Ladies, Feel Your Tatas!
20 Jan
I hate hate hate having yearly exams done. It’s not pleasant being poked and prodded the way we get poked & prodded during the exam. I have a confession – it’s been over 2 years since I had my last one done. I always use the excuse that I can’t afford to have them done because I don’t have insurance. Yeah, it’s an excuse and a crock of crap. Here in Michigan they have health departments that are very reasonably priced and if you meet certain income guidelines your exams are free. And there are even some doctor offices that work on what’s called a sliding scale fee so they base what you pay on what you make. So the point is – there’s never a reason for me to NOT have a yearly exam done.
So I went. I dealt with the poking and prodding but was a bit concerned when there was a heck of lot of poking going on with my “girls”, the “tatas”…you know boobs. I’m very well endowed (lol that’s putting it nicely) in that department so I don’t know what feels normal and what doesn’t (ok so I don’t exactly do self-breast exams regularly like I should but once in awhile I do).
She felt several lumps that were a bit ‘concerning’ so I spent a week in ‘what if’, freak out mode. Because of different things relating to my cycle and blah blah blah she wanted me to come back in for a follow-up this week to see if there was any change before sending me in for an ultrasound or mammogram.
I’m thankful to say that today things were better than they were the week before. As of right now she’s not concerned with the lumps (and in fact most of them were gone) but set up a follow-up appointment for April 18th so she can check them again. Then we’ll go from there. Let’s just say I’m breathing a huge sigh of relief…
If you haven’t had a recent exam I urge you to call and make an appointment NOW. I used to think it was better to not know if something was wrong but that’s not the case. Oftentimes the key to surviving something as serious as breast cancer (or whatever it may be) is early detection! I’m glad that I’m being monitored and followed up with on a regular basis just to make sure that nothing changes or becomes something that has to be biopsied, etc. It’s scary to go through something like this but at the same time it just reminded me how short life really can be and to live each and every day to the fullest.
My new motto is:
Live every moment
Laugh every day
Love beyond words
All this to say: ladies, feel your tatas! Learn what’s normal. Learn what’s not!
So glad you went for your physical. It’s so important!
I know what you mean about the waiting though – my very first mamogram came back “suspicious” and I had to have a second (performed at the local cancer center, no less) several weeks later.
Turned out it was nothing – we all just look different inside. But still it’s a scary thing! Glad to know yours turned out okay, too.
Cindy – yeah this just proved that it’s so important to have our exams done yearly! I’m glad that yours turned out to be nothing too.
I’ve recently learned as I’m preparing for the Avon walk for breast cancer that if detected early enough, the survival rate for Breast Cancer is 97%. I have not always been great about these exams, but now I’m going every year for sure!
I try to do self exams but I’m not sure I would recognize anything. I’ve had mammograms the last two years and because breast cancer is in my family, I will continue to go each year.
I’m glad your second visit went better and it doesn’t sound like anything major was found. Woohoo!
Congratulations on the weight loss, you’re kicking butt.
Yeah I don’t think I would recognize anything either. She had me feel what she found and even with her pointing them out I still wasn’t sure what I was feeling. Everything felt lumpy and weird to me.
Jodie – from everything I’ve read about breast cancer, early detection is often what saves someone. So, it’s so important to do self-exams or have regular exams done.
Hi Tisha! I wanted to leave a comment on the boyfriend post but it wouldn’t let me…he is cute, very cute, looks like my Mikey!!! You are doing great girl! very proud of you. I started back to my weight loss too, the beginning of January and in one month lost 7 lbs, I’m happy with that…now to just keep that momentum going….