Wednesday, October 15, 2025

In the clear(ish)

Also, it's fall!
Remember last year when I was doing all that deferred medical maintenance? I had a mammogram back in March which showed something they wanted to take a further look at. They didn't schedule the follow-up until April, so that meant I had to go through a month of waiting, including a week in Paris, where they texted me everyday to remind me of my appointment.

At the April appointment, they did a second mammogram and then an ultrasound. The doctor decided that what I had was most likely a fibroadenoma, left breast, high on the left side. So a really difficult location to wedge between two plates on a mammogram machine. 

They told me it was very likely nothing to be concerned about. I had two options: a needle biopsy then and there or, if I wasn't likely to either disappear or spend 6 months worrying myself to death, a further mammogram and ultrasound in October. I decided that I could wait, because needles. 

So that happened monday. Thankfully the University of Pennsylvania Hospital does not observe holidays.

They didn't even do the ultrasound this time, just two views on the mammogram. The doctor said that, if anything, the fibroadenoma has gotten a bit smaller. Which is good. Mystifying to me, but whatever. He said to come back in 6 months for my regular mammogram - the yearly kind that I avoided until last year - and then whatever I have in there simply becomes my new baseline for them to look for changes. 

So I would have probably known that in April, if I'd agreed to the needle biopsy, but I was okay with the wait. Keep away from me with your pointy objects.

No comments: