Just left the Surgeon’s office. The waiting seems to have gone on forever and still no definitive answer BUT good news biopsy report didn’t “seem” to report cancer. Back in May for another mammogram and ultrasound to see if there are any changes in the size and then we will make a decision at that point.
Have to thank both Bob and Chaundra for coming with me. It is great to have the support when you are facing the unknown.

The message is still to get tested. I am not sure about the new guidelines that have been announced. I have to question, whether or not I wanted to find out the information. The answer is yes, I want to know BUT I don’t think it should take three months to get an answer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/andre-picard/why-the-new-breast-cancer-screening-guidelines-make-sense/article2246955/

Spent two hours at the gym this afternoon having a great workout, trying to keep my mind off of the “boobs”. Thursday would soon be here…..When I got home there was a message for me from the Surgeon’s office….Sorry, we will have to cancel your appointment for Thursday morning. Please call and I will explain.
My heart sank, all I could think was no I can’t wait any longer..I have to know what is going on.
When I returned the call I was asked if I could switch my appointment for someone who has cancer…my results…NEGATIVE! AND I CRIED…for the first time I BAWLED!
I actually don’t think that I would have cried so hard if the results had been that I had cancer.
There is “something” there so I have to wait for the Surgeon to review the reports BUT NO CANCER!!
I can’t express the relief I am feeling! This experience will not be for nothing. I am determined to help others going through this journey.
Please continue to share your stories (I know that we have some coming in the near future)and I will definitely keep working on helping others in their journey.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!
This past two months has definitely put many things into perspective for me…the importance of Family and Friends!

The past few weeks have seemed like an eternity to me. I’m terrible at playing this waiting game. I am not a Drama Queen, for the most part a very positive person, and can handle alot. That is what has been driving me crazy; What if all of this worry is for nothing? What if I have been losing sleep over nothing? What if..what if…my life seems to be full of what ifs lately.
I had my annual checkup with my Family Physician yesterday. Although my appointment for the Surgeon is on Thursday this week, I knew that he would receive the report at the same time as the Surgeon. All weekend I wondered if I wanted to know the results from my Dr. or not. I definitely have the type of personality that wants to know all of the details and I wasn’t sure if I would get all of the answers yesterday or not. Well, not to worry, the results are still not in!
I wondered, “Am I the only person that goes through this anxiety while waiting”. I happened to find this article (see link below) and found that Harvard Researchers said I am not unusual in my feelings and worries.
“If you talk to any woman who has had a biopsy who has had to wait for results, she will tell you it’s a horrible roller coaster,’’ said Dr. Elvira V. Lang, associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Even when patients hear they have a cancer, they can start doing something. But if you hang in there for five days and you still don’t know what direction it goes, it’s just very stressful.’’

The concern, Dr. Lang said, is that cortisol levels can influence wound healing and immune response, raising a woman’s potential health risks if she ultimately needs to be treated for cancer. And the stress and anxiety of waiting also affects the quality of life of a woman, her family and her ability to function well at work, she said.

What can I do to help other women? What can we do to make sure that we understand that we need to do more during this waiting period?

I am still hoping for Positive Results for myself from the Biopsy on Thursday (that is IF I get the results then) but hopefully, I can uses this experience to help others!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/the-anxiety-of-the-biopsy/

Boobs….we couldn’t wait to get them (remember when you were a teen?). Some of us noticed they brought extra attention whether wanted or unwanted. Shopping for bras, shirts, tops, blouses, sweaters, camisoles, slips, dresses, jackets etc etc…was all about how they girls looked…and today ladies most of us laugh at how they look without their support systems around them. Clearly these 2 ‘appendages’ were a part of shaping who we were. And now, today, these girls keep needing attention! Ever noticed that The better the bra, the Better they make us look? They certainly are demanding!! So now ladies, check em out. Be sure to know them? 2 years ago I had a few extra lumps which after a scare, turned out to be cystic breasts that swell with my cycle. But I now know which lumps to expect and hopefully, God willing, I am able to find any new ones early. Since it has been 2 years, I will get my 3rd mammogram, cause it’s good to keep track of how they are changing. Get it booked, get them checked, keep your health in your hands. God bless! Anita
they make us look. Now we it’s time to get these girls

As relaxing as it can possible be while playing the waiting game. Tomorrow will be the start of another week and the only thing that is bothering me right now is lack of sleep. You think that you are taking it well…that is until it is two am and you are still lying awake.

Thought I would share this quiz from Dr. Oz on Breast Cancer Awareness. I am going to make some changes…are you?

http://www.doctoroz.com/quiz/breast-cancer-awareness-quiz

Lunches and coffees with friends; cuddles with the kids; and more important than anything just reading all of the great wishes.
I have had so many send me a message that they will now get a Mammogram and not put it off. Although I still don’t know the results of my biopsy I am remaining hopeful. I was wondering yesterday, why didn’t I wait until I found out whether it was cancer or not before I started blogging. But then, if the best case scenario turns out, and I am still hopeful that will happen, I would never have written the blog and I feel it is so very important to bring realization of the importance to get early screening. One thing surprises me, the lack of response from men. Do they not have wifes, friends, daughters and in some cases, even themselves that have had Breast Cancer? I have never known of men to not want to talk about “Boobs” before!
I also have a couple of friends and family that are already contributing or will be in the future and I look forward to sharing their journey too.

Last year this video came out and I felt it was worthwhile sharing again. Please don’t hesitate with comments or with anything that will bring awareness to the importance of Breast Cancer Screening.
Enjoy! and make sure that you read the previous posts!

First, in goes the freezing…now that hurts! Anyone who has had a Mammogram knows that it is not the most pleasant experience in the world…I would say that this makes the Mammogram experience a cake walk.
And then comes the Biopsy needle! In my imagination, I thought it was about five feet long, I don’t know if I was that far off! But then again, I saw that “thing” coming at me and I closed my eyes! Started laughing at myself, thinking that i actually thought Chaundra should take pictures. Yep, Crazy Woman. I seem to say that alot!
My initial reaction is always to try and make light of the situtation but the fear of the unknown, well it is sometimes difficult to not worry.
I must say that the Radiologist was great at trying to relieve my anxiety. He explained everything to me and told me that if I had any questions during the procedure to ask. We had a great discussion about Real Estate and the difference in home prices in Toronto and Waterloo Region; overextending yourself in the housing market..sure, just general everyday conversations. Anything to keep your mind off that bloody big biopsy needle coming at me!
I practice meditaion, and boy, this was a time for that.
Closed my eyes and all I thought about was a day in August and a wonderful little girl running to me and us both bawling as we wrapped our arms around each other….ok, so now I’m crying on the table, tears running down my face! I saw myself in the picture with four little girls and how it was so important that no matter what, I had to stay healthy and positive. It worked! Lesson learned…find something that you care enough about and be optomistic about the outcome.
A little woozy when it was finished and really lacking much strength in my right arm. Again, what the hell was I thinking about going on my own initially!
When I got home I was famished…demolished half a Swiss Chalet chicken and then snuck an entire container of Ben and Jerry Cherry Garcia ice cream, my favourite! Oh well, I deserved it! The Radiologist did tell me to “Pamper” myself for a couple of days didn’t he! I can work that off when I can get back to the gym.
Sore, some pain medication and icepacks and now ready for the long wait. I am sure that this will be one of the longest weeks. Will have to do lunch with some friends over the next few days…I’m good at “doing lunch”.

I’ll keep in touch…I am sure I will have more to post in the next few days. Don’t hesitate to contribute or comment!