And Now for Something Entirely Different

I've debated posting this. My friends have posted about issues they feel strongly about, but for the most part my blog has been about my life. Well, this issue affects my life. So before you go any further, I'll warn you this post is about breast health.

I tried to think of ways to start this post. The standard "I need to get something off my chest" or "I have some small things to talk about" just weren't working. So I'll just start at the beginning. This post will not be graphic, just so you know. After Little Man was born, I developed Mastitis in my left breast. Note: most pain or problems start on my left side, I don't think I'll ever know why. Regardless, this infection was easily treated by antibiotics and a stop in the weaning off process. It is very important to treat Mastitis as if left untreated, the tissue can become abscessed, which is not good. (Note: I developed it by taking out the middle of the night feeding. Unfortunately, engorgement is not good on the breasts)

So we complete the weaning off and go forward to December 2001. Probably the month before, I noticed a lump again on the left. I was ultrasounded and sent to the Breast doctor. She scheduled me for my first lump removal on Dec 24, 2001. The lump turned out to be a fatty fibroadenoma, a benign lump. I got to be nicely drugged up for Christmas and things healed fine.

Fast forward to 2003, Lady Jane is born. Again I have a bought of mastitis on the left. But am capable of recognizing the signs and it wasn't as bad. I'm treated and everything is fine.

Summer of 2005, I develop breast pain. Though this is typical in some woman, it is not in mine and it wasn't cyclical, it was constant. Doctor sent me back to Breast doctor. She finds small lump and in August 2005 I had another lump removed. This time a papilloma. Again benign. The pain resolves itself and I'm fine again.

Earlier this year, still in England, I started having pain issues again. I worried and fretted, but did nothing since I was in England and really didn't have a doctor. The pain went away. Two months ago, I again felt lumps this time in both breasts along with pain and tenderness. Quick visit to doctor and again a month later to see if any changes. Some reduction in size had her fairly certain it was fibrocystic changes. She sent me back to Breast doctor for pain management and further diagnostic. Breast doctor agrees with diagnosis, but runs an ultrasound and decided to run base line mammograms. Generally mammograms are started at 35, but because I'm special . . . Yeah. I understand the point of mammograms, I really do. I just wish there was another way to do them. Since most of my friends probably haven't had one yet. Generally they squish you flat as a pancake and take a picture. Mind you, I've been having pain and tenderness and while it was definitely uncomfortable it wasn't horrendous. But I got squished three different ways since I have special needs breasts. Meaning there's been problems before.

What does all this mean? For me, I will continue to have lumps which may come and go until menopause. This will make it harder for me to distinguish cancerous lumps and I'll go to the Breast doctor at least once more to make sure everything is still okay. As to the increase in cancer risk, there might be a small increase but basically no different from anyone else. I'll also take Oil of the Evening Primrose to help with the pain (over the counter for any of you who have breast pain). For you, female friends, don't ignore your breast health. I've been lucky and had benign changes, but I've always had them checked out. This also helped establish a pattern for the doctor's to take into consideration.

By the way, guys, you have breasts too. I know, I know, a manly chest. My neighbor, from across the street growing up, he developed breast cancer. Though it is rare, it can happen. Lumps are scary things. Going into those offices always ties me into knots, but it's better to know. Next time I promise to post something not so .... medical?