Bad News! Good News!

And so it came to pass on the 30th day of December, 2011, that I decided to look more closely at this odd occurrence on my left tit; and soon discovered that it clearly was a "lump".  That left me with Saturday, the 31st, Sunday the 1st, and Monday, the legal holiday, to anticipate the end of my life as I've known it.  First to adjust to living with only one tit - ok, that's not too hard.  Then to adjust to the idea that I might have treatment that would destroy my hair and make me even more noticable in a crowd - ok, I can handle a little attention.  And finally, to wonder "what about if it is really bad and gets worse, how much time would I have to mend my friendships and finish all that I still wanted to do in my life?"  Ok, that was a little hard.  Bottom line, it was a long three days.

But, eventually, Tuesday rolled around and I had in quick succession a mammogram, an ultra sound and a biopsy.  By Thursday I knew there were cancer cells in that little lump, and I had an appointment with a really good breast specialist the following Tuesday.  After an MRI on Wednesday of that week, I was scheduled for a lumpectomy on Friday, the 13th.  In that successful operation my surgeon removed the lump, checked the lymph glands (they were free of cancer) and sent me home to recuperate.  I'll be having radiation in the near future and then will move on with my life.  An interesting two weeks, but the outcome could not be better in the circumstances.  I have a new respect for life and the challenges we face.  And I have an awesome number of good people who are my friends and very, very much for which to be grateful.

My advice: If you are at risk, or if you find a lump, for which you should be regularly checking, DO something right away.  Get your mammograms regularly as recommended.  Don't sit around worrying - that accomplishes nothing.  Move forward and take charge.  The best way to assure good news is to act quickly and early.  Life is short already - don't make it shorter by putting off what needs to be done.