Friday, November 24, 2006

Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving having just passed, we have all been a little more aware of the things we are thankful for. I try to be thankful for something very day. It helps keep me sane and helps me keep my priorities straight. Along with all the things such as my family, friends, my home, my puppies, I have one very important thing to be thankful for today.

I hadn't mentioned this to anyone in the family, just because I didn't want anyone to worry. I felt like it would be better if I could just tell you all good news instead of telling you about the possobility of bad news, if that were the case. So before I get into this further, I'll say now that there is nothing to worry about, and everything is fine.

About a week or so ago, I found a lump in my left breast. It was tender to touch, and obviously abnormal. Not very big, but definately abnormal. It was hard to get the ball rolling with our vacation scheduled, and the holiday coming up, but the mammography girls managed to squeeze me in right before we left last week. I tried my best not to worry myself to death while we were on our trip, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head that this may be the last trip we'd be going on for awhile. When these things happen, your mind runs wild. I had it all planned out how I would manage my life and my relationship if and when I had to start being treated for cancer. Yeah, that's how I was thinking for a good majority of the trip. In fact, I even thought about what I would like to have in my obituary if necessary......I'm sorry, I know that sounds so pessamistic, but that's honestly what was going on in my mind.

When we got back on Tuesday, the radiologist who had looked at my mammo was concerned because it was abnormal and recommended that I have a breast ultrasound. Once again, I couldn't get in right away due to time restrictions on the techs, and my work schedule, so we finally did the ultrasound today. The lump is definately just a cyst, but it has a little calcification around it. That's what showed up abnormal on the mammo. It is not considered a simple cyst since it is calcified, but it's a cyst nonetheless. I don't care what kind of cyst it is, as long as it's not malignant. Basically, all this means for me now is that I have to have a follow up mammo in 6 months, and every six months until I'm 35. If nothing changes between now and then, I will get one once a year just like everyone else. If the cyst changes, or becomes larger or more tender, they may go in and drain it, which is a pretty common procedure. If it doesn't change or bother me, we do nothing.

So today, I am thankful that my prayers were answered, and I know the family all prays for eachother all the time, and even if you didn't know that's what you were praying for, God knew. He has answered this family's prayers more than once, and I feel very fortunate to be part of that equation.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Praise the Lord! I'm very thankful that everything is okay with you! If it were me, I would want everyone I know to pray for me, but I understand your desire to prevent us from worrying! God is Good!!

We missed you on Thanksgiving but we are all looking forward to being together again at Christmas!

Andrea said...

Wow, Allison. Anytime you have something like this happen and you need someone to talk to, please call me. I will keep our conversation confidental. I'm sure you have Ryan to lean on but if you need a girl to whine/cry/worry/be happy/ or anything else, please remember me.

I have to have my first mammogram on December 4th and I'm dreading / scared of it. I know I have to have it done - just routine since I've crossed over into my 40's. So nothing to worry about.

Thank God you're ok!

Anonymous said...

Well, I am so thankful you are gonna be ok. I can totally understand you not wanting to upset anyone, but if you ever need to talk to anyone in the family-do. Don't worry about us. Let us worry about you! (We can keep a secret from Grammy for a while if needed.)

Jesh, life is crazy.

I like how you put that the girls managed to "sqeeze" you in for a mammogram...no pun intended, right?!

:)

enN2sp said...

Allison,
I've had 3 Mammo's done before I turned 40. My doctor found a lump on a rutine yearly exam the year before Olive_12 was born at 24 yers old.

They found out it was a cafeen lump. That is why I don't drink anything cafinated to this day.

I agree with Sarah let us worry about you, things like that, other women can understand.

Thank GOD your alright!!!
My Prayers are with YOU and the whole family ALWAYS.

We will see you CHRISTMAS

enN2sp said...

Besides it is TOO stressful for one person to go through by themselves.

*Jen* said...

Praise God that he answered your prayers and it was nothing serious!! I love you!

alli-gal said...

Thank you all for the kind words. i know I could have told all of you, but I found this thing right before Thanksgiving, and I just didn't want to worry anyone. Especially Grammy. Ryan knew about it. He was the only one except the girls who did my mammo and ultrasound.

Like I said, I know we all pray for eachother every day, so even if you didn't know that's what you were praying for, God did.

It's been a huge relief. It's hard not to let your mind run with that stuff.

Anonymous said...

Remember God answers EVERY prayer, just not always with the answer we think we want :)

Anonymous said...

Remember God answers EVERY prayer, just not always with the answer we think we want :)