It has been well over a week since my procedure and I am mending. It has been a very long week with respect to multiple conversations with the Breast Cancer Screening department of my HMO. I have spoken to the same person multiple times and it is very good to have the same person understand what is going on. I have my return visit with my oncologist in a few days. Am I looking forward to all of this? No! I am not looking forward to being on any hormone supressing therapy. These things make my emotions a veritable roller-coaster and I cannot get the grip that I need for the day. I look forward but not.
Since the procedure, I have had to wear ice packs in my bra. For the first several days, I had to wear them constantly. I had bought several little ice/heat packets at the grocer. They are the cutest little things--they are in a little cloth cover that look like animals and they are able to be heated as well as iced. I have had them iced. It helped quite a bit with the bruising and the swelling. I am very fortunate that I had found them. I had been in so much pain that I had needed to get a perscription for pain reliever. Not so much fun. Still, eight days after the procedure, I am a little uncomfortable, but try to keep my mind off the twinges and stuff. This just gets to be very old very quickly.
My breast health is good. I have been told that the results of the procedure were excellent. I have no concerning cells in the fluid that was aspirated from my breast. This is good news. Actually, this is excellent news; however, they still cannot tell me why my breast continues to be a pain (literally); the next suggestion would be that I might need to go to the surgeon and possibly have an injection into my breast to manage the pain. Well, the whole idea of a needle back to the breast just is enough to put me into panic. Before the breast cancer, I was not as much afraid of the needles as I am now. Ever since the biopsy, I hate the procedures more and more. The biopsy was completed without pain reliever or anesthetic. NO! it was not my choice; it was thrust upon me. This is an issue about multiple procedures that some may not understand. The aspect of continue to preserve the dignity and wellbeing of the patient that is very important. Medical services, among many, need to undestand the importance of checkbacks and follow-ups. This is something that is very quintessential. Folow-ups are part of all care. This is something that should not be overlooked and is done frequently. This is something that must be done. No matter if it is ministry or otherwise. Following-up is important to physical and mental health. Quite simply, it lets people know that they are not alone in their troubles and their plight. This is part of palliative care that must be adhered to. If a nurse or medical representative is not prepared to do that care, then they must learn. This is what has not happened to me. I realize that I comment about this frequently; this is an important factor for care. There must be complete and whole care. If someone does not receive this type of care, then they must examine their clinic and determine if their clinic/HMO does understand what is going on. HMOs can be good organizations if and only IF they do understand the complete aspect of care. What a notion. It would have bee nice for someone to have come to my home to do a follow-up home visit for care. It does matter to me about how I have been treated. I do not subscribe to the "now that this is over, you are on your way" concept. Cancer is the most scary thing a person can be told. I realize that there are other diagnoses out that are equally scary. I cannot imagine being told that I have dementia or anything similar to that. These types of diagnoses must be handled with a strong support system. I am reminded of one of my most favorite Professors. He died last month; he was diagnosed with colon cancer and had made it through the chemo and radiation and had to take a six month sebbatical for the procedures and the care. Within a matter of a few years, he was diagnosed with dementia and passed away just recently. He had a strong support system. He was a monk and the monastic community was there to pray for him and offer the support that he needed. Why is that not available for anyone else? Is it available to anyone else? I am the type of person to ask and get the answers to such difficult questions.
It will be ok. I am ok. I am looking at more procedures and more things every six months. These things are not going away and are not easily overlooked. I am glad that monitoring the situation is nothing. A matter of a few uncomfortable procedures are nothing compared to a life of recurring hot-spots. I am well and continue to seek my wellness. See you there.
Pushing on. Pressing in. Existing in wellness.
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