The Waiting Game Revisited

Before I start posting awesome vacation pictures this week, I wanted to bring you up to speed on what's been going on with me for this past month. About a month ago I went in for my annual trans-vaginal (internal) ultra sound and my CA125 (tumor marker) blood test. My half sister has ovarian cancer...she has for a number of years now. There isn't a good test yet for early detection of this horrible cancer, so what they have at this time is what I do each and every year.

When I was having my ultra sound, I knew something wasn't right. The tech was taking so much time and seemed to be zoned in on one area. She did different things than I've had done before. I was scared.

So that you don't get freaked out before I finish the story....I do NOT have ovarian cancer.

I waited and waited and waited for the results.

When the results finally came in, the nurse said that the doctor wanted me to make an appointment to come in to talk to her about them. RED FLAG!!! I never have to go in to talk about test results. I told the nurse I would gladly do that, but could she read me what the report says......

To make a long story short, my uterine wall has thickened. It was thicker last year, but no further testing was recommended so we didn't do any. This time it was even thicker and they did recommend further testing. I went in to see the doctor and we scheduled a hysteroscopy (where they look inside your uterus) and a D & C (where they scrape the walls of the uterus). Everything they remove is sent to the lab for biopsy.

I had that done one the 15th. While I was at the hospital, my blood pressure was really high....so high that they gave me meds for it twice. (Not a good thing when I just got weaned off the meds and my pressure hasn't been all that great since going off....but that's another story for a different day).

Irv and I thought about canceling our vacation because the results wouldn't be in until the day before we were suppose to leave. Would I want to find out I had some kind of cancer and then go on vacation the next day? Probably not.....but we decided to wait and see.

The doctor removed three polyps, but said that she saw nothing that concerned her. We just had to wait for the results. Well they came the day before our vacation and everything was benign. It was a good day. :)

I do have to go in and see her in a couple of weeks, because the fact that my uterine wall is too thick is an open invitation for abnormal cell growth and that is a serious concern. I have no idea what the treatment options will be, but my guess is some type of hormones or a hysterectomy....and I could be totally wrong, but that is just my guess.

It's has been a month of waiting and wondering. For the most part I stayed in control....but my mind often wandered and that is never a good thing when you are waiting for test results. All of this is part of the reason that I am not going to blog every day for a while. I am drained...mentally and I just have other things that I want and need to be doing right now. I have a shower to prepare for, walking and physical therapy to do, my etsy shop to tend to and a summer to enjoy.

So, how are you when you are waiting for news? A nervous wreck, cool as a cucumber or somewhere in between? I was somewhere in between...leaning slightly toward the nervous wreck side this time. I was a bit disappointed in myself for that. I am usually very much in control....to a fault in fact. HAHA!

I will be reading blogs, but maybe not writing or commenting as much as usual during this next month as I get ready for the shower and work on fourdogday...but I will be here.

Make it a good one and do something really nice for yourself today.

The Booby

This is a Blue Footed Booby....but this isn't the kind of booby I want to talk about today. I just didn't want to search online for a picture of the other kind. I was afraid of what might pop up.

In all seriousness....I received my "Good News" letter this week from the Breast Imaging Center. I never miss my mammogram, and I never miss my annual gyne visit. I lost an Aunt to Breast Cancer and my sister has been battling Ovarian Cancer for a number of years. I would be a fool not to go, and I am no fool! Are you?

When was your last mammogram? This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month you know......

I don't accept the excuse that it hurts....try being an "A" cup and having one. They need to be able to see a layer of fat between the breast tissue and the breast bone....you would not believe what I go through for them to accomplish that....so no excuses. Deal with it!

If you have had yours for the year...good for you! You are a one smart cookie.

If it's been more than a year since your last one....pick up that phone right now. It's a small thing you can do for yourself and for the people who love and care about you.

Go get your mammogram!