This is topic LymeLadies, What to Expect from a Mammogram? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< LymeLadies >>>>>,

Hi, just found out I am having a mammo' tomorrow afternoon. It is done thru a special community health group here.

I haven't had one in 17 years,and am sure the procedure has changed somewhat in that time.

I have a bit of a sinus/and allergy problem going,and some dental issues right now... likely the reason for some swollen lymph glands.

From memory ,before, it didn't particularly hurt, just a slight pinching [I am overly endowed].

What should I expect??? I hear that Lyme and Co's can cause some cysts and bumps for women,in breast areas.

Thanks for any tho'ts and shared experiences.

Jus' Silverwolfi
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
-
I've not had one for about 5 years but even when I was getting them annually, long after lyme & co. diagnosis:

Bumps, lumps and basic cysts will not obscure what they would need to see (were it to be there).

If there are any questions of clarity of the film, it will be retaken on site, at the time.

If you have tenderness, do expect some pain. Since they have you hold your breath anyway, that's always been the way I wait through pain.

I used to pass out a lot, though, so be sure to breath when they tell you it's okay to do so again.

For myself, the deep tissue pain from the pressure was off the charts, but it has always been. As you say that was never an issue before, it may not be now.

If there are any questionable cysts that look different from the garden variety on the film, the next step might be an ultrasound or a breast MRI.

I hope this goes well for you. Remember: Do not apply any antiperspirant, deodorant or lotion under arms on or around breast area after your morning shower.
-
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Hi <<<<< Keebler >>>>>,

Thanks for the shared input, I do have one side that is a bit sensitive so will keep this in mind.

I will remind myself to breathe when they say it is okay too...I appreciate that!!!

Jus' Silverwolfi here
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Oh just saw the no antiperspirant,lotions etc...too...thanks for that info'...I wondered about this.

<<<<< Keebler >>>>>, I apprecaite the info greatly.

Jus'Silverwolfi again
 
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
 
I'm 'well-built' too, but I do't really find mammogram's painful; it hardly takes any time anyway, so just a brief pinch perhaps, as you say, unless you are experiencing particularly sensitive areas.
 
Posted by aperture (Member # 34822) on :
 
Just an annoyance, nothing horrible.

I have painful, fibrocystic tissue and have had quite a few mammograms. They usually have to also do an ultrasound on me since the tissue is too dense.

Hope everything goes well!
 
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
 
I won't do a mammogram. I do thermograms, much safer, no radiation.
 
Posted by aperture (Member # 34822) on :
 
Good idea faithful777. I'm sure thermograms are better at showing dense tissue as well.
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< ukcarry, aperture, faithful777 >>>>>,

Thanks for sharing the experiences and info' with me!

There's a new hospital right next to the imaging center...so perhaps they'll have the thermogram?!

I am grateful to be able to have the test done,so I'll pray for safety, as well as that it all goes properly w/ no dangerous discoveries in my tests.

Jus' that Silverwolfi
 
Posted by WendyK (Member # 18918) on :
 
On a side note - can one get a mammogram with a picc in? I'm overdue...

I've found them uncomfortable, but not horrible, and they are over quickly. I've gotten callbacks before to look more closely too - that one was a bit more uncomfortable, but still not bad.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
17 years!!???? YIKES!!

Take a tylenol before you go!
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< WendyK and Lymetoo >>>>>,

Thanks for the replies...not sure about the mammo/ w/ a pic line? Maybe someone here will know?

And yeah 17 years ... I never even tho't about it for several years,then we lost insurance and now it is 17 years after the other one.

So I am hoping I don't have anything serious show up... so far the cancer in family has been espophigial, brain stomach/liver issues.

Will update when I find out anything...

Jus'Silverwolfi
 
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
 
The last one I had hurt my neck, the way I had to angle it - I would prefer to check on the possibility of thermography next time...
 
Posted by NanaDubo (Member # 14794) on :
 
Please do some research on mammograms. Mercola has lots of info as do other sites.

Thermography is MUCH safer and can detect issues much earlier.
 
