About My Mammogram

Three weeks ago, I had a mammogram.

I was going to write about it at the time, mainly because I took Isaac with me and he was really good the whole time, but that was the same day I saw my new apartment for the first time, which depressed me, and I ended up writing about that, instead.  The mammogram didn't seem so significant at the time.

I almost didn't get the mammogram done at all.  I wasn't afraid of getting it done, despite my current and continuing fear of doctors and medical procedures.  Apparently in my mind, a mammogram technician doesn't seem like a doctor, and I've had mammograms before so I knew exactly what to expect and knew it wouldn't be painful.  I just figured it would be a waste of time and money, because I was pretty sure that if they actually found something, I would not be able to proceed with getting a biopsy or anything like that.  That would involve seeing a surgeon, who is a doctor, and it might even have to be done in a hospital, and it would be at least a little bit painful.  I didn't really see a reason to get the test done if I would not do anything with the results.

I ended up deciding to do it anyway, mainly because I believe knowledge is power, and even if I chose not to proceed with a biopsy or anything else, I would know if there was a possibility of a problem.  It would also give me choices.  I would probably choose not to do anything with the test results, but I would have the option of doing something if I chose to.  I also thought that maybe if I went to a medical appointment and it went OK, maybe that would boost my confidence and make me feel a little better about the idea of going to other appointments for other medical things in the future.

I didn't really expect anything to be wrong.  I do have a family history of breast cancer, and in September I had a mammogram that showed what they thought was a cluster of calcium deposits in my left breast.  Calcium deposits are not unusual as women age, I was informed, and the radiologist deemed it nothing to worry about but recommended a follow up mammogram in six months.  That's what I had three weeks ago.

And like I said, Isaac was really good.  I didn't even hold the leash while the tech was actually taking the pictures, because I was standing up against that machine with my breast flattened in a vice.  I just told him to sit and stay and he did.  Well, except when the tech had to squat down to adjust something on the machine at one point.  Isaac took that as an invitation to cuddle her.  But other than that, he was really good.  And she liked him and wanted to pet him, anyway.

I left that appointment and went to see my new apartment and wasn't worried about what the results would be at all.  But last week I got a call from my primary care provider and was asked to come in that day to speak to her about the results of my mammogram.  The thing they thought was a cluster of calcium deposits has become more prominent and has changed in shape and the shape is unusual.  She wanted to refer me to a surgeon for a biopsy.