It’s a lymph node
I had my first mammogram, guys! And it didn’t hurt at all! But I did black out a bit…
Two weeks ago, I found a small lump between my right breast and armpit. I wasn’t too alarmed about it, but I took it seriously.
I asked my snister to feel it up the next day and she agreed that I should have my doctor check it out. So I did. I saw my doc last Friday and she was pretty sure it was a cyst, but recommended getting an ultrasound and maybe a mammogram to confirm.
I’ll leave out the (details of the?) part of the story where the receptionist looked at my health care card last week and told me she’d never seen it before and made me panic. And how much trouble it was to make sure the place doing the tests was in network. Sigh. I hope it isn’t always this difficult to use our new health insurance. And I can’t wait to see the bill… anyway…
I had the mammogram and ultrasound yesterday afternoon. The lady doing the mammograms was so nice! And it didn’t hurt at all! But it was really warm in the room, and by the time we got to the second to last one, she asked if I was feeling okay – I must have looked flushed. I told her yes, that I was fine to finish, but as we were setting up for the last one, I started to black out. I couldn’t see, but she helped me get out of the plates (ha!) and lead me to the chair. I was looking all over for it with my arms and couldn’t find it! Freaky!
She was really helpful and sat me down and opened a window to let cold air in, and got me a cold cloth for my head. I got my vision back quickly but then my ears felt like they were plugged with cotton balls and I couldn’t hear well for a bit. What. The. Heck. It was so odd! But like I told her, if I was going to black out someplace, I’d want it to be a hospital. Ha.
When it happened, I felt dizzy like I do when I take WAY too hot of a bath. But that doesn’t cause me to lose sight, then hearing. Odd.
After sitting and drinking a cup of cold water, I felt well enough to finish, so we did, then I sat in the waiting room for awhile, and the lady who did my mammograms checked up on me to make sure I was okay – she was such a sweetie.
Then someone else got me ready for the ultrasound (where I oddly felt cold, after being so hot!), and the doctor did it and showed me that it’s just a lymph node. Lymph nodes are usually higher up in the armpit, but it’s totally fine that this one’s hanging out there, and I only need to have them check up on it if it gets bigger. Cool. It also might just be inflamed and go away.
It may seem odd that I did all this to get it checked out but I found the lump the same day a family member had a double mastectomy. So… yeah. Gotta take care of yo’self!
Themocracy
Good for you being proactive! I’m so glad all is well. I’m sorry you had such a dramatic experience, though!
I just had my annual exam a couple weeks ago, and my mammogram referral is sitting up on the fridge. My Mom just got diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday, so it’s more pressing (ha! Pun) for me now that I know it’s in my genes.
At least I had a great nurse (mammo technician?) to take care of me!
Man, I am sorry about your mom 🙁 I hope it’s not aggressive! Go get yours pressed! Ha!
It is always a good idea to get things like that checked out. Your Great Grandma had breast cancer and a mastectomy. Family history is an important part of keeping an eye on yourself. I do because of breast cancer on both sides of my family. It is a scary thing to find something and also when THEY find something. I had to have a cyst aspirated several years ago. I have had several ultrasounds and of course many mammograms too. Glad you got checked out!!
I didn’t know that about great grandma, geesh! I should make sure I know these things. I am happy you are taking care of you! What was it like to have the cyst aspirated? Sounds… interesting?! Ha ha.
I’m so glad you got that checked out, and am so glad it’s nothing! I don’t remember if I told you, but I actually know two women my age (or a little younger, I think) who are battling breast cancer right now. One just had a double mastectomy and is going through chemo. I keep hearing about cases like that more and more, and it’s kind of scary since mammograms aren’t recommended until age 40, so it’s good to check yourself and see your doctor if something feels off.
Wow! That is so young! I didn’t know, but I am not surprised! 🙁 I hope everything turns out okay for them.
And I am kind of surprised mammograms aren’t recommended until that age!
I think it’s because women are less likely to develop it before age 40, so that’s a lot of unnecessary testing (and $$$$ for the insurance companies to spend). But I don’t know how old that standard is, or if maybe it needs updating.
It’s still the standard and it’s the same with age limits on other types of cancers e.g. Colonoscopies not recommended until 50. It doesn’t mean they don’t occur in younger people it’s just not at a rate that makes population screening viable. That’s why knowing your family history, how your own body is and self exams when possible are the best thing you can do!