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
 
Ditto.

Read this below from Mercola. I stick to thermograms.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/14/the-medical-industrys-most-atrocious-assault-against-women.aspx?e_cid=20120314_DNL_art_1
 
Posted by hopeful4 (Member # 8486) on :
 
Congrats on getting your mammogram. I know many people disagree with getting them. I am not one of them. A mammogram saved my life. It detected early stage cancer, which in my case was highly treatable. That was 9 years ago, I'm a breast cancer survivor.


Mammograms are not known for their comfort! They can be uncomfortable for some, painful for others. But they go quickly.


As others have said, no deodorant or anti-perspirant. Usually you will remove clothing from the waist up, and put on a robe, sometimes the robes are heated to keep you comfy.


Your breast is placed on a flat surface, and the technician will move and mold it for getting the best view. Then, a plate will go over the breast and squish it as much as possible. That can be painful. The tech will take the shot. Then the machine will be released.


Usually you will have at least 2 views taken of each breast, one from over the top, and one from the side. When both breasts are done, you will usually wait for the radiologist to view the mammograms. If, for some reason a shot did not come out right, or if they wish to view an area better, you may be asked to repeat a particular view. Or, you may be asked to have an ultrasound.


Hoping all goes well for your mammogram, from start to finish. Best wishes for the best news.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
BTW, ask them to shield your thyroid from the radiation.
 
Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by hopeful4:
A mammogram saved my life. It detected early stage cancer, which in my case was highly treatable. That was 9 years ago, I'm a breast cancer survivor.

Same here, hopeful4. 6 year survivor and a mammogram detected BC very early.

I believe Lyme, etc. increases the risk of cancer in general. And some LLMDs would probably agree with that statement based on their experience with patients. It is important to keep up with regular cancer screenings.
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< Robin123, NanaDubo, lymeinhell, hopeful4, Lymetoo, ConnieMC >>>>>,

Thank You for the info' and the concern,I will be having the test late this afternoon, evening time for many here.

With no insurance and no income [except for TxC's small SSDI check], we are dependent on special groups, the community health group here is having me tested free of charge.

I have to take whatever type of test they offer, or *do without. After 17 years w/o a mammo',that's *no longer an option*. I am hoping and praying for the best outcome.

-Lymetoo-,-hopeful-,and ConnieMC, thanks for the info,and encouragement, so I can know more what to expect. The thyroid shielding is a good idea!

I also have some odd skin-tag lesions on skin mostly under the breasts like skin-tags or keloid scarring that has flattened out.

I've wondered if it was part of the Bartonella skin effects darkened in color to brown?!

I'll report back how it went, wondering if they may do the ultrasound,as I have heavy dense tissue.

AS to insurance we've checked, it would be over a quarter of TxC's already small SSDI check[literally our housing payment]...

, just for me to get insurance, not counting copays,or deductables that we have no way to pay.

We've tried to get Social Security for me too, they said NO, because TxCoord got his early,I have to wait at least 7 more years...

... If you are chronically ill do not come to Idaho to live!

We cannot even get food stamps now,the miniscule 'raise' that TxCoord was supposed to have gotten for SSDI, has been eaten up by lot rent [we live in a trailer],

...Utility bill price hikes, and auto fuel-gas increases [ and we get good mileage from an older paid for car]. We also had to replace tires recently, it was expensive w/ no used tire options now.

Sorry ,not trying to whine and complain, that is the way it is here. We have still managed to keep a roof over our heads,and food in our stomachs.

Yes TxC', does get a small VA disability check, around $250 a month,most of --his meds are not free-- and they take almost a third of that for those meds.

ANd due to recent Govt. budget cutbacks, we cannot get travel pay -anymore- for TxC's Salt Lake City VA medical center appointments, unless it is a test directly related to herbicide exposure Diabetes Type II.

And it is surprising what they have decided is not related to the Diabetes, we've been having to cancel his appt's right and left...

Again, not meaning to complain, just a bit discouraged, but thankful that I get to have my breasts tested.

