Two days ago I went out to Mayo for my annual Mammogram. What I discovered was that I had missed last years test.
I must have been so busy getting the site ready, that I completely forgot about it.
Not a very good patient advocate, am I? "Not So Much" as I say! Advocate for everyone else, but NOT SO MUCH FOR OURSELVES.
Anyway, I was scared out of my mind that they were going to find something wrong with me because I'd waited too long in between mammograms. I'm telling you, the fear factor is enough to make you crazy. Then the sitting there, waiting..waiting.. for them to tell you it's OK for you to get dressed now...really sent me over the edge.
What I realized is that I've been scared into believing that I'm going to develop breast cancer. Is that a good thing? I hadn't realized how heavily it weighs on my mind, until I found out I'd missed my annual test.
What can we do to take some of the fear away? Do we quit reading all the negative stories? Do we stop watching rising statistics? Do we stop looking at anything that's pink?
Can anyone give me some ideas or suggestions on how they handle this?
I can't be the only one who feels this way. And I have to say that I am not easily scared. But,this truly frightens me. I can't begin to imagine what happens to a woman when she's told that she needs to have more tests.
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Two days ago I went out to Mayo for my annual Mammogram. What I discovered was that I had missed last years test.
I must have been so busy getting the site ready, that I completely forgot about it.
Not a very good patient advocate, am I? "Not So Much" as I say! Advocate for everyone else, but NOT SO MUCH FOR OURSELVES.
Anyway, I was scared out of my mind that they were going to find something wrong with me because I'd waited too long in between mammograms. I'm telling you, the fear factor is enough to make you crazy. Then the sitting there, waiting..waiting.. for them to tell you it's OK for you to get dressed now...really sent me over the edge.
What I realized is that I've been scared into believing that I'm going to develop breast cancer. Is that a good thing? I hadn't realized how heavily it weighs on my mind, until I found out I'd missed my annual test.
What can we do to take some of the fear away? Do we quit reading all the negative stories? Do we stop watching rising statistics? Do we stop looking at anything that's pink?
Can anyone give me some ideas or suggestions on how they handle this?
I can't be the only one who feels this way. And I have to say that I am not easily scared. But,this truly frightens me. I can't begin to imagine what happens to a woman when she's told that she needs to have more tests.
Michelle
February 8, 2008 - 10:19pmThis Comment
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