Wellness

[shoekitty]

@judy0330   so true! Taking chances, without a lot of research, statistics and outcomes isn't  healthy sometimes.  I had my lumpectomy and radiation in 2003. Get mammos around every birthday. All clear. I too found radiation not as bad as I thought. Better than the alternative, huh?   The worst part was getting up and down to radiation appt everyday at 8AM,  7 or 8 weeks. .  I decided against  TAMOXIFEN for me. I was past menopause. I did lots of research, talked with some oncologists and decided I'd pass because of side effects from other issues I had,  doctors didn't like it, but went with my decision  I took 2T ground fresh organic Flax seed everyday. Changed diet and exercise.   It worked for me. 

I cant convince women more to be their own advocate!  Research Mayo Clinic and other notable sites for info.  Challenge your Doctors if you feel something is wrong.  Or get second...third opinion if necessary. Doctors do what they can.  Some are more experienced and proactive than others.  Doctors today are bogged down with all kinds of paper work, codes and facing the insurMCE industry, who looks at the monetary bottom line. They don't know you.  I don't mean for women to ne a fanatic, just read, research and question with authentic facts. Don't be taken in by get cancer free schemes ( I have seen that as well.) just be your own advocate, and go with your gut. We are the only ones that knows ourselves best. We are just so darn lucky to have the mammograms, onocologists and surgeons we have today.  We do things today that weren't possible 30 or more years ago

[shoekitty]

@Shelbelle @judy0330  you know when I was diagnosed with breast cancer Ultra sounds were just starting to be used for breasts, and mammos. You havpd to go to Stanford though, and insurance was a bear to ok!!! Now a days Ultra sounds save lives, especially women with very dense breast tissue. 

[Squirt60]

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate taking the time to answer me. 
Not looking forward to the biopsy tomorrow but I know it's something important I have to take care of. 

[jlkz]

Over 30 years ago, the Mammo showed " something " in one area ( memory not helpful here ! ).  Could be calcium deposit so I decided I wanted it out rather than obsess over it all the time.  It was calcium.

When I woke from the brief surgical procedure, I got dressed and went home. Haven't missed a Mammo and still get an annual one at the same place.  Am 81....

[cindyNC]

I would get the biopsy done also.  There was a spot on my mammogram two years ago.  The radiologist recommended a biopsy, the one who came in to do it said it probably wasn't anything and didn't want to do it.  

She referred me for a stereotactic biopsy....."A stereotactic (often called stereotypic) breast biopsy is a safe, X-ray-guided procedure used to take tiny tissue samples from abnormal calcium spots or small lumps found on a mammogram. It helps doctors find out if a spot is cancer or a harmless change without needing open surgery. "

The xray tech and doctor did the biopsy, then the doctor came running back into the room to say they biopsied the wrong site and had to do it over again.  Turned out it was cancerous, very tiny, had surgery, radiation and on estrogtion supporession therapy for 5 years now.