Jus' Silverwolfi who'se mostly fallen thru the cracks.
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< LymeLadies >>>>>,

I'm back from the test... unfortunately they didn't have a Thermo'...it went okay, pinched quite a bit,and I had six skin tag-marker-bandaids and a scar marker too.

Took my Tylenol, and now we wait,for about a week for the letter on how the mammo' looked. I appreciated the info' and the links,and I wore the Thyroid shield.

Will update when I get more info'...I'm praying it is all okay!

Silverwolfi of Pinched Petunias
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
-
A note about tylenol. It contains acetaminophen and that blocks the liver from being able to make glutathione (our bodies' own best detoxification aid).

So be sure to also take a very good liver support such as Milk Thistle or similar - it may help offset that. Not sure but it's the only thing I know of that even might offset that.

Glad you at least got out of there, sounds like you were a bit of an art installation and hope the band-aids were those cute ones.
-
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Hey <<<<< Keebler >>>>>>,

Thanks for the liver support info, I need to get more when payday comes. I only take the least amount of Tylenol...don't like any of the pain meds...but sometimes I must.

I wonder if Sarsaparilla would help too? I used to take both that and Milk thistle...when finances got even tighter, I had to cut back on some things.

The bandaids were pretty, little things deep pink and orchid colored...LOL, but the amount of skin-tags and such is scary to me.

Thanks again, for the info' and the reply, I'm just down to the waiting on results now...

Silverwolfi here
 
Posted by hopeful4 (Member # 8486) on :
 
Hi Silverwolf,

Thanks for letting us know how your mammogram went. We�ll be waiting to hear about the results.

Also, you wrote:

�We've tried to get Social Security for me too, they said NO, because TxCoord got his early,I have to wait at least 7 more years...�

Could you please elaborate on this? Does it mean that you applied for Social Security Disability, but were denied? Then what happened? Did you appeal it? And why do you have to wait for 7 years? Who is TxCoord, your spouse? And what does one person�s eligibility have to do with another person being eligible?

It sure sounds like you could use the SSD, and more than that, it sounds like you should be able to have it. When I originally applied for SSD, I was also denied. Most people are. So I hired an attorney specializing in SSD. There was no up front cost to hire him. He would only be paid if and when the case was won, from the back award.

Putting in my 2 cents worth for helping to lift you out from the cracks you�ve fallen into.

Best wishes.
 
Posted by TxCoord (Member # 9204) on :
 
Thanks Hopeful, yes I'm Silver's husband (34 years this Nov)! As far as SSDI, Silver has not worked enough quarters to qualify for it. She will get half of what I receive when she reaches 62 or 66 (depending on who you talk to).

Also, SSI (supplemental income) is not federal even though the forms you fill out are on the SSA website. SSI is determined by each individual state and is predicated on how much income the household has. Because my SS is disability it is "unearned income" not subject to taxes (until I reach 66). That means I make too much.

Idaho SSI states you have to make less than $1100 per month in order for the other person (Silver) to qualify for any benefits and it is prorated. Which means the most she could make would be a little over $600 but combined with mine it still cannot exceed $1100. My SSDI is about $1400 per month so she does not qualify for anything.

Because we did not meet the minimum quals, SS did not even look at the paperwork - which took several days, numerous hours per day to compile. They are not allowed to make a determination of whether or not she is disabled because when applying for SSI they have to consider household income (which we exceed).

That was one of my complaints - they should have had the financial qualification identified before you spend time filling out the paperwork. i.e. do you make less than "X" then complete paperwork, if you make more than "X" you are not able to file for benefits in the state of ____.

I also agree that disability pay, regardless of whether or not it is SSDI (federal) or SSI (state) if one of the parties is already on either program, their income should not count against the other person.

As it stands our income is our outgo. And sometimes things get a little tight if something goes wrong, like having to call a plumber, new tire, oil change, or even a visit to a sliding scale clinic.

Unfortunately because the state has its maximum amount per household qualifier, an attorney cannot take it to court. We checked with a national social security attorney group and they said, "Sorry, can't help you".

