CHRONIC TONIC posts on Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST, it is a place to share stories, advice, and information and to connect with others with chronic health conditions and those who care for them. Our diarists will report on research, alternative treatments, clinical trials, and health insurance issues through personal stories. You are invited to share in comments (and note if you'd like to be a future diarist).
Tonight's diary by: MsGrin
Breast Self-Awareness
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. Screening tests can find cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® recommends that you:
1. Know your risk
•Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
•Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer
2. Get screened
•Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
•Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
•Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40
3. Know what is normal for you - see your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes:
•Lump, hard knot or thickening
•Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
•Change in the size or shape of the breast
•Dimpling or puckering of the skin
•Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
•Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
•Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
•New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away
4. Make healthy lifestyle choices
•Maintain a healthy weight
•Add exercise into your routine
•Limit alcohol intake
I don't like unnecessary medical tests and I don't like taking medication when it's at all possible (and sensible) to do so. With medications, well, nearly everything (whether it's s'posed to or not) creates fluctuations with my bloodthinning since I do that because of my artificial heart valve. With tests, well, there are a good number of them I need to do on a somewhat reg'lar basis to keep tabs on what's going on in me. For instance, annually we do sonograms on my heart to get a sense of its function, and on my kidneys to see if they are deteriorating. Every so often, we do fancier versions of tests to get better images. With all the neurological issues I've had with Lyme disease (both cognitive and physical with numbness and balance), I get stuck in loud tubes every so often to visualize what's going on there. I have cysts throughout a good portion of my body, so they get a gander every so often as well.
But I've reached a certain age where they want machines to mash and press my breasts so that we can no if anything is awry in that department. I had my second one today. I know people freak out about the idea of them, but it was barely uncomforable and it was over in a jiffy. I'll get results next week: I don't expect there will be anything remarkable.
Note: According to the box above from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, I'm really s'posta have a mammogram each and every year (MsGrin kicks dirt).
To be honest, however, I really didn't feel like doing this right now, but I felt like I needed to be a good sport. I just got signed on with a new primary care physician because my old insurance company left the region. So I made an introductory appointment to meet my new doc. She seems very bright and listened well from our limited interaction.
It was quite odd to me that she seemed surprised at my answer when she asked why I had come in for the visit. To get to know my new doctor, was my response. Apparently, that was an extremey odd thing to say, because she made an odd face and then asked if there wasn't something in particular that I needed to be seen for.
I can't quite wrap my head around why she and I were on different pages about this - I am disabled, but I usually function pretty well, given what 'normal' is for me. But when things go south for me, they can PLUMMET extremely quickly - toooooooo quickly for me to then schedule a 'hey, how ya doing' appointment for the person who sits at the hub of my healthcare. If I am in peril, I sure as hell want the person who comes to my rescue to be able to know that my name and face go together. Is that really so strange a concept in family medicine? Especially with a medical history as long and weird and complicated as mine (and includes three no-joke near death experiences)?
Still with me? I really am getting to how all of this has to do with my mammogram....
So, short backstory on my doctor - apparently she's only been in this particular medical practice for a short time. But in last few months, she has had TWO female patients who had no reason to thing they were candidates who came back with troublesome mammogram results, so she's apparently on a kick to make sure everyone stays up to date on testing.
Well, my first thought was to argue that I thought I could go another year (it's been two since my first) before retesting, but I felt I need to show that I am capable of compliance (and now I see that the official line is that annual testing is appropriate for someone my age).
My second thought was YUCK! My doctor seems to be a breast cancer magnet! I'm outta here!
Then I remembered that I have (valvular) cardiac issues, which I still believe innoculates me from cancer since I've had four surgeries and all, (btw: no studies double-blind or otherwise show me to be incorrect about my theory of my own, personal biology.)
I was cranky about the idea of another test. I've had a ton of bad medical news over the years, and frankly, the idea of one more possible round of bad new just sometimes feels like asking way too much of my stamina.
But I actually agreed to the test with very little balking and I'll tell ya why: I pitched a small fit in the reception area when I was doing all my new patient paperwork. There was a form for me to sign attesting to haven been given the privacy policy for the practice and that I understand it - a standard HIPAA release. I searched the paper packet twice and it wasn't there. So I went to the desk and said the privacy statement was missing from my paperwork. I was told they generally don't include it. And I'm like, but you are making me attest that I have read it without giving it to me, you are asking me to lie...
Yeah, but apparently, it's expensive to make photocopies or something, and it IS posted on the wall in the reception area (in an unmarked binder, I noted).
At any rate, having just had a very brusing legal scuffle with an insurance company, I'm kinda sensitive about what I sign and what it says. So I tell my brand new doctor that I was uncomfortable that this is apparently SOP for her practice.
Thankfully, she was pleasantly outraged and said she would get it corrected with the office manager.
She listened to me and treated me with respect, so I went ahead and promised I would have my mammogram without any fuss. And I have fulfilled that obligation for 2011.
How are you all, my friends? Whaddya think of the DK4 thang?
Please note in comments your interest in being a diarist. (We will happily format your diary for you, including links and pix!)
Mar 3: Diarist needed
Mar 10: Diarist needed
March 17: Diarist needed
March 24: Diarist needed