Self Breast Exams

In March of this year, I felt something inside my body I never thought I would feel. I was changing clothes and changed bras and I felt something uncomfortable where my underwire hit. It was a little tender to the touch and I got a little concerned. I called my doctor and got an appointment for the next day. She did an exam and told me it was an inflamed duct. As an overwhelming sense of relief came over me, she continued on and let me know that she wanted to go ahead and do an ultrasound just to make sure everything is ok. I was fine with this idea because it's noninvasive and not a big deal.

 A few days later, I was back in the doctor's office for my ultrasound. As I laid there, the technician asked me to pinpoint the area of concern. She went around the specific area. As she did that, I watched the screen and saw what I now call "the intruder". The technician told me she was going to go get a radiologist to look at my images before I left. A few minutes later, he came in the room and told me that I have a tumor.

Jumping forward to this last Wednesday... I had my follow up ultrasound to check the size of my intruder. Not only has it grown a little but, but it has taken on a whole new shape. The picture below is my first image (top) and my second image (bottom).

(This isn't a size comparison, because the pictures were taken with my phone
from two different types of screens).

As my new radiologist looked at the new images and then took some more images himself, he informed me that the tissue around the tumor is healthy breast tissue, which is very good news. He gave me a few options, a follow up scan in three months, a biopsy, or a lumpectomy. My husband and I decided that we were jumping in head first and taking control of the situation. Like I have said from the beginning, this is an intruder, it doesn't belong in my body and it is coming out. There is no need for us to wait for another scan or go through a potentially painful biopsy when I could just tell this dude "goodbye" forever!!!

There are not but a handful of people in my life who currently know about this little creature living inside my body. I have not brought it to many people's attention because more than likely, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

I wrote this blog today to share the importance of doing a self breast exam. No matter how old you are, male or female, breast cancer is no joke. It's scary and serious. A self breast exam is so easy and quick.

Here are the instructions on how to do an exam properly, and it's straight from the experts! http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-self-exam.aspx

Do an exam once a month. You may find something, you may not, but if you do, do not hesitate to call your doctor. I was a little concerned that I was going to embarrass myself and it would be nothing, but mine was something. I'm glad I put everything aside, and called. I know it's nothing, I know that I'm fine, but what if it is something? If it is, I saved my own life.