Finally, even the price of gas going up affects us because I can't work an extra job or put in extra hours to compensate for the rise in fuel cost or food costs.
 
Posted by hopeful4 (Member # 8486) on :
 
Wow, TxCoord, that's so mind-boggling, and unfairly penalizes you and Silver for having chronic health problems.

Both of your strength and fortitude under duress is admirable. I'm a fan.

Wishing you both hope and healing!
 
Posted by aperture (Member # 34822) on :
 
TxCoord,

Have you checked out Social Security's Extra Help program? They would pay most of your Rx expenses, leaving you with a $2.60 generic and $6.50 brand name copay. The income limits aren't extremely low and it's a big help.

http://ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/

Also, the Medicare Savings Program can help pay your Medicare premium each month so you would have an extra $99 or so each month. You apply for this at your State Welfare office.

http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10126.pdf
 
Posted by TxCoord (Member # 9204) on :
 
Because I have VA for all my medical I only use Medicare if I have to get hospitalized in an emergency and can't get to a VA hosp. My meds come from VA and there is a copay but as I get 20% that goes to pay that.

Because Silver does not qualify for anything and I mean anything, the only thing available to us is the sliding fee clinics and other "free" services like the one providing the mamos.

Thanks for trying though.
 
Posted by aperture (Member # 34822) on :
 
Darn it, I tried TxCoord [Frown]
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< aperture, and each replier >>>>>,

Had a call back Mammo today, will have more info on Monday, we hope...

Prayers and hugs greatly appreciated, and needed still. Sending a huge *Thank You* for each link,and for all experiences and tho'ts and ideas that were shared...

TxC' and I are praying for good news after my call back today...we will update ASAP when the report comes in.

Jus' Silverwolfi here.
 
Posted by WendyK (Member # 18918) on :
 
Callbacks are quite common, they just like to be sure! Especially since its been so long since you had one - nothing else to really compare to. May it just be one of those routine ones, keep us posted!
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< WendyK >>>>>,

Thanks for the encouragement, waiting for a call back next week to discuss the findings of the second tests.

Will update when we get the info' and the decisions...long weekend ahead...sigh.

Jus'Silverwolfi
 
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
 
I can't get over the "Pinched Petunias" !!! ha, ha, ha.

I will remember that when I get mine.

Too funny.
 
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
 
Now that you've been squeezed, the post goes south.

This Bud's for you! A must read!

[lol]

http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-201-comic_relief2.htm
 
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
 
Hope you prepped for it in advance! Here is some advise.

[Big Grin]

If you�ve never had a mammo� then listen to the wise,

Prepare your breasts quite thoroughly, no matter what your size.

You could slam them repeatedly in the front door of your car,

Or tie them to revolving doors, or squash them in a jar.
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Hugs to <<<<< Each replier >>>>>,

TxC posted the results of our frightening ordeal over on General. HAd a frightening callback,found out it is basically benign cysts...more detail on TxC's post on General Supp'.

Each replier ,the prayers and kind tho'ts were hugely appreciated,while this was going on...and my poor 'marigolds' were mashed into mis-shapen-ness [formerly called 'pinched petunias'].

I am surprised that the cysts didn't outright pop quite frankly...

My head-ache-y pinched mashed self is off to wander...

Jus' the Silverwolfi
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tincup:
Hope you prepped for it in advance! Here is some advice.

[Big Grin]

If you�ve never had a mammo� then listen to the wise,

Prepare your breasts quite thoroughly, no matter what your size.

You could slam them repeatedly in the front door of your car,

Or tie them to revolving doors, or squash them in a jar.

-
TC, how many times over the past 11-12 yrs have you made me laugh out loud??? Maybe 10,000??? [lol]

Silver... SO GLAD you are OK .. what an ordeal!!!! You could cut and paste your GS response to this thread if you want to. Some are too lazy to go to General Support, ya know. [Wink]

[group hug]
 
Posted by TxCoord (Member # 9204) on :
 
This is from Silverwolf.
<<<<< Lymetoo >>>>>,

Thanks for the kind reply, It was scary for sure. I did some research so knew that we often have benign cysts.

