Clear Mammogram

On Monday morning, I had my first real test for cancer since I completed treatment in December. I went for a mammogram first thing in the morning and luckily, it came back clear for other masses. This is excellent news, but I am holding my excitement until I see both my surgeon and medical oncologist next week. Mammograms are not the best diagnostic test for women under 40 years old because our breast tissue is so dense. So often times, malignant masses are not caught in young women through a mammography. Most women my age need a breast MRI to fully determine if there are areas of concern in the breast.

Although I am somewhat relieved, I am still concerned. I think I will always be this way. Once you've been diagnosed with a life threatening illness, you worry about every little ache and pain. I try not to let it rule my life, but I also realize that my life is different than 95% of the women my age. I worry about things 55 year old women worry about...like menopause-induced hot flashes, menopause-induced weight gain, thinning hair and mood swings. All are related to my use of Tamoxefin to keep estrogen from growing anymore cancer cells in my boobs.

Since the mammo, my sick boob (as I like to call her) has been crying in pain. Those damn mammo machines are like torture devices! Your girls should NEVER be squeezed like that. I've been having some shooting pain since yesterday and I have been taking some Advil to get rid of the sensation. Hopefully it will clear up by tomorrow.