe, and they put a metal marker in to be able to identify it again. I just hope this time there is absolutely NOTHING to call about.

    I hope you are able to have a relaxing weekend so you can be "warrior ready" for your surgery.

    *Hugs*
    Gail