It's BENIGN, BENIGN, BENIGN!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

I just got back from the doctor and both masses/cysts that they removed are benign, there's no cancer at all, woo hoo! I honestly felt there wouldn't be, but until I got that final report, there was that small bit of doubt. No doubt now! It's all good! I'm so happy and relaxed right now. I have been a bit tense for that past month and a half and just to know it's all good, well, totally what I needed! LOL

I'm still sore, and especially as the incisions are still healing and no longer in the itchy tape, but totally feeling much better. Don't think I'll be doing any jumping jacks for a while, but that's just fine with me.

Tape, really that important?

YES! OMG, yes! So, yesterday, after working all day, I was tired, sore and itching like crazy. I decided, no, I hadn't thought it all the way through, that I would take the bandages off my incisions. Again, not sure what I was going to do after I got it off, but I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Well, OMG, it was. The tape they put on, little did I know, was keeping the incision closed and kept if from pulling. Yep, therefore, keeping the pain level down. So, when I took it off, PAIN! I was hurrying, trying to find my first aid kit to be able to tape it back up. Of course I don't have the same type of tape and so it didn't do as well. I had to put on a bra and a tank with the built in bra to try and make sure they didn't move at all. I then took some pain meds and prayed it would help. First thing this morning I was at the doctor's office and she re-bandaged me. I didn't mess with the left side, after the fiasco that was the right side. I had enough sense to leave it alone. So, with all the messing with it, I'm a whole lot sore today. Also, found out I'm having an allergic reaction to the tape, so I have some tiny blisters and that's what's causing the itching.

So, that's the latest on me and my boobs! LOL, my mother will die knowing that I'm being so candid, but hey, this is me and it's what I do, do! LOL Plus, I gotta talk about it, just gotta!

Buddy Check 12

So, growing up in Jacksonville, I learned about Buddy Check 12, which is that you and a buddy do beast self exams on the 12th of each month. The idea is to call each other and remind each other and just, well, be a buddy.

So, I have always done self exams, about every month or every other month. Of course, never felt anything, until September 4th. I found the lump in my right breast about 9 at night and was in the doctor's office the next day. When I walked in I talked to the girls at the desk and just lost it. I started crying, I tried hard not to, but I couldn't help it. I tried hard to make sure I didn't freak out, but in all honesty, I just couldn't help it. That day the doctor took a needle biopsy and then set me up to have an ultra-sound. At the ultra-sound they felt it, but couldn't find it on the ultra-sound. My doctor called and checked on me and said not to worry, we'd wait for the pathology report.

The next week, I got a voice mail from my doctor telling me that they found "foam cells" on the report and she was sending me to see a breast surgeon. Yep, back to freaking out! LOL, I tried really hard to tell myself not to get upset, but well, I did. I go to see her, she orders another needle biopsy and they look at it, and say it's benign, but has a marker. The doctor's suggestion, it needs to come out. We set up the surgery for 10/11/07.

The surgeon also orders a mammogram of both breasts before the surgery. I go and have the mammo, and yep, the find something on the left side as well. They then send me back for another ultrasound, she found the spot on the right and the one on the left. They then send me to another doctor to do another needle biopsy on the left side. This time while using an ultra-sound machine. Yeah, that was not fun. The doctor looks at it, thinks it's nothing to worry about and won't need to come out. Wrong. 2 pathologist at the NYU Cancer center look at it and say, yep, it has to come out as well.

Of course, all this happens, after they try to cancel the surgery twice. I tell them they can't do that, because mama's coming, and I NEED her to help me after. They say they need time to do this and that, but the doctors all work hard to help and we keep the surgery on the 11th. The morning of the surgery I had to go back to the doctor and they inserted a wire in my left breast, to guide the surgeon. Yeah, it was as pretty as it sounds! I thought I might be able to get some TV reception, but no! LOL

I then went to the hospital and they did the surgery and removed a mass from each side. I have my post op appointment on Thursday and will find out the pathologist report.

That's the mechanics of it all. The mental reality of it was a bit different. I didn't think I would ever have to face something like this and I really did try to not freak out. I did a few times, I just couldn't stop it. I was scared and unsure and really what surprised me the most was the idea that something could change "my girls!" Didn't realize how "affected" I would be.

I'm still a bit apprehensive about the final reports and all that, but I do feel this will all be OK.