Breastseses

Today, I'd like to talk about breasts. Specifically, my breasts. In fact, I can narrow it down even more than that - we're going to talk about my left breast.

When I was just the tender age of 26 (doesn't that seem so long ago?), I faithfully shaved my legs and hauled in for my annual physical. AKA The Yearly Poke and Grope. I do this every 12 months like a good girl because I haven't figured out any other way to get a doctor to prescribe my birth control pills care about my health.

That particular year, I had gone to general practitioner (GP) because I feel she gives a more complete exam and I have a real love/hate relationship with my gynecologist's office. All was well until the GP asked if I had noticed the small lump in my left breast. Umm, no. She wanted to know if I was doing my monthly self-exams, which I kinda do or don't but I don't know what I'm looking for really. Once she helped me feel the lump, it was very obvious to me. As shocked as I was to have a lump in my breast, nothing could've prepared me for what the doctor said next.

"Just ignore it."

Wait, what? Ignore it?

"Yeah, you're young. Chances are it's nothing. Just ignore it."

This, the official medical advice of my doctor.

Joe and I talked and the more I thought about it, the more that didn't sit well with me. Plus, I'm like a kid that doesn't notice I'm hurt until you point out that little scrape on my knee and then OMG I AM IN PAIN, HELP, I CAN THINK OF NOTHING ELSE!!!

This is getting long so I'm gonna give you the Reader's Digest Condensed version. I scheduled an appointment with the ob/gyn for a second opinion. He felt it was probably nothing but unfortunately he had seen too many people with small lumps at my age ignore them until things had advanced and there was nothing he could do. An ultrasound indicated that it was probably a benign cyst. The doctor left it up to me if I wanted to have it removed at that point or if I wanted to just monitor it closely.

I think I only lasted about 6 months constantly poking at that lump and thinking about it before I called and scheduled the surgery. It was the only way to be 100% certain that there was truly nothing to be concerned about. And when I saw the surgeon, she was concerned enough that she said she wanted to do a needle aspiration that day unless I scheduled the surgery before leaving the office.

The surgery itself wasn't a big deal. It didn't take long and I was lucky with the location of the lump - it was small and near the surface. Scarring was minimal and not somewhere visible to anyone but the husband. Recovery wasn't too bad. And after all of that, it turned out to be nothing. But for my peace of mind, it was necessary to follow through.

So as we enter October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I just wanted to add my reminder to the many others you'll be seeing. It's important to not only to have regular exams but to trust your instincts.

And that concludes today's discussion about my left breast.

Blogiversary

It's my blogiversary today! One whole year of rambles and babbles from me, your pal Cate.

I'm not sure where I thought I was going with this blog when I started but I'm a bit surprised to find myself here, looking back at a full year of posts and a bunch of new friends.

Let's see if you can all put up with me for another year. Or another week - maybe we should start small...

Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.

My six words:

Your ghost won't leave me alone

All that's necessary to participate is to post your own six words. You can post an explanation if you wish but it's certainly not required. If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!) but I'm not going to delete your entry or punch you in the face if you don't. Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

It takes all kinds of people

It's that time again! Actually, yesterday was that time again but this whole not sleeping thing kinda got the best of me so I phoned it in yesterday. My apologies.

My blog truly attracts a wide audience. Let's explore the Google search terms from the month of September for some examples.

People with self-esteem issues:

• im ugly because my face isnt perfect - Have you tried wearing a paper bag?
• "hiding under the bed" "wedding night" - I'm pretty sure you're doing it wrong
• need a new bff single no kids - Call me!
• don't call me british i am Irish - I have a friend who is Scottish so I know you all get a bit fiesty about that
• what to do when your husband won't show you his phone but has it on lock, sleeps with it, and won't show you it but, says he isnt doing anything wrong - Definitely Google it first. Then call Dr. Phil. (How did you end up here? But welcome!)
• would joe make fun of me if i was 4 feet tall? - He totally might. He's been known to have an odd sense of humor.

Skanks:

• coffee slut - I've been called a lot of things but that's not one of them very nice
• klondike bars boxers - What would you do for that?
• hot neighbor asked me to come over - What a traitor! I saw him first!
• anesthesia flirting - Way more fun than I had.
• do i tell a sugar daddy i have an std - Not if you want him to remain your sugar daddy.
• bank cleavage - I think the site you were looking for is over here. This is much more her area of expertise than mine.
  
  

Rocket scientists:

• i'm thinking of majoring in math - Good luck with that! Or maybe I should include you in the next category...

Morons:

• pregnant lady who's pregnant - I find most pregnant ladies are pregnant. Is it wrong of me to generalize like that?
• the butter lady - She's probably with Aunt Jemima making me some pancakes
  
  

Show of hands if you came here via the following two because we need to talk:

• how to get rid of an angry neighbours - If you know the secret, seriously call me!
• cat death recliner - Should I be worried about this? I was only concerned about my own death in the recliner.

Such a variety of folks and yet I <3 most of you you all.

P.S. For those of you asking where I find this information, I have Google Analytics set-up on this blog. It's a free tool that helps you track how much traffic visits your site and where it comes from. But don't be afraid - it's still pretty anonymous so it's not like I'm going to show up at your house or anything.

Signs of Fall

Fall seems to be here finally. And this is really a post about Fall, as opposed to a gripe about election yardsigns.

I had windows open in the house today without the air conditioning kicking in. In fact, I was cold at some points. I even went upstairs for a sweater.

Another sign of Fall - I pulled out the crockpot and made soup. Yummy delicious warm soup.

Also, I finally had my first pumpkin spice latte over the weekend.

October 1st seems like a good time to declare "Fall". Unfortunately, a lot of the stores decide this is a good time to declare "Christmas" but I'm pretty sure I'll punch them in the face if they try to pull such craziness.

P.S. Today should be the October first Google search words extravaganza. But as I write this the night before, I'm too tired. Look for that tomorrow - I got some good ones finally.

P.P.S. Alternately, today is technically first Fursday as well. But, umm, the kitties are sleeping and I refuse to wake them up to write a post. So look for them next week, perhaps. Or sometime before that. They're unpredictable little hairballs.