Part I posted on Monday, October 4, 2010
Hi Ladies, I promised to come back and finish sharing my experience of finding a lump in my breast on September 12th. So here I am....and here is the Part II of my testimony.
I pushed for my doctor to write orders for me to have a diagnostic mammogram. I couldn’t wait any longer! Fortunately, I was able to get an appointment that same day. My doctor stressed that she wanted me to have both a mammogram and an ultrasound.
Ladies, I have to admit, I was petrified while sitting in the waiting room. I may have seemed cool, calm and collected on the outside, but on the inside, I was a nervous wreck. The next hour would determine my future. I kept reassuring myself that no matter what, I was victorious in the Lord, and in the Spirit strong! Oh, but my flesh was weak.
I began to look around at all of the other women who sat in the waiting room with me. Black, White, old and young. I honestly thought I would be one of the youngest, but there was a young girl who looked to be in her early 20’s. Why is she here? I started praying for her and all the other women as well—praying for them seemed to help calm my nerves and take my mind off of me.
Okay, so finally it’s my turn. “That’s weird;” the technician says she doesn’t see anything. Well, good thing there was an ultrasound scheduled too because OBVIOUSLY the lump is a clear indication that there is something there, duh! The order was only written for the affected left breast, but the technician said, “We need to do the right one as well so we will have a comparison.”
As we proceeded with the ultrasound—there it was! On the screen for all the world to see. (Okay, not all the world, just me and the tech). “Hmmm,” the technician whispered, “Let me go get the doctor”. With those words my heart sank and I began to pray, “Lord, prepare for whatever news I am about to receive.”
The doctor came in, introduced himself and asked for permission to feel the lump. He then proceeded to redo the ultrasound exam, once again putting my lump on display. At that point he began to explain to me what he was seeing. “See this spot here (he pointed to a black hole on the screen), this is probably what we are feeling.” “And you see all of this here (pointing to a shadow behind the black screen); it looks like whatever it is, it’s starting to resolve itself.”
“LORD! Am I hearing this man correctly?! Resolving itself—does that mean it’s going away?!”
The next words the doctor spoke was just what I needed to hear, “I can assure you 99.9% that it is NOT cancer.” “There is a cyst but even that appears to be resolving itself” “Let’s do this again in 3 months to make sure there aren’t any changes and to see if it is completely gone. But otherwise, everything is okay.”
“THANK YOU JESUS!!!” All is well.....or is it?
I got dressed and went to go tell my mother the good news (she works in the hospital). I had just given her the news when my phone rang. It was the technician. “Sasha, come back. The doctor reviewed the film of your right breast and he found something and wants to do an ultrasound on that breast as well”. My quick celebration immediately turned to an “Oh, No!” They weren’t even supposed to scan that breast!!
Well, long story short, it turned out to be another cyst in my right breast as well. We will do a follow up on that in 6 months. I only inserted this piece of info to remind you that mammograms are necessary to screen for any abnormal changes. Women need to make sure that we not only do self breast exams to feel for lumps but also need yearly mammograms to detect anything that we can’t feel. I didn’t feel this lump with a self-exam.
So that’s my story. Today, I am well and cancer free! Hallelujah and Thank you Lord!! Am I going to spend time worrying about the outcome 3 months from now? NOPE! Because God is teaching me not to worry about tomorrow. And as a good friend told me to do during this trial, I am striving to live in the today!
My story has ended on a positive note, but I realize that there might be someone reading this whose story ends differently, it could be that you may have recently found a lump as well or gotten a call back for an abnormal screen. I want you to know that if your first thought is to be afraid and scared that is a normal and a most human reaction to the situation. I know, because that’s what happened to me. When I first found the lump, I was ready to cancel my birthday celebration (which I didn’t by the way). I was sad, depressed and had a serious woe is me attitude initially — that’s until God gave me the scripture 1 Peter 1:6-9, but I want to share verses 6. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
My best advice is that you must fight to cast down your thoughts of fear and depression and bring them unto submission to Christ. And yes, it might be easier said then done. That is where you need your friends and family to help you stay strong and agree with you in prayer. Sisters, may you find peace and comfort in knowing that God loves you. The diagnosis, the prognosis and the treatment may be hard at times, but God is in the midst of it all, despite what it looks like. Strive to place all of your cares on the Lord and enjoy the life that God has given to you TODAY, trying your best not worry about tomorrow...He has each day under control!
A special note to the sister who thinks something might not be right (feels any type of abnormalities), GO GET IT CHECKED OUT! Don’t be afraid! Early detection is key to a good prognosis. If you don’t have insurance, please go anyway! There are several programs available to help the uninsured or underinsured. I am attaching a link that has FAQ’s about mammograms and resources: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/mammograms
One last thing, please do me a favor—as soon as you finish reading this blog. If you don’t know how to do a self breast exam, google “Self Breast Exams,” and perform one on yourself. Do it today, and then do it monthly. Again…Early detection is key!
Be blessed Sisters!
Sasha
I will be back on Monday, November 1st, hope to see you then!
Tuesday's Blog: Special blog by Ponnie
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