6 yrs. ago I was told I had a lump in the right breast that was "Just a cyst" at the time and to keep an eye on it . Come back next year they told me, for my next mammogram. They told me that every year for 4 yrs. The last Mammogram was followed by an ultrasound. Again, no concern see you next yr.
I became uninsured and so could not afford mammograms and because my husband made too much did not qualify for low cost or free mammograms. So I went a few yrs. w/o one. I am now 48 almost 49 yrs. old, still uninsured I was able to obtain a free voucher for a mammogram and ultrasound followed by a biopsy 4 weeks ago. It came back positive for ductal carcinoma invasive breast cancer. Last Friday I had a lumpectomy with two nodes removed. I have been told that it is possibly stage 1. Which means it got caught very early and hopefully has not spread to other parts of my body.
It is sad that women like me, who can't afford insurance, but yet make too much to qualify for low cost or free mammograms, have to go w/o and thus this is the end result. Something has to be done to change this! But the question there in lies, HOW?!! Needing a mammogram should not depend on your income level !
It is scary when you are told you have cancer and are faced with your own mortality. I was one of the lucky ones . It makes me reflect on those who have not been so lucky.
Midvale, UT
