Am I Next? Breast Cancer Awareness #breastcancerawareness #breastcancer

Every single time I get a mammogram, the technician reads my slip, purses her lips, and says, "Mother AND sister?"

I nod, ending with, "But they were both through menopause."

This time, the tech said, "So?"

I took that to mean my old defense of, hey this is an age thing , is no longer valid. I let the tech do her work as she squished the girls so hard, I thought I'd pass out. Well, not really, but then... the way I figured it, the more it hurt the better she would see what's going on. Of course, that was last year and since I put the worry from my mind for another year, I didn't think about it, except when doing monthly checks for lumps.

I had my physical last week and I'm not due for another mammogram until February. As my doc was fiddling around with the girls, she found a mass of fibrous tissue. It isn't big, probably the size of a pea. But it is there like a giant painful early warning signal. This little lump hurts. She said the fact that it hurt was a good sign. Breast cancer doesn't cause pain. She didn't think an earlier mammogram was necessary.

Still, it worries me.

I looked up risk factors for breast cancer.

1. Having already had breast cancer in one breast
2. History of ovarian, uterine, or colon cancer
3. Having a genetic abnormality in breast cancer genes
4. Late menopause (after 55)
5. Starting menstruation early (before 12)
6. Having a first child after age 30
7. Never having children

Both my mother and sister survived breast cancer. My mom had a total mastectomy while my sister had a lumpectomy. While my mother didn't undergo radiation, my sister did. I asked my doc what the chances were in me developing breast cancer. She said it's more of a when than an if.

I received notification that this year, (2015) my health insurance carrier will cover genetic testing (BRCA1 OR BRCA2). I'm thinking about having it done, but then what? If I carry the gene, will I opt for a double mastectomy? Or will I let nature take her course? Lots of questions, too little answers. I put the question to my doc and she is all for the testing, so I'll have it done in January. After the results are in, I will decide what road to take. But honestly, I think this is one gene that missed me.

For my readers, please remember to get your mammograms and do a self-check at least once a month. A dear friend of mine died of breast cancer at the age of 32after a lengthy battle. I miss her every day and I know she'll be waiting for me on the other side. As for me, I can't wait to see her. Aside from my mother-in-law, Diane is the bravest person I've ever known. Like I said, I miss her every single day.