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Email a FriendLisa…this is where I was in July only my situation didn’t turn out as well. I will keep you in my prayers.
Medical Musings
A trip to the doctor is cause for a pause.
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Health on Saturday, November 22, 2008 7:00 AM
In early October, I shared with you - my Faith and Family Live! friends - that I would be treating myself to a mammogram in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I fessed up to the fact that I’d been negligent for the past few years when it came to tending to my own health care. I felt healthy and great, so it came as a bit of a surprise to me when my initial mammogram turned into a second one, and then an ultrasound and subsequent Radiology consultation. The next thing I knew, I was having a “sterotactic core needle biopsy” (I’ll blog about that lovely procedure some day!) and waiting to receive a phone call about my results.
Well, that phone call came with the news that I have a small, precancerous area that needs to be removed, so on Monday morning I’ll be headed off to the hospital for an outpatient surgery and later a precautionary appointment with an oncologist.
I’m sharing this with all of you to underscore a few things. The first, and the most important, is that I want you to stop procrastinating (if you’ve done so) and take time this week to schedule your own preventative health treatment. Thank goodness that I got off the dime and headed to the doctor early enough that this will likely be a very simple surgical procedure. Had I continued to wait, who knows what could have happened with my health?!
We moms are notorious for taking care of everyone but ourselves. But by neglecting our own health, we do our families a disservice. How can we love and care for them if we don’t do the same for ourselves?
The second thing I’d like to ask you to do is to pray for all of those involved in the fight against cancer - for those facing illness, those who have succumbed to it and their families, for the doctors and researches who treat and search for cures, and to the souls in purgatory who battled cancer. Hopefully, some day soon, we will have a cure for everyone.
Next week, through the beauty of the Internet and with the help of my fellow blogging friends here, you’ll be reading posts from me. But while the rest of you are running around defrosting turkeys and creating fabulous homemade centerpieces, I’ll be lounging in my pajamas, taking a week to rest and recuperate.
I’m so blessed that the diagnosis I face is not serious, so I don’t want any of you to think I share this to seek your pity - I’m simply hoping that by sharing what’s going on in my own life, a few of you might be inspired to seek the care we all need and deserve. If you missed your mammogram and doctor’s appointment in October, November is a great time to get them scheduled!
Comments
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If you feel something is wrong, don’t let it go. Don’t let someone pat you on the head and tell you not to worry, when deep down you know something else is going on.
My mother ended up with a 10 centimeter (NOT mm, CM) tumor because of a bad doctor. She takes responsibility though, she knew she should have gotten a second opinion but ‘it is nothing to worry about’ was what she wanted to hear.
She is still here almost 8 years later, she beat the odds.
Posted by Grandma Elaine on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 5:10 PM (EDT):
Reminder-Get your mammograms and get them on time too. Three years ago I got my annual one right on time and they found an increase in calcium deposits and needed to do needle biopsies. A Grade 3 ductal cell cancer was found. After a mastectomy (My choice as could have had a lumpectomy, but this way didn’t need radiation treatments.) I’m doing fine and needed no additional treatment. Thank you, God!!!
Posted by Joshua of Catholic Tech Tips on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 9:55 AM (EDT):
Prayers…
My Grandma passed away of cancer early this year.
Posted by Katherine on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 2:54 PM (EDT):
First off, prayers going out to those of you struggling with cancer, waiting with bated breath by the phone for the phone call that is it/isn’t OK and those who are battling this with a family member. My mother was diagnosed because she tirelessly fought that the lump should found was not yet another cyst, but something else. Her intuition was correct as she had not 1, but 3 cancerous lumps in her breast. We as women must take control of our bodies and be proactive. I know that we as mothers take care of ourselves last, but we need to be aware of our own needs medically. As a final note, this is sadly not only an issue for post-menopausal women. I cannot tell you how many young mothers were in the hospital with my mother pushing a toddler in strollers. Young women need to be diligent about self exams as well. OK, enough from me! God Bless.
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