What a Day to be Alive

Today I had my second mammogram.

I went back to the same place.
And had the same person, Donna, perform it.
Which was comforting.
Especially because the woman who walked me back rubbed me the wrong way almost immediately.
She looked down at my chart and said, "You're doing this so early."
I looked at the clock to see if I was early- I wasn't- before I realized what she really meant was that I'm very young to be doing this.
As if I need any reminders that it's not normal to be getting annual mammograms when you're 33 years of age.

After letting go of that insensitivity (she really didn't mean it), I was asked to put on this top:

And then stared at this door:

And peeked in and waited for Donna to set things up:

When she was ready for me, I walked into the room and got down to business with this machine:

For the most part, the mammogram wasn't that bad. The worst part was that it happened close to "that time of the month" and so I was already tender and sore, and having to be pulled and pushed and squeezed and squished wasn't ideal. But after a few minutes, a bunch of holding my breath and moving this way and that, I was on my way.

I don't really have that much anxiety over having a mammogram at this point. I feel very realistic and practical about it. If, god forbid, something is found, I'm monitored so closely that it'd be caught early. So I just don't get too worked up about it. Although there is a week's time between the mammogram and the appointment with Dr. Waisman (breast oncologist) where I get the results. So next time, I'll have to do a much better job of scheduling those appointments much closer together or ask for the results to be read within 24 hours.

It's been a nice six-month (or so) break from having to deal with anything related to the gene. And that's been nice. But I have an appointment with the breast oncologist next week and then in mid-November I'll go and see the gynecological oncologist. It's that time of year where I have to get all those appointments in. And I'm fine with it.

I remain grateful for knowing (for the most part) and being able to be proactive with my health in a way that I wouldn't be if I didn't know this information. I know not everyone is lucky enough to have this kind of insight and I'd rather do good with this knowledge rather than ignore it.

Today (and most days) the glass is half full.