Is It Breast Cancer? - Page 2 - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

Nadia · 10-24-2007, 02:51 PM

I got back to calling Planned Parenthood today, but the lady who answered was sort of umm, well she kind of acted like I was being rude or such. I said that I would like an appointment for a breast exam and she said why here? and I said that it was near my work and such and she said, "Don't you have a doctor?" and I said no. Then she said, "Do you have _ANY_ insurance at all?" in an odd tone. Then she told me that "All we will do is just refer you somewhere else". I felt like I was being a huge hassle or such. Maybe I am looking too much into it. Anyway, I have an appointment on Monday.

almostheaven · 10-24-2007, 03:18 PM

I don't think PP does much in the way of breast exams, which is why they'd likely refer you elsewhere. They probably cannot do mammagrams or x-rays or anything there, just a manual exam like you did for yourself. If you do get referred for further testing, try going to a local hospital for testing and ask for their financial aid dept. They can work with you on the bill if you're lower income or make payment arrangements with you even if you don't meet the aid requirements.

Clydegirl · 10-24-2007, 03:43 PM

This is breast cancer awareness month so there may be something being offered in your area for people without insurance.

Good luck I hope you get to see a doctor soon.

midwife · 10-24-2007, 04:18 PM

Wow. That's too bad they were rude. I was hoping they would have some ideas for low cost clinics (our PP tends to be very helpful), but at least this way you'll get a breast exam by someone who should (hopefully!) have a clue.

I'm glad you called someone. It is a good place to start.

PS What you need is a referral to radiology or a breast specialist anyway....

Nadia · 10-25-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwife

Wow. That's too bad they were rude. I was hoping they would have some ideas for low cost clinics (our PP tends to be very helpful), but at least this way you'll get a breast exam by someone who should (hopefully!) have a clue.

I'm glad you called someone. It is a good place to start.

PS What you need is a referral to radiology or a breast specialist anyway....

Well, I would not call her rude, exactly, but I had just hoped for someone a bit more umm nice, I guess. I realize that once I go, they will feel the same thing and refer me elsewhere, but I need that referral and as uncomfortable as I am with having the exam (I have not been to a doctor since I was a teen) would like for someone else to "agree" that something is there before just going blindly to a mammogram or such, especially because it seems a lot are very particular about people under 40. I hope that the person that exams me can be a bit informative with options of where to go next and stuff. I really appreciate you girls encouraging me to get it done and such. I have a miniscule support system offline, so it is always comforting to find strangers that are caring.

midwife · 10-25-2007, 08:55 AM

I'm glad you're going. Let us know what happens.

Hugs....

dixied · 10-26-2007, 11:21 AM

Nadia -

I know what you're going thru and it's scary, but it's important to get to a Doctor and get an exam.

I found a large lump in my right breast in March 2006, and in April 2007 I had a ping pong ball sized tumor removed. It was a benign Phyllodes Tumor, which is a fast growing tumor that is considered cancerous whether or not it's malignent. Here's the general breakdown of how the process worked for me:

3/21 - Found tumor
3/22 - Call Dr. for appointment
3/22 - Saw Dr. (lucky they could see me right away). Dr. confirmed the lump was there, referred me for a mammogram. I actually saw the PA not the Dr. She advised that the lump was movable, not fixed, therefore probably not cancerous but a fibroid.
3/29ish - Had the mammogram about a week after initial Dr. appt. Mammo tech freaked the heck out when looking at the films from the mammogram. You could clearly see the tumor, it was a large white spot about the size of a half dollar. Also had an ultrasound. These were sent to Dr. who refered them to a surgeon.
Early April - Saw the surgeon, scheduled surgery for 4/21, exactly month after finding the lump.
4/21 - Outpatient surgery on a Friday, was back to work on Monday.
Early May - Followup and recovery

The absolute worst part is the waiting and not knowing. Go see a Dr., depending on the size of the lump and the mammogram you might not need to do anything else and have nothing to worry about. The surgeon told me if I had waited, because my tumor was fast growing, it would have eventually killed me. Before I was lackidasical about my healthcare, now I take things a lot more seriously. PM me if you have any questions about the procedures or if there's anything I can do.

cbmare · 10-26-2007, 02:00 PM

I'm so glad you are going. I found a lump and my dr did the dip stick thing on it. Mammogram had been done a few months before. Turns out it is one of those jelly sacs we all have in our bodies. I just merrily wanders around my body.

Clydegirl is right. This is the month. There should be somewhere you can go. Where are you? Maybe someone on here will know something in your area.

Nadia · 10-26-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbmare

I'm so glad you are going. I found a lump and my dr did the dip stick thing on it. Mammogram had been done a few months before. Turns out it is one of those jelly sacs we all have in our bodies. I just merrily wanders around my body.

Clydegirl is right. This is the month. There should be somewhere you can go. Where are you? Maybe someone on here will know something in your area.

I have a feeling that I am really going to regret asking this. . .but what exactly is the "dip stick thing"?

cbmare · 10-28-2007, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nadia

I have a feeling that I am really going to regret asking this. . .but what exactly is the "dip stick thing"?

I don't know the medical term for it. He took this big long needle and drew out some fluid from the cyst. I only hurt when the needle pierced the skin. I'm serious, it wasn't really painful. The needle was thin. However, by the same token, I have to say I didn't watch. I have this awful fear of needles and pass out when they take blood. But he drew out clear liquid. He was pretty convinced that it was nothing. I was getting ready to go to FLA to visit my mom and made an appt to go back after my return. It was just as he suspected - nothing. Just to be sure, I had an ultrasound as well. Again, nothing. Except that I learned the ultrasound tech. was sitting on the toilet during our 89 quake.

Nadia · 10-30-2007, 12:00 AM

Thank you all so much for posting. It is funny how a few seconds and a thought can change so much. I went to Planned Parenthood today and was so nervous and scared. The doctor(?) did the exam and was very careful to make sure she understood what I meant and such, but in the end told me that I was clear and that it was just part of my "support system" that I was feeling-in one of my breasts it is particularly more solid and larger than the other. But she said there is nothing to worry about.

I am so relieved.

nicolen · 10-30-2007, 01:46 AM

That's great to hear, Nadia!

The needle thing is called a fine needle biopsy. I had that done on my lump.