I've Got This

Saturday night, still have the zing in the right breast, still have the little clip in place.  What the hell, let's have friends over for dinner! My phone was on silent, but I happened to see the screen light up.  Why was my radiologist calling me at home at 8:36 p.m. on a Saturday night?  Oh yes!!  To tell me that my biopsy was malignant, that's why! I had DCIS, which is ductal carcinoma in situ (means "in its original place).  It was extensive, and it was considered high grade, which is fast growing.  It was estrogen positive, progesterone positive, but HER-2 negative.  Whatever. For someone under forty who finds herself with this, there are two basic choices: 1) lumpectomy with radiation and tamoxifen 2) mastectomy Here's the rub:  for someone my age with high grade DCIS, there is a very high percentage (something like 40%) that it could come back, either in the same breast or in the contralateral (opposite) side.  It will also b...

In September of 2013, I called to make an appointment with my gynecologist for the dreaded yearly exam.  I have the most fabulous gynecologist.  No, I won't give you her name, because it's already ridiculously hard enough to make an appointment with her, and I don't need any more patient competition.  I was on hold for what seemed like FOREVER, and I was able to finally make an appointment for JANUARY 10 of the following year.  Really?  (And yes, she's that awesome that I'm willing to get in line months and months in advance just to see her.) While I was on hold, the same recording played over and over.  The recorded lady's silky smooth voice offers a variety of other add-on services:  digital mammography, laser hair removal, botox and fillers.  She sounds more Saks Fifth Avenue than OBGYN Specialists, and she just makes everything sounds so damn appealing. I decided to tack on a mammogram to my visit.  I know I'm only 39, and I haven't r...