This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes.
Robert E. Speer

Oh but if it was always so easy…….

A few weeks ago I went in for my very first mammogram, it was a bit uncomfortable but over and done with relatively quickly, That was Friday.

The following Tuesday I got the call that we all fear, “we found something” and just like that everything changed.   I sat back down to my desk and continued through the day making an appointment for that Thursday to go in for the additional scan and ultrasound.

I left work early heading to this appointment  which was a bit more uncomfortable, they still saw something…… so off to the ultrasound I went.  The ultrasound was easy but nerve wrecking sitting in the room waiting to see what they think.

More bad news, I’ve got t o come back for a biopsy.

The appointment for my biopsy was Tuesday, I went about life and enjoyed my weekend with my fiends and mentally prepared myself for Tuesday’s appointment. I am good, I am ready and positive…. Then the calls start to come.

– call one: (incoming) we are confirming your appointment at ###, wait that’s not where my appointment is… Oh it changed.

-call two: (outgoing 5 minutes later) I just got a call to confirm my appointment but I no longer see it in the app on my schedule. Oh your appointment was rescheduled to later that day in the original location. That doesn’t work for me, so we finally get it sorted out to return Thursday morning.
At this particular moment, I lost it.. I was prepared for this potentially life changing appointment, the one to answer so many questions on what comes next and now it’s delayed?

The biopsy was uncomfortable but over relatively quickly.  I left with a bit of hope, it could be nothing.   Back to waiting again….

My primary care Dr gave me a ring the following week, great news NOT CANCER!!! The tumor is benign but it needs to be removed.  I went in and met with the surgeon and scheduled the surgery.   Yesterday,  the tumor was successfully removed. I am a bit sore but none the worse for wear.

I am blessed and extremely grateful that I came through this surgery with no complications and pending a final pathology report God willing I have a clean bill of health.  I am thankful for my mom who saw me through it, my closest friends and my girls at work who stood by me and supported me through this.

We all see the posts, F*CK CANCER… we share the facebook status’ that cancer sucks but I think we can all do a bit more than that.  We can do way more to spread awareness and to make sure that treatment comes sooner than later.

1.  Get tested, please get your mammograms and prostate screenings!  It is so much better to know whats going n and to get help and treatment sooner than later.
2. Encourage everyone you care about to get tested! Take advantage of your healthcare, go in for your annual physcial
3. Set an example for your children, talk to them about the importance of taking care of there health, lets remove any sort of stigma that physical and health screenings aren’t important.
4. Tell your stories, you never know who will benefit from them.

Click Here for some of the recommended Health screenings for men and women.