Talked with my doctor tonight about my frustrations with the form letter I received basically congratulating me on a normal mammogram yet knowing she got a different letter saying that they couldn't rule out cancer. She seemed a bit surprised that I got a form letter and nothing addressing the findings. She read me the letter she got.
From what they could tell, it appears as though it's likely just a lipoma or fatty cyst/tissue. However, since the mammogram/ultra sound cannot rule out cancer 100%, the American Cancer Society recommends that the patient be seen by a specialist to rule anything out. That's why my doctor had already decided to send me to a specialist even before the official results were in her office. I'm very thankful she's my doctor and that I have someone I can trust to do what's best for me and who's willing to talk to me about things.
I have honestly been in a great frame of mind since my rant. Just getting it off my chest seemed to help. I'm in an even better frame of mind since talking with my doctor. I'll still be addressing the form letter I received. I just need to think about what I'm going to say, so it will hopefully be given honest consideration instead of being dismissed.
I don't like being dismissed, but that's another post. :)
Showing posts with label mammogram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mammogram. Show all posts
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
My rant for the day. I'll try not to make it a habit. :)
I refuse to even think about it until Monday. Ok. So I'll probably be thinking about it on Sunday night, but I refuse to let the upcoming doctor's appointment rule my thoughts and my life. But I am a bit irritated.
I didn't read yesterday's mail until this morning. There was a letter from the imaging company who did the mammogram congratulating me on a 'normal' mammogram. It said nothing at all about the ultrasound. It did have the disclaimer that my doctor may still request extra testing or an examination by a breast specialist even with a normal mammogram.
That isn't the irritating part. I get that. I really do. But what irritates me is that they sent me something that said that my mammogram was totally NORMAL, but they sent totally different information to my doctor that said that a malignant neoplasm could not be ruled out. I don't equate that with 'normal' findings.
After I wrote my blog yesterday and spoke with an online friend who is a breast cancer survivor, I felt much better. Not quite afraid of what was under the bed. I feel much better knowing that I'll be getting answers soon - one way or the other. I'll be able to deal with whatever those answers end up being. Worrying won't change the results one way or the other, so I'm not going to stress over it.
The thing that really irritates me about this letter is it's irresponsibility. I'm sure that the vast majority of cases like mine end up being nothing. Just a temporary glitch in one's body. But what about those cases in the minority? Those cases where the patient gets the finding of a normal mammogram and don't follow up with their doctors. Those cases where the doctors go on vacation, and they don't read the report before they leave. Those cases where there actually is cancer, and it isn't caught, because some imaging company sent out findings of a normal mammogram.
How hard is it to just be honest in the letter? "Your mammogram *appeared* normal, but given the circumstances, the test could not rule out cancer. Please follow up with your doctor for further testing"? Which I guess in some ways is what the letter said, but it said it in such vague terms. They should do patients a favor and not sugar coat things.
They shouldn't open the letter with, "We are pleased to inform you that the results of your recent mammography examination are NORMAL", if they're sending a letter to your doctor saying that they can't rule out cancer.
What a bunch of hogwash!
Rant finished.
I didn't read yesterday's mail until this morning. There was a letter from the imaging company who did the mammogram congratulating me on a 'normal' mammogram. It said nothing at all about the ultrasound. It did have the disclaimer that my doctor may still request extra testing or an examination by a breast specialist even with a normal mammogram.
That isn't the irritating part. I get that. I really do. But what irritates me is that they sent me something that said that my mammogram was totally NORMAL, but they sent totally different information to my doctor that said that a malignant neoplasm could not be ruled out. I don't equate that with 'normal' findings.
After I wrote my blog yesterday and spoke with an online friend who is a breast cancer survivor, I felt much better. Not quite afraid of what was under the bed. I feel much better knowing that I'll be getting answers soon - one way or the other. I'll be able to deal with whatever those answers end up being. Worrying won't change the results one way or the other, so I'm not going to stress over it.
The thing that really irritates me about this letter is it's irresponsibility. I'm sure that the vast majority of cases like mine end up being nothing. Just a temporary glitch in one's body. But what about those cases in the minority? Those cases where the patient gets the finding of a normal mammogram and don't follow up with their doctors. Those cases where the doctors go on vacation, and they don't read the report before they leave. Those cases where there actually is cancer, and it isn't caught, because some imaging company sent out findings of a normal mammogram.
How hard is it to just be honest in the letter? "Your mammogram *appeared* normal, but given the circumstances, the test could not rule out cancer. Please follow up with your doctor for further testing"? Which I guess in some ways is what the letter said, but it said it in such vague terms. They should do patients a favor and not sugar coat things.
