When life throws you a curve ball

I

iggie

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
In Jan. my medical insurance provider sent me a Cologuard kit. I wasn't going to use the kit, I was going to demand a colonoscopy.
I sent it in, it came back positive and blood in stool. I wasn't concerned much. I have had 2 colonoscopies, both found
polyps and hemorrhoids. While waiting to see my doctor, I found a hard lump the size of a golf ball behind my left nipple.
Had to get mammogram and sonogram. Then I had a biopsy. That came back cancer, tomorrow I am getting a full mastectomy.
Then will see what stage, which will determine what more treatment is called for. I never expected to have this on my dance card.
Putting this out there because women have been told they should check for lumps, I wish I had been told the same. For the
lump to be that large it was probably there for a while. Male breast cancer always seemed far fetched.

This sure puts a kink in my summer steelhead plans.

Ed Igleheart
 
I went in for a checkout of a lump in my breast about 5 years ago at Fred Hutch. Turned out to be a lymph node issue. Whew! I was told back then men's breast cancer is very rare - about 1% of all breast cancers.

Wishing you the best of luck in your journey!
 
iggie said:
In Jan. my medical insurance provider sent me a Cologuard kit. I wasn't going to use the kit, I was going to demand a colonoscopy.
I sent it in, it came back positive and blood in stool. I wasn't concerned much. I have had 2 colonoscopies, both found
polyps and hemorrhoids. While waiting to see my doctor, I found a hard lump the size of a golf ball behind my left nipple.
Had to get mammogram and sonogram. Then I had a biopsy. That came back cancer, tomorrow I am getting a full mastectomy.
Then will see what stage, which will determine what more treatment is called for. I never expected to have this on my dance card.
Putting this out there because women have been told they should check for lumps, I wish I had been told the same. For the
lump to be that large it was probably there for a while. Male breast cancer always seemed far fetched.

This sure puts a kink in my summer steelhead plans.

Ed Igleheart
Click to expand...

Lost my first wife to that effing disease. Something like 5% of of all cases are male. Her grandfather died from it, so we knew she was at risk but still caught us by surprise. Hope they caught yours early and that it responds to treatment.
 
As someone who is also fighting the cancer battle I'll tell you something that you might already be aware of that I wish I was aware of sooner. Be your own most insistent advocate. As well meaning and gifted as most health care professionals may be the system that they are a part of is large, cumbersome and prone to having things fall through the cracks. And that is why I am where I am today with this disease. The information was there to catch it sooner but I didn't feel the need to ask the right questions. Stay focused and don't ever stop asking why or lose the incentive to get a second opinion. Because that is what they are, opinions.
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for your kind words. I was asked from the start how I had not felt it earlier. I have had an ICD for 16 years.
I was used to a hard object in my chest.
 
The very best of luck and science to you. It's an evil disease.
As was said above, thank you for exhibiting the courage to talk about it.
 
ooof, serious curveball. hang in there!
 
Hopes and prayers for you and a complete recovery.
 
Best wishes to you and your family.
SF
 
iggie said:
In Jan. my medical insurance provider sent me a Cologuard kit. I wasn't going to use the kit, I was going to demand a colonoscopy.
I sent it in, it came back positive and blood in stool. I wasn't concerned much. I have had 2 colonoscopies, both found
polyps and hemorrhoids. While waiting to see my doctor, I found a hard lump the size of a golf ball behind my left nipple.
Had to get mammogram and sonogram. Then I had a biopsy. That came back cancer, tomorrow I am getting a full mastectomy.
Then will see what stage, which will determine what more treatment is called for. I never expected to have this on my dance card.
Putting this out there because women have been told they should check for lumps, I wish I had been told the same. For the
lump to be that large it was probably there for a while. Male breast cancer always seemed far fetched.

This sure puts a kink in my summer steelhead plans.

Ed Igleheart
Click to expand...
wishing you the absolute best possible outcome!
 
Scary news - best wishes for positive results from the surgery and full and speedy recovery!

Second the need to be an aggressive advocate for your own health care!

An aside, the Cologuard kit is handy but not fool proof with both false positives and negatives. After several Cologuard negative results I had a colonoscopy last summer and a tremor was found. Lost a foot of my colon (eligible for a 20% discount on my nest colonoscopy?). Had generally good news on the tremor and currently in the monitoring mode with checkups every 3 months. Encourage all to stay current with your testing.

Curt
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top