Another Very Worried Gal

Hello, I am usually on the Uterine Cancer board. I was dealing with Uterine Cancer in 2017 - 2018. In the year and half since a total hysterectomy, chemo, and radiation, there has been a growing issue in my left breast. Now there's a very real sense of urgency. I've had two mammograms, an ultrasound, and most recently an MRI with contrast this past year. There's an area of assymetry on my left breast that I could never feel, but my docs are seeing it now and they don't know what it is. I am to have a breast biopsy in two weeks and I see a breast doctor in a week. I've also been having a fair amount of pain, and this is relatively new. Yes, I did tell my Oncologist. 

It goes without saying that I am very worried. I was okay with them investigating it this past year and when they didn't think anything was wrong initially, but now there's a growing concern and urgencty to get to the bottom of it. The pain isn't helping matters. It had only been a twinge before on occasion, but now it's just daily and keeps me up some nights. I've come to learn that there are SO MANY different kinds of cancer, and yes, logically, I know that not every pain is from new cancer popping up; I also know that breast cancer after uterine cancer is not unheard of and the way all this is unfolding. .. I'm just getting that bad feeling like I had in the days leading up to a uterine cancer diagnosis. My gut is screaming something is wrong.

I don't have a family history of breast cancer in my family. I haven't been tested for any specific gene for it either. I was however trained in Ft. McClellan for my basic training back in 1980, there are thousands of stories emerging about all the chemicals we were exposed to in our training days with a movement to get it recognized by the government. (*Monsanto and another chemical company supplied the chemical agents to the base in those days where soldiers went to train in chemical warfare, to be medics, or MPs. There are documented cases of contamination basewide.) I also consider the time when the state of Florida was dumping pesticides over many communities via helicopters to destroy an infestion of a certain kind of fly threatening to destroy the orange crops years ago and I got caught outside twice when that stuff rained down on me. We were smelling pesticides for weeks in those days, and yes, my mind goes there and seriously wonders some days.

Sorry for the digression, but my head is everywhere these days. I don't normally go looking for things to stress about, but this is getting quite worrisome.

My family has been with me every step of the way, but these new concerns are hard for them to hear and they want me to be okay very much so. I just need a safe place to express my concerns without feeling like I have to make everybody feel better at the same time. It is a very real concern and the waiting and the worry can be overwhelming for me some days. It is all I can think of when pain sets in. I'm all for cheers, a friendly "hello", a note of encouragement, other people's stories. .. whatever ya' got.

Johanna