re: FIRST mammogram since dx'd mammo....eeeeeeesh

juli0212

Hi all, just a 'tad' nervous about going Friday (Aug. 3rd) for first mammogram since last mammogram/biopsies/MRI's/2 surgeries/dx: IDC/node+/est+; chemo/rads ended Feb...on Tamoxifen presently....had partial mastectomy (first lumpectomy did not remove all cancer)...so nervous about 3/4 breast tissue w/1/4 being scar tissue--OUCH for mammo!!! LOL---I'll take that pain as if this wasn't found last year (5/06), I'd have been dead by now...the cancer was large and right against the chest wall...found only by mammogram...no lump palpable...so just nerves now for the first mammogram/bone density since all treatments ended except tamoxifen--chemo-induced menopause since 10/06...no periods at all since. (mega night sweats)
Just nerves writing here that's all.....venting, I guess...as we're ALL nervous about our testings after dx of breast cancer....thanx for listening whoever's out there! ~juli~

Anonymous

Good luck on Friday. I hope all goes well and that you not only get clear results, but that you get them quickly. I won't go for my first post dx mamo until next January. I can only imagine how nerve wracking it must be.

Sierra

Hi Juli:

Of course you are nervous..

first mammo.. I remember mine

I am sending out mega hugs
and healing for you for best
results.. May all be well
sure it will turn out fine

I always took an ativan or
clonazepam prior to..as the wait
my palms got pretty sweaty

Even now at several years,
it can be nerve wracking

Everyone is here for you


Hugs

juli0212

Thank you Jan...yeah, these will always be that way, I imagine!! I appreciate your thoughts...and good luck to you also. ~juli

juli0212

Thank you Sierra!!! I don't have any more valium, but will take ibuprofen right before as it'll be a bit more painful than normal (too much scar tissue to squish now--and dense small breasts, they gotta get back to the chest wall)...thanx for your support....I imagine these will always be this way~~all tests after cancer~~juli

nycmom

juli0212,thank goodness you realize this won't be business as usual. I did not realize how I would feel and the first one only a few mos. after diagnosis/surgery etc. I was not ready for physically or mentally. If you can take someeone with you as well as a pain agent before, and tell the technician how you are feeling, that might work. I must say all the rest have been much easier..also do ask about sonograms and mri's as other imaging tests b/c mammograms don't catch everything--the sonogram is the easiest of the 3 modes to take, in my opinion. good luck.

Sierra

It will get easier
and at different times
I have been blessed to have
a friend along with me

Best to both of you


)

juli0212

Hi NYCMom--I am in Albany, NY BTW!! I have gone thru all of the treatments myself, drove to all of them (daily radiation, weekly chemo)...and I will take ibuprofen before the mammogram and also tell the tech how I'm feeling, thank you!! I've already had the MRI in Dec. (all was fine bilaterally)...believe me I already have experience with mammos not catching tumors....I have more history here!! So, we always do mammograms/ultrasounds, and I'm due for a bone density as well Friday. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, I appreciate it!
My best to YOU also....juli

Coltsneck

Hi
Hope your mammo was successful. I had my first post diagnosis (May 06) mammo and ultrasound. Everything was normal despite my fears and tension. I couldn't believe how painful the mammo was - my affected breast was still sore and I thought I wouldn't be able to stand the pain to complete the mammo, but I survived it.

let us know how you did. Thinking of you...
Maureen

juli0212

Hi Maureen--I go today, and I already KNOW how painful it will be, as 3/4 of the breast remained, and rest is hard scar tissue from 2 surgeries...so will take ibuprofen beforehand...I also get my bone density at same place too.
Yeah, that was why my radiology oncologist didn't want me to get the mammogram too early, as rads ended in Feb., he wanted me to wait until August for the breast area to heal from surgery/chemo/radiation...so we shall see...thank you for your encouragement...will let you know, I appreciate that...how soon after your treatments did you get your follow-up mammogram? I also had bi-lateral MRI on both breasts right after chemo (12/06)...all was fine then.
My best to you also...juli

juli0212

Hi All---got back from my mammogram today (first post-cancer mammogram) and the doctor there called me in and everything is FINE...my scar tissue is retracted, so that caused some concern, as it's hard to see the whole breast area, but all looks good...6 more months now til the next.
Thank you for all your concern...whew!! Now just dealing with tamoxifen/chemo-induced menopause--whoopeeeeee!! haha...juli

Chattypatti

Congratulations! Now that the first one is over with, you might be able to handle the second one a little easier?? I hope so.

Sierra

WHEEEEE




Great news .... for you

Do something really nice..



)))

Catherine

That's great news! Congratulations!

Catherine