I saw nice Rads-Onc lady today. I showed her a lump I have under my arm. Now, please note, I did not have drains as some women do after a lumpectomy. Then, Dr. G. tried to draw the fluid out and failed miserably...
During rads, my boobs became all hard and red. They were kind of sensitive but paradoxically, they also were numb. Now that the feeling is coming back, the scar is starting to hurt again and I can feel, what I am quite certain, is that lump under my arm, which is a pocket of liquid.
I told her that Dr. N. had said I'd be getting MRI's while Dr. G said no. She said that Dr. G. was citing standard practice. Perhaps I have something unusual? When is the genetic testing, she asked. June but I admitted I'm not too convinced that it'll be positive. I'm almost sure it'll be negative because I don't have the family history and my sister was negative.
She assured me that if I'm positive, I will have no problems getting my MRI's. Oh what a relief to hear that... I think I'll have a LOT more to worry about than MRI's if that test is positive!! And if I chop off both boobs, a la Angelina Jolie, I won't have to worry about MRI's on my boobs at all!
But I didn't tell nice Rads-Onc lady that. I nodded and said "I see".
I had to come clean. I told her about the arthritis in my knees so that's why I saw Dr. N. in between, because usually the radiologist drops out of the picture after surgery. But in my case, I had another reason to go in and see him and we just happened to discuss the care I'd get afterwards.
I didn't tell her that you can be gushing blood but if you're a cancer patient, the doctor will prefer to talk about the cancer than the gushing blood but I digress...
I want my MRI's. Well, she admitted, I can probably somehow arrange them. I told her that I'm seeing Dr. K (the gynecologist) and that my GP supports me. She could see that I was on a mission!
First, the exam. She was happy and suggested I use a exfoliant on it. I told her that I had been hesitant due to the sensitive-ness but she said it's good to start now. Okay.
Then, she suggested I go back to PT to work on those scars again. I do have some limited movement because of them. Loosening them up will probably align my boobs up better, but honestly, they're not that bad and I don't have that much of an ego.
So then I showed her the lump. "We need to do an ultrasound". So I happily asked "So where's the machine??"
She made a little wry smile. "No, you're going back to Dr. N." "...and I get to discuss my MRI's!"
She sighed. She was sure this was nothing but to be absolutely certain, she had to send me back... I bet she's never had such a happy patient being sent to radiology for a mystery lump!
She had her secretary do the apt. I told her that they don't like to deal with me over the phone because of my accent. That's not entirely clear. Once, they asked me what the X-ray was for and I couldn't read the dr.'s handwriting. Sure, the accent didn't help! So I walk in each time. No, you don't have to do that.
The secretary called and said cheerily "I have a patient here, with whom I understand you're well acquainted with..."
Dr. N. on Tuesday morning and I go back to nice Rads-Onc lady in two weeks. My medical calendar is full!
During rads, my boobs became all hard and red. They were kind of sensitive but paradoxically, they also were numb. Now that the feeling is coming back, the scar is starting to hurt again and I can feel, what I am quite certain, is that lump under my arm, which is a pocket of liquid.
I told her that Dr. N. had said I'd be getting MRI's while Dr. G said no. She said that Dr. G. was citing standard practice. Perhaps I have something unusual? When is the genetic testing, she asked. June but I admitted I'm not too convinced that it'll be positive. I'm almost sure it'll be negative because I don't have the family history and my sister was negative.
She assured me that if I'm positive, I will have no problems getting my MRI's. Oh what a relief to hear that... I think I'll have a LOT more to worry about than MRI's if that test is positive!! And if I chop off both boobs, a la Angelina Jolie, I won't have to worry about MRI's on my boobs at all!
But I didn't tell nice Rads-Onc lady that. I nodded and said "I see".
I had to come clean. I told her about the arthritis in my knees so that's why I saw Dr. N. in between, because usually the radiologist drops out of the picture after surgery. But in my case, I had another reason to go in and see him and we just happened to discuss the care I'd get afterwards.
I didn't tell her that you can be gushing blood but if you're a cancer patient, the doctor will prefer to talk about the cancer than the gushing blood but I digress...
I want my MRI's. Well, she admitted, I can probably somehow arrange them. I told her that I'm seeing Dr. K (the gynecologist) and that my GP supports me. She could see that I was on a mission!
First, the exam. She was happy and suggested I use a exfoliant on it. I told her that I had been hesitant due to the sensitive-ness but she said it's good to start now. Okay.
Then, she suggested I go back to PT to work on those scars again. I do have some limited movement because of them. Loosening them up will probably align my boobs up better, but honestly, they're not that bad and I don't have that much of an ego.
So then I showed her the lump. "We need to do an ultrasound". So I happily asked "So where's the machine??"
She made a little wry smile. "No, you're going back to Dr. N." "...and I get to discuss my MRI's!"
She sighed. She was sure this was nothing but to be absolutely certain, she had to send me back... I bet she's never had such a happy patient being sent to radiology for a mystery lump!
She had her secretary do the apt. I told her that they don't like to deal with me over the phone because of my accent. That's not entirely clear. Once, they asked me what the X-ray was for and I couldn't read the dr.'s handwriting. Sure, the accent didn't help! So I walk in each time. No, you don't have to do that.
The secretary called and said cheerily "I have a patient here, with whom I understand you're well acquainted with..."
Dr. N. on Tuesday morning and I go back to nice Rads-Onc lady in two weeks. My medical calendar is full!
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