...had to go get a mammogram.

Last week my doctor found something she thought seemed a bit unusual so, to be safe, she recommended a mammogram. I had one two years ago for the same reason so I wasn't nervous going in today. I just figured it would be the same thing - odd tissue, nothing bad.

So, I got to the appointment more concerned about how much time it was taking out of my day, then the fact I could possibly have something wrong with me. I'll tell you early - I don't. It came out as I suspected, but I did have a period of fear.

My appointment was at Providence Portland's Professional Center. Everyone I came across was so nice and gentle. I think they must deal with sad situations every day.

I waited about 20 minutes in the lobby before being called in. I wondered about why each other person was there. Did they have cancer? What was possibly wrong with them? One young woman was there with both of her parents who waited with her holding her hands until she was called in. The whole time she sat with them she seemed to be trying to comfort them, rather than letting them comfort her.

My concern for time started to fade and I began to get a bit more serious about the possible outcomes.

Finally, my name was called and I was escorted to a closet sized room to change into a robe and wait to be called by a radiologist. I tried to take a picture of the room to show you, but it was so small it was impossible.

I wasn't too worried about the pain because today's mammograms are digital and almost pain free - at least for me. The radiologist asked me to place a little sticker with a metal bb on the suspicious area and she went about twisting my body in various was to take the pictures she needed. I won't go into detail, but you can imagine based on the picture I attached.

After she was done she asked me to go back to my closet and wait. I waited. And waited. And waited. 20 minutes later she came back to tell me that the doctor was busy with a procedure, but would likely want an ultrasound and would talk to me about what else she might need. I nodded politely and obediently agreed to wait longer, but when she shut my closet door again my stomach lurched. What did that mean? Was there something that showed up on my mammogram results causing more concern? I wasn't prepared for that outcome. I thought I would be in and out of there. I didn't want to get upset and assume the worst - at least I knew they were being very careful.

A few minutes later a nurse came to take me for an ultrasound. She checked me with the machine you see in the picture and silently lingered in certain areas, worrying me more. Finally, I asked, "do you see something suspicious". She said she found a lymph node, but that was normal.

Finally, the doctor came in. She was quick, but also lingered in the same area a while. She said "Ah! Fibrous tissue. Some people are just like that. It may come and go. I also see your lymph node, but that's benign. You can worry about that area if, at some point, you feel something hard like a pebble, but what you have is normal for some."

Phew. I felt so much relief. But, what about all those women there who might not be getting the same good news?

I was lucky that both my OBGYN and the doctor today wanted to be very thorough before dismissing the suspicious area as normal fibrous tissue. It's a good reminder that if you ever think something could be wrong, you should never be afraid to "waste time" in your day. All of you ladies - do your regular breast checks. If you can't tell if a lump you find is normal - go to your doctor. That's what they're there for.

Today's favorite things: thorough doctors and scientists working to find a cure for cancer