So...I Found This Lump In My Breast....

Ok, so a couple of weeks before my hysterectomy I was standing in the shower "Mary Catherine Gallagher" style. You know...arms crossed with the hands under the armpits? I know it sounds strange, but when the water is hot and my neck is sore, I just like to stand there and try to get my muscles to loosen up under the spray.

Anyway, there I was, minding my own damn business, when I realized that there was a lump in my left breast very close to the armpit. I honestly didn't think anything about it. I just didn't think it was a big deal. I sort of made a mental note to worry about it after my surgery, so I put it on the back burner. I would deal with the cervical cancer first and then deal with the lump. I thought that was a pretty damn good plan.

So...after my surgery was done and the "tether of doom" that was my supra-pubic catheter was removed and I was feeling human again, I rechecked it. It was still there, and surprisingly felt a little bigger. So I thought to myself, "Self, you need to make an appointment with Doctor M to get this checked out."

After waiting a few weeks, I finally got off my lazy ass and made the appointment. And off I went to see my doctor.  Again, I suffered a verbal tongue lashing because of my non-diligence in getting regular mammograms. I believe the words Whitney (the PA) used were, "You dingdong! You have a family history!" Well, yes. This is true. My mother had breast cancer twice and my grandmother had it once. You'd think I'd be a little more on top of these things, but NOOOooooo...!

Anyway, she did the exam and agreed that yes, indeed, I had a lump. She put in the referral as "urgent" because of my family history and it was scheduled for November 12th. Yipee. Boob squishage was in my immediate future.