They shouldn't open the letter with, "We are pleased to inform you that the results of your recent mammography examination are NORMAL", if they're sending a letter to your doctor saying that they can't rule out cancer.
What a bunch of hogwash!
Rant finished.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The boogey man under the bed.
It's funny how no matter how many times you tell yourself not to be worried or scared it doesn't seem to help. You know?
On Friday evening when I spoke with my doctor, I told her what the mammographer told me. That they didn't 'see' anything. It was a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound, and they should have counseled me more than they did, but I guess in some ways it's good that I didn't know what I know now. I was able to at least rest up a little over the weekend and try to fight this junk in my lungs.
I called my doctor's office this morning to find out exactly what the ultrasound and mammogram report said. My doctor's nurse got back with me awhile ago. The words she read off the report were that neither the mammogram nor ultrasound "could rule out a malignant neoplasm."
Malignant is such an ugly word. Isn't it? The very word itself conjures up ugliness.
Shortly before I'd gotten the call from the nurse, the specialist's nurse had called as a result of the referral they'd received from my doctor to set up an appointment. She couldn't get me in until the end of March. Once I heard from my doctor's office, I called back and explained the situation and exactly what the report said. I told her that I know what a difference 6 weeks can make in the life of cancer. My father was diagnosed with lung cancer almost 3 years ago. He was gone 5 weeks and 1 day after the diagnosis. I asked, if there was anyway she could get me in sooner.
She was able to get me in on the 3rd of March. That's much better than the 29th. I thanked her and hung up the phone to call my husband and let him know what was going on. Before I could dial the phone correctly and complete the call (amazing what nervous fingers can dial when you're not looking!), the phone rang again. It was the specialist's office again. They found an appointment for me for Monday morning. Six days sure beats 6 weeks, doesn't it?
I keep telling myself not to worry. Not to panic. Not to be scared. Ask me how that's working for me. LOL
I know that I'll be fine whatever I find out on Monday, (or whenever I find whatever it is I find out), because that's how I operate. The worst part for me is the waiting. Even when my husband was deploying when he was in the Marines, I found that waiting for him to leave was harder than once he was actually gone. It's the unknown that's hard. It's scary. It's the boogey man under the bed.
Once I know what I'm up against I'll be strong enough to fight it.
Right now. I just need to remember to breathe.
To trust that God is in control.
That He knows what's going on with me.
That He loves me.
That He has my back.
Yep. I'm going to be just fine.
On Friday evening when I spoke with my doctor, I told her what the mammographer told me. That they didn't 'see' anything. It was a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound, and they should have counseled me more than they did, but I guess in some ways it's good that I didn't know what I know now. I was able to at least rest up a little over the weekend and try to fight this junk in my lungs.
I called my doctor's office this morning to find out exactly what the ultrasound and mammogram report said. My doctor's nurse got back with me awhile ago. The words she read off the report were that neither the mammogram nor ultrasound "could rule out a malignant neoplasm."
Malignant is such an ugly word. Isn't it? The very word itself conjures up ugliness.
Shortly before I'd gotten the call from the nurse, the specialist's nurse had called as a result of the referral they'd received from my doctor to set up an appointment. She couldn't get me in until the end of March. Once I heard from my doctor's office, I called back and explained the situation and exactly what the report said. I told her that I know what a difference 6 weeks can make in the life of cancer. My father was diagnosed with lung cancer almost 3 years ago. He was gone 5 weeks and 1 day after the diagnosis. I asked, if there was anyway she could get me in sooner.
She was able to get me in on the 3rd of March. That's much better than the 29th. I thanked her and hung up the phone to call my husband and let him know what was going on. Before I could dial the phone correctly and complete the call (amazing what nervous fingers can dial when you're not looking!), the phone rang again. It was the specialist's office again. They found an appointment for me for Monday morning. Six days sure beats 6 weeks, doesn't it?
I keep telling myself not to worry. Not to panic. Not to be scared. Ask me how that's working for me. LOL
I know that I'll be fine whatever I find out on Monday, (or whenever I find whatever it is I find out), because that's how I operate. The worst part for me is the waiting. Even when my husband was deploying when he was in the Marines, I found that waiting for him to leave was harder than once he was actually gone. It's the unknown that's hard. It's scary. It's the boogey man under the bed.
Once I know what I'm up against I'll be strong enough to fight it.
Right now. I just need to remember to breathe.
To trust that God is in control.
That He knows what's going on with me.
That He loves me.
That He has my back.
Yep. I'm going to be just fine.
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