I love the excitement a new year brings and I get giddy over the possibilities of new beginnings.  It’s almost as all my mistakes and failures of the previous year are forgiven and I get a new, clean slate. I am one of those people who get excited about the process of writing down my goals and I am convinced that this year I’ll do better.

The end of the year 2019 was no different.  As I reflected back on the past year and looked ahead, I started to think of how I could improve.  My list of goals was slowly growing as I added the usual: do a better job of taking care of myself physically and mentally, be a better mom and wife, get our finances in order, invest in my professional growth and so on…you get the picture.  But there’s one more thing I do before the year ends.  I go for my annual physical exam to make sure all is well.

It was about two weeks before Christmas when I went for my routine physical including a mammogram.  A few days later I received a call from my doctor telling me that my mammogram showed some areas of concern and I need to get a second, more detailed mammogram. This came as a shock to me as I didn’t feel any lumps and had no pain. This was supposed to be just a routine checkup I was convinced I would ace as always. 

I scheduled my second mammogram in just a few days later and when the radiologist walked in and confirmed the first mammogram’s reading, my heart sank. I told myself “all is going to be alright” but I was terrified.  What if I’m wrong?  I scheduled a stereotactic biopsy six days before Christmas.

Up to that day, I was putting on a brave face but the night before the biopsy I couldn’t sleep.  I was terrified of the possible diagnosis that could change my life but I was also scared of the actual biopsy procedure, not sure what to expect. 

As I found myself in the waiting room, I looked around.  There were about 15 to 20 women, most of them in the same boat as me, either waiting for a mammogram or a biopsy.  They all looked anxious and I couldn’t help but wonder, how many of us will get the bad news and how many of us will be lucky enough and chalk it up as a scary experience we once had to go through.

According to Healthline, about 12.4% of women will get diagnosed with breast cancer.  That is about 240,000 new cases a year just in the US and over 1.7 million new cases a year in the world! I was silently praying for all of us sitting in that waiting room. 

The biopsy procedure was uncomfortable but I made it through while tightly clutching a little stuffed bunny my daughter gave me that morning.  “It will help you to be brave mommy,” she said.  The nurse was comforting and kind.  I wondered how many women she must see every day and how can she stay so bubbly considering the field of work she was in. I was grateful for her smile, gentle touch and the ice packs she provided when I was about to faint.  The doctor took nine samples and after some pressure and bandaging, I was sent on my way.  “We’ll call you within two days,” they said and the waiting game began.

During the next two days, every possible scenario ran through my head.  I thought of my kids, my husband, my goals and how some of them seem so trivial in comparison to what I could be facing.  Looking at my kid’s pictures would make me cry, I couldn’t get myself to blog or post much.  All I was doing was praying, taking it easy (my breast was very tender and bruised), and spending time with my kids. What was comforting to me was the fact that even if I get the call I’m dreading, my chances of beating cancer would be pretty high. Since I have been doing mammograms regularly and was showing no signs of breast cancer, the odds of the cancer being in a very early stage were in my favor.

I got the call the next day and when I heard the word benign I felt a huge relief.  My life was back on track, all was well again and I could enjoy Christmas and welcome the New Year with a renewed hope. But I also kept wondering about how many of the women from that waiting room were not so lucky.

Early detection translates into more treatment options and a higher success rate. Self-exams and mammograms are your best bet so please get your free Three Step Early Detection Guide by clicking here →  Free Guide.  Also, please start this new year by scheduling your annual mammogram.  The American Cancer Society recommends women over 40 to have a mammogram once a year but you can request one earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer or concerns.

And if you are a woman who was not so lucky and received the dreaded call, my heart goes out to you.  Please drop me a comment on how you are holding up and how you found the strength to face the giant.  You never know whose life you could change by sharing your story.