I've been really lucky !
On March 31st 2014 I heard those words that most women dread.. You have breast cancer.
My luck was that I had an excellent radiologist who just wouldn't give up and a lot of good timing.
In September 2013 I had a mammogram done but I wasn't particularly worried as it was just something my ob-gyn said was a good idea. I was not in a group at risk and there was no history of breast cancer in my immediate family. The radiologist did the mammogram and an ultrasound and said that he'd like me to come back in 4-5 months for a control. I went back end of January 2014 therefore without any concerns for an ultrasound.
As a result of this ultrasound the radiologist asked me to do an MRI as « there was something suspicious in my right breast ». I was about to go on vacation in February, so booked my MRI appointment for the day after I got back. While I was waiting for the results of the MRI in the Doctor's office, the secretary asked me to go see the radiologist who informed me that there was nothing of concern in the right breast. However, he continued there is something a « little odd » in the left breast, but as he said, « MRIs throw up a lot of things ».... He did an ultrasound immediately and confirmed that something did not look right. The good news he told me was that if it was bad news we had detected it really early. To make an already long story short, the results of the following biopsy came back positive. I had lobular invasive cancer, but the tumor was very small tumor (7 mm). So, I was very lucky because they detected it so early. I had the tumor removed end of May and am finishing up radiation therapy this week. Hormone therapy is up next.
The message in all this ? Never ever neglect those check ups ! Don't put them off ! You just never know.
Paris, France