Yeah, when I told my doc that both my maternal parents had colon cancer, he wanted me to have my first colonoscopy way earlier than normal.
That’s good. Colonoscopies are unpleasant (from what I’ve heard) but colon cancer is very slow growing normally so it’s a really good one to catch early or even at the precancerous stages so they are very effective.
So glad it’s nothing to fret about! I know how nerve wracking it can be to sit and wonder and wait till you can figure out what it is. I give you major kudos for doing something about it right away.
A while ago, I found a lump and waited months till I had my annual to have it checked out. Ignoring it meant that it didn’t exist, right? Yeah. As it turns out (after an ultrasound-guided biopsy), I have a matching pair of fibroadenomas in my boobs. They change size depending on my hormones, which is always reassuring (not), but benign.
Anyway, back to you … I love that your sister felt you up 😉
I am not sure if this is horrible or good but I have been so stressed about the house and work that I didn’t even think of it much! GAH!
Oh wow!!!! Did you know about the other one?! Geesh! Thank heavens they are benign!!!
Ha ha! That was the first person I wanted to ask! I am happy we were together that weekend!
I’m glad you went and I’m extra happy it’s nothing. Sorry you felt crappy. The only time my vision craps out like that is if my blood pressure is low. It could just be a bit of stress combined with the room being too hot!
My friend (who is a nurse) wondered if my BP was too low!!! They didn’t check it yesterday. And the session was about two hours after speedwork. That was probably a bad idea… lol.
Dang, what an experience – so glad your results were good. But interesting about the fainting thing…maybe you were stressing over this more than your realized? That is totally something I would do – but the body takes over and BOOM.
I wonder if I was? I was more stressed about fitting the appointment in my schedule, than anything else!!!
Better safe than sorry. Good to hear it’s fine, and I’ve had an inflamed lymph node before, behind my ear. I must’ve clipped it with my hair straightener and it swelled up, and I did panic.
Yikes! Hope it went down! The one behind my right ear has been swollen for about 10 years. Ha ha.
Oh man that’s scary! I’m glad you’re ok and got checked out and have a snis who was willing to double check for you 🙂 would you ever consider the genetic testing for the cancer genes if it runs in your family? (Sorry if too personal, feel free not to answer)
Thanks! Ha, too personal, for me?! 😉
I would do the test if my doctor advised it 🙂
I’m so glad everything is ok!!!! I’ve had 2 lumps removed and it can be so scary!!!
Yikes! Happy you’re okay, too!
Are you sick or have you been sick lately? That can often cause inflamed lymph nodes, too. I have a weird one that likes to hang out by my collar bone, and when I am sick it gets a touch larger.
I was sick over Christmas, but that’s it. I have a lymph node that’s been inflamed behind my right ear for about 10 years, so maybe it’s common for me?
Could be!!
As a soon to be nurse, I commend you for being proactive about your health. Not being able to see during the test sounds completely frightening though! I pass out easily and have done it multiple times in medical situations, but I’ve never not been able to see. That would completely freak me out!
I’m so glad that you are OK!
Inflamed lymph nodes are freaky! I’m glad that’s all it was, though.
Sounds like you had some kind of vasovagal response. That happens to my sister all the time for random things. Good thing she’s a nurse and works in a hospital!
Glad everything turned out to bed ok! The lymph nodes are all over the place! When I was pregnant the nodes were all big in my arm pit…then when my milk came in after having my daughter they got HUGE!!! It was so annoying. They eventually went back to normal, thank goodness!
Oh man! Did you know that was going to happen – like, did your doctor know what was up when you told them about it?!
I am glad it was just a lymph node. What a rough experience though 🙁
Do you feel like you have been fighting something off. I have one that swells under my ear and under my arm when I am sick.
I don’t feel like I am, but I wonder if my underlying stress levels are really high and that is affecting it or something?
A mammogram is quite an experience but yet necessary. I’ve been getting one for over 10 years and I’ve had my share of “scares”. Nothing serious but more like needing to get an ultrasound right away and also having to wait what seemed like hours to get it and I was convinced I had breast cancer. I mean, what was taking so long?!?!?!?
I’m so glad this turned out okay and that (health insurance issues aside), you were in good hands! Maybe it was the stress of a new, awkward experience + the heat in the room.
It’s also great that you’re being proactive about your health!
(I’m glad you also like to take scalding hot showers. I’m probably doing horrible things to my hair, but I love them so much.)