The Great Breast Adventure: Part Deux🌸
- Heather Robinson Roles
- Aug 12, 2023
- 2 min read
Hello again, 🌻 If you’re new here, catch up with Part 1 of my journey before diving into this one. As they say, context is king...or queen!
Alright, peeps, let’s rewind a smidge. 📼 Last we spoke, I'd been gently (or not-so-gently) nudged away from the much-wanted biopsy. Naturally, like any person with a penchant for trust, I placed faith in the pros. But here's a twist, my better half? Not having it. Like, AT ALL.
My hubby, being the fierce protector of our realm, urged (read: insisted with a dash of you better do it) me to call the GP and make some noise. And so, armed with love and determination, I did! Their verdict? A cautious “wait and see”. The universe, however, had other plans. By February 2023, some mischievous pangs decided to dance around my left side, urging us to kick open the GP’s door and demand a recheck.
April 24th. 🌷 That's when my next ultrasound was. Two lengthy, nail-biting months of waiting later, I found myself face-to-face with a new, and might I add, more alert radiologist. His verdict? The shadow had grown (by twice, mind you!) and brought a friend along near the armpit. Finally, the B-word was dropped - Biopsy. My response? Well, in a rather uncharacteristic manner, I might've told him, "Told ya so!"
What followed was an emotional rollercoaster of phone calls, consultations, and one very heartfelt apology from my GP. But what stung the most? That six months had gone by since that initial shadow dance. Half a year!
A teeny side note for my fellow data nerds: Grade 3 cancer cells double every 180 days. Do the math! 😱
Things finally escalated after an ER visit, and a consultation was set up with a surgeon who, I later found out, goes by "The Gentle Giant" among his peers. Now, here’s a fast-forward for ya: After much contemplation, advice, and one husbandly reminder that “they're just boobs”, we opted for a double mastectomy. Come July 5th, ya girl went #BoobFree!
That's the lowdown of my diagnosis journey. It wasn't a walk in the park - it was more like a rollercoaster ride through a storm. But here's the deal - it’s made me stronger, wiser, and fiercely aware of the importance of advocating for oneself.
If you’re on this tumultuous journey or know someone who is, remember: the emotions ease, the sun shines brighter, and always trust that gut feeling of yours.
Thanks for sticking around for my novel-esque recount. It wasn't easy but sharing it with you makes it all worthwhile. Here I am, with grace in my step, grit in my soul, and a pink ribbon in hand.
Until the next chapter, Heather 🎗🌸
Comments