It was the way it was all handled, that made it so difficult. And the fact of my beloved Aunty dying of cancer [roof of mouth ,brain and stomach] two days before the first Mammo'.

So I have the Mammo on Tuesday the 10th, 'Molehills into Mountains imaging', and I am told,

...after correcting wrong info' to be sure that the PA and our address get the info' not someone unauthorized, oh it'll be a week to 10 days to get the results.

Aunts funeral is Thursday the 12th, on which afternoon they call to say I must go up to the *Hospital Imaging Diagnostics Unit* [ yes we'll have *HID your results from U]

... for Friday afternoon the 13th please they need some more Mammo pics ,to see about 'something' they spotted.

So with some trepidation on the quickness of the callback, but w/ some relief because the radiologist will read it right then, and you'll have the results [ if you believe that we can sell you grannies swamp land too].

Well after much so much 'torture', mammo pics and ultrasound,we were sent home. Oh your Dr./PA will call with the results Monday... UHM...NOT.

We tried to get info Monday,to be tole the Hopsital had not sent it yet, then that they had...no one called Monday w/ results.

The health group called wanting to know why two bills...we explained, so they called both Hospital Imaging and our clinic.

Health group was told oh we'll be calling later today [ that was yesterday Monday ]. Come to find out as TxC said they mailed it,late in day

..and no one was at Our clinic that day...all calls were being forwarded to a different town, and clinic.

They were shining us on...because they were not at our clinic. So this morning they call and want me to come to 'Our' clinic in half an hour...

[and bump up a MAy 1st appt,on a cancellation]we live about 35 minutes away,and were just finishing breakfast.

We don't have the gas to get there [thank the Lord pay day is coming]...so we say sorry ,as clearly stated we live out of town...no way to get there in time today.

Now all of these insistance on - rush appointments-, I am beyond freaked out..all we know is there was a cyst or cysts. Most cysts are benign...so what is up,

why not read my results now please...If-You- Have-them,as my PA is supposed to be at clinic. Then the caller asking about appt. change says oh it can take up to Two weeks for the mammo results..., at which point I lose it...

TxC' Bless him takes over, and explains that we were told the follow up info was supposed to be in PA's office yesterday, for Monday...

Finally they called about an hour ago, today it is beleived to be benign...come back next year...sorry we got you so upset.

UPSET???? UPSET...!!!! You didn't deal with the Lyme rage my TxCoord dealt with..when I couldn't take anymore... Thank the Lord this is over with...

and hopes that my words will stop slurring now...and the headaches finally leave...Yeah that kind of upset...and Yup,I cussed... I try very hard to be polite,and not use ugly words...generally I manage fairly well...

Well I am off for now,else this will become a novel... ANd to all who were praying and sending good tho'ts Thank You So very very much...this was about the longest week of my life so far.

Jus'Silverwolfi here
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< Lymetoo,and TxC' >>>>>,

Thanks for the cut and paste idea,and TxC for doing so!

Okay,off and away!

Silverwolfi here and there.
 
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
 
Pinched petunias, mashed marigolds....

Just think of how they press flowers between two sheets of glass to dry them flat...

That's what they did to our poor petunias and marigolds.

And, in the end, they said to come back next year and we will put them between glass and flatten them again for you!
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
..yes, you made me laugh again!!.. Silver's going to get mad at us!

TC.. my Dr got brave enough to ask me recently if mammograms were as painful as "they say" .. I nodded my head and said YEP.
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< TF >>>>>,

Oh yeah, we're supposed to be up for the torture once a year..OY.

Lets see: Pinched Petunias, Mashed Marigolds,
Rolled over Roses [so's we can see all them tissues ya know],and Sqaushed Blossoms too !

