I went to my routine mammogram in December 2020 (for once, I actually went when it was due), and I got a recall. At that time, I was still thinking that we were surely dealing with a cyst or something non-sinister. I went to the recall, they did another mammogram, then an ultrasound, and then a biopsy. From the way the doctors were talking to me (they did not give me any specifics at that stage), I had a gut feeling that something wasn't quite right. I was given a follow-up appointment for the 6th of January. Let's just say Christmas was a little unrelaxed... Well, my gut feeling was right. On the 6th of January I got diagnosed with ER+ breast cancer. They had identified 2 tumors in my right breast.
I had 2 lots of surgery (both so-called lumpectomies, I was lucky to be able to keep my boobs). The first time around they found 9 tumors and unclear edges. They need clear edges around the tumors to be sure they got everything. The second time around they found another 2 (yes, a grand total of 11 tumors!). Scary stuff.
I have also undergone 4 weeks of radiation treatment, and I have been on medication for 3 years, and will be for another 5 or so. Chemotherapy was not recommended for my kind of cancer, and I'm really grateful for that, although it also means there's no more ammunition if other treatments fail.
They also took a few of my lymph nodes and found individual tumor cells only in the first node, not in the subsequent ones. That means that the tumors were JUST starting to try to spread. Had I postponed my mammogram, the result could've been VERY different.
So there you go: DON'T POSTPONE! Check your boobs, go to your mammograms, and be one of the lucky ones, like me!
Sabine
This is the cash we banked today. Big THANK YOU to everyone!! Together we raised over $4000! 🫶