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August 23, 2004

Benign Fibroadenoma!

Great news.....it was a benign fibroidenoma....no evidence of cancer. What a relief! I didn't realize just how nervous I was until about 2:00 today and I knew I was about to find out. A couple of words on the other end of a phone that can change your life. I thought all day about all the women that have gotten bad news instead of good. Including my mother who passed away a few years ago. I am very grateful to be O.K. today.

Posted by laura at 7:38 PM | Comments (1)

August 21, 2004

Core Biopsy

Well, yesterday was certainly interesting! I went for my mammogram and got some bad news.

Actually I was a year late this time. I usually schedule a mammogram every year because Mother had breast cancer. Two years ago I had a mammogram and an ultrasound because I have dense breasts and the doctor suggested we also check with the ultrasound. Everything was fine. So when I scheduled this year I decided to schedule both tests just to be on the safe side. And I had read in The Sexy Years that Suzanne Somers had found her cancer on an ultrasound after the mammogram results were fine. My mother found a large lump herself three months after her mammogram said she was O.K.

I went in for the mammogram. It was fine. On to the ultrasound. The technician didn't find anything. Then the doctor came in and checked. And there it was. I had almost made a clean getaway! I was laying there thinking if I had just scheduled only the mammogram I would be on my way home now!

So on to the options. She said it didn't look bad...she was pretty sure it was probably benign, but there was of course a chance that it was not...maybe 10% or less. Of course I didn't want to live with that 10% so I opted for a core biopsy which thankfully she said she could do right away.

The test was really not bad at all. They numb you up and go in and take about 6 samples to send to the lab. Hardly a mark is left. A compression bandage and ice off and on for four hours. Today I'm not even swollen or red and there was no after pain. Just take it easy and don't lift anything for 2 days.

The bad part of having it done on a Friday is that you have to wait until Monday for the results. I should know by Monday afternoon.

Posted by laura at 11:15 AM | Comments (2)

August 8, 2004

Hormone Saliva Test

I did the saliva test yesterday and got it in the mail. It is really pretty simple. First thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything---chew some gum for a few minutes and keep spitting in a little tube until it's about 3/4 full. Seal it up and mail. Mine went to Aeron Life Cycles Clinical Laboratories. They do a lot of different tests but mine was for estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol. So I should have the results in a few weeks at my next appointment. So far the hot flashes seem to be about gone, and I'm not too tired from the progesterone. I'll be really interested to see the changes on the tests and where I go from here.

Posted by laura at 6:12 PM | Comments (1)