Yes, mind you, for our safety we get the 'girls' pinched,mashed,rolled and sqaushed...there's gotta be a better safer way.

jus' that Silverwolfi... having a little whine [ with an 'h',no cheese tho'].
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Hey <<<<< Lymetoo >>>>>,

I have to laugh or I'll cry...getting better tho'!! TxCoord is great at handling my Lyme rage...after which he falls asleep watching TV.

Now If I can get the bad Organ music in ears to quit... this tinnitus is ridiculous.

Love Organ music, Piano,guitar etc... but this one is like really bad,old pump organ,and it plays parts of musical phrases...over and over and over and...over and over and..... ARRGGHHHH OwooooWoooooooooo!

Oh yeah, back to the pain of Mammograms...

I am grateful that there is a way to check for our health and safety,but I am not sure how safe this all really is.

Still,it is over for now!

Jus Silverwolfi
 
Posted by AlanaSuzanne (Member # 25882) on :
 
Silverwolf, I am glad you got good results and don't have to subject your boobs to this for another year.

I am waaay overdue for a mammo myself. I am wondering if I can just elect to have the thermogram done instead. I thought this was an option only for those who had an abnormal mammo. Thanks to those who brought this up. I will check with my insurance.

And GOOD POINT about shielding the thyroid during a mammo! I always ask for a thyroid shield for every x-ray. They can't use a thyroid shield for certain tests like a chest x-ray or a panoramic dental x-ray. But for every other x-ray or CT scan, ask for a thyroid shield. It can't hurt, and might help.

Off-topic...I had to go for a sinus CT. I asked the tech for a thyroid shield and a lead apron for the rest of me. Her response was that since I could no longer get preggo, it wasn't necessary.

Apparently, it was just fine for my body to get unnecessary radiation because I could no longer get pregnant. Where is the logic in that?

She didn't shield my thyroid or the rest of me. Usually, I am vehement about these things. That particular time I went along with her illogical logic because I was just so tired and felt so sick.

I've always been able to just say NO and stand up for what should be done regarding my body regardless of how sick I've been. I am disappointed that I didn't stand my ground, but I have to forgive my usually strong self for having a weak/sick/tired moment.

Anyway, I remember reading somewhere that squishing (for lack of a better word) the breasts can actually cause a cancer to spread (if there is one existing). This make sense to me (squishing the boob squishes the cancerous cells and therefore causes the cancerous cells to spread out) but I am not a medical professional so I can't say if this is true or not.

All I know is that my boobs have been thoroughly scooped up from my hips and graciously placed on a cold metal plate by a technician, only to be crushed by another cold metal plate. And we have to do it horizontally and vertically for both boobs. OUCH.

There just has to be a better way.
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Hey <<<<< AlanaSuzanne >>>>>,

I hear you,and when they are doing horizontal,vertical, and for me a diagonal tilt, for the best viewing it is painful.

The machine they used for mine,had the lower metal w/the upper plate acryli-glass plate[glass like but plastic].

It is supposed to be 'lowrad' but radiation still is a concern. If I had insurance available I'd want to try the Thermogram for sure.

It was frightening for me, when they said they had spotted 'something' and then did not get the results when they said and where they said.

And I really wondered about the possibility of bursting something...I really think their was a 'pop' when the tech was reefing down with the clamp.

Perhaps it was one of my joints popping? But it felt like the breast. AS you say,what if there was a malignacy sac and it pops?

And again,if they had chosen to biopsy and aspirate a cyst or tumor, even with careful guidance by ultrasound...how often can it spread a problem.

A near relative had Esophigial cancer..there was so much concern of cutting and having it spread. So they used a port-cath in the neck,and chemo and radiation to the area.

The relative didn't really lose much hair,but a few months later their teeth broke off. So far they are cancer free,but have to have a test once a year[three times a year if there are any changes in the Esophageal area].

Where they were so reluctant to cut the cancer out... It makes me wonder and have some concern.

Chemo-rad' is harsh as well... I just keep wondering if there isn't some better way to treat these issues.

I'm starting to research,some better ways of eating,as much as possible w/in limited budget.

