Anxiety building for yearly mammogram...

Hi Shabby!  I just went through my first "regular high risk screening" of both breasts after my lumpectomy, rads and on Arimidex.  (The rest had been done with the radiologist right there; this was the first time I had to wait for results as I did prior to BC.)

As hard as it is it, go get it done.  I waited one month through Christmas time, rationalizing that if "anything was wrong they wouldn't be able to do anything during the holidays anyway...etc."  Well, I can tell you that one month of worry was definitely not worth it, either way.

No one can tell you it isn't hard, because it is.  It's scary.  But...and here is the big but (ha ha)...the mammogram is to HELP you not hurt you.  It's so hard to think this way, but it's true.  I really came around to thinking this way when a technician told me one time "people always tell me how much they hate being here, how afraid they are, and it is frustrating because I'm here to help you and protect you and in the event something comes up, you will deal with it early."  

I think one of the things that helps is as much as our minds go to the worst case, try to go to the best case as well.  What if you go, get an all clear, and go on vacation?  Think how relieved you will be.  If you are like me, that's a tough thing to do, but it is possible as well as the other side.  

Finally, the lesson I learned about staying on exact schedule is I had some control over my chance of recurrance/new cancer.  IF there comes a time where it comes back, I will know that I did every single thing I could, when I could do it, and I had some measure of strength against my fear.

All these words may not help you, but there are so many of us that know what you are going through.  Stay as strong as you possibly can and go get it done.  You'll be glad you did.

XO

Kim 

I was faced with a similar dilemma upcoming in May:  a 6 month US screening that will take place just a couple of weeks before my son's college graduation.  I see-sawed back and forth between leaving the appt. in place for before the event, vs. rescheduling it for afterwards.  Finally, I decided to leave it as originally scheduled (before the graduation.)  This was my logic:  if I rescheduled it for afterwards, the dread/worry would certainly have a huge potential for ruining an event I am really looking forward to and would like to enjoy;   if I go and get screened before the graduation, the odds are in my favor that everything will be ok and I can go and be fully engaged.  I know if I delay the appt., it is a sure thing that I will be preoccupied and anxious.  This way, there is a good chance everything will be fine, and if not, I will just have to deal with it.

HI Shabby, we'll be here for you if you need to vent or a shoulder! Some wonderful ladies out here! :-)

My 6 month check is Monday and I am worried, I have some weird health things going on and it makes me crazy wondering what's up. Sigh. Well here's to clean films and 6 more months of freedom! :-)