When you choose it have it done again, search for the best options you can...and see if they have a protocol in place to be sure they get you your results in as timely a manner as possible.

The stresses can be pretty rough,if one must chase their results around..not knowing if the cyst is benign or malignant.

So glad this is over for now, I hope you can get a better safer option. You take care of yourself okay?!!! And thank you for the reply!!!

Jus' Silverwolfi here
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
Oh about the Apron and Thyroid shield...whether one can become pregnant now or not.I think we should still have the right to ask for the apron, Thyroid shield etc.as long as it doesn't interfere with the test they need to do.


Still a bit of a space case after all this mess,it all has me rather worn out... before I submit to another mammo,I want to know the protocol to alert the patient as to their status after the test[s].

Jus Silverwolfi wandering
 
Posted by AlanaSuzanne (Member # 25882) on :
 
Hi again Silverwolf!

Wow? Diagonal? That's something I never even heard of! DOUBLE OUCH for you. Your poor boobs must have been throbbing after that exam.

I am so sorry to hear that you don't even have insurance for this stuff. It's bad enough when you do, but at least there might be other options than the boob press machine.

I can imagine how frightening it was for you when they thought they found something. I had a similar experience during my last mammo many years ago. They did a sono and apparently everything was OK.

It's scary as hell when they call you back b/c they think they see something. IMO, they should be able to see you that very day or at the latest the next day. It is not appropriate or necessary to have women these days deal with the anxiety and apprehension of a possible BC dx for days or weeks.

I have a close friend who beat breast cancer and another one who was in her 30s when she was diagnosed (and treated early and aggressively) but ultimately lost the battle.

Shame on me for not being more proactive in this regard as I should know better and should be much more proactive. Honestly though, like many of us, I already have way too much crap on my plate to begin with and I can't even deal with BC being a remote possibility in my life.

I can really understand how frightening it was for you when they thought they saw something. The fact that they didn't relay to you the results in a timely fashion didn't help.

Interesting that you wondered about the possibility of bursting something when the tech was performing the mammo.

Sometimes, our intuition is right, but it takes a long time for the medical community to "prove" it.

I hope your relative is doing OK. Chemo is no walk in the park, to say the least.

Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. I wish you and your hubby the best of health.

I am so very grateful that my family is able to eat well. I feel so badly that you and your hubby are on such a limited budget and trying to find better ways of eating.

Please post a new topic on that, as I'm sure many will chime in.

All the best to you and your husband, Alana
 
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
 
<<<<< AlanaSuzanne >>>>>,

Thank You for the reply! You are correct in that making women wait and wait when something is seen on a mammo film is wrong.

If a callback is needed, do it in as timely a manner as possible, with someone who can read it,and give you the results then and there.HIPPA[sp.?] privacy laws and all..there should be a way to accomplish this.

We already sign forms to state it can be discussed w/ the Doctor/radiologist etc. The techs, staff and so on certainly do not know every nuance of most patients medical and family issues.

Therefore they do not know all the stressors that person is facing,and scary news,a shadow a question on a test is frightening.

As Lyme and Co-infection patients,most of us, have found it unsafe, to tell a non-Lyme medical professional about Chronic Lyme and Co's.

I have been rejected by Doctors who found out about the Lyme gone chronic. My PA knows about *FMS/CEBV type issues that I have but not what caused the *Fibromyalgia,or the lesions on my brain.

Stress can and does kill. And Any close family/kin to me, over age 65 is dead except one parent. All had: heart conditions or/strokes or/cancer or/severe hardening of the arteries,and or 'Parkinsons' disease or/Diabetes before they died [or a combination of these].

Out of bakers dozen or so of Family and Kin, only a couple of them were over 75 when they passed. So in my family medical test call backs are taken quite seriously.

The relative who had chemo/rad' is 'okay' but will end up having all teeth pulled among other issues. The Chemo/rad' weakened them,and they did not regain strength.

I agree that the -healthy eating on a tight budget- warrants a different topic too [Smile] !!!

Thanks again for the replies!

Jus'Silverwolfi here
 


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