The next few days dragged while I was waiting to find out what my diagnosis would be. I couldn't sleep or eat. All I could think of was the lump that might turn out to be breast cancer. Cancer meant I might need a mastectomy, it paralyzed me to know that I could possibly die from this.  I considered telling someone but I decided to just kept it to myself because I didn't want to worry anyone. 

The day of my appointment I was on pins and needles. Finally the time came to find out what I was dealing with. During the exam my physician examined my breasts and found the lump I discovered. Although cancer doesn't run in my family he wanted to be sure and did an ultrasound. The ultrasound was inconclusive and he suggested I should get a mammogram. I was only 28 years old and never needed a mammogram up until this point. It was not an enjoyable experience, it  was very uncomfortable and seemed to last forever. The overall test lasted a little over twenty minutes and when it was over the technician said I would get the the results within 30 days.  I went home in tears, at this point I just wanted to know "Do I, or don't I have cancer?". I didn't want to wait a whole month to find out. 

My mammogram results came back within a week's time and once again the results were inconclusive. Now to make sure it was not cancer I had to get a biopsy done. This time I was referred to a surgeon who performed the procedure. She numbed the area and removed a small sample of the breast tissue using a tiny needle. The surgeon sent the sample to a lab and I had to wait for the results once again. I had some discomfort after the biopsy but it went away after a couple of days.  A few days later, my regular doctor called me to let me know that the pathologist found no cancer cells in my biopsy tissue. It was good news and it put my mind at ease.  I wasn't totally in the clear because although my breast cells were not cancerous, they weren't completely normal either. I have a condition that increases my chances of getting cancer in the future. Meaning I have to get tested on a yearly basis to make sure cancer doesn't develop.

I told my parents about my cancer scare and they were outraged that I kept it from them.  My mother didn't understand why I chose to go through this alone. She made me swear that I would never keep something like this from her ever again. I guess I just didn't want to burden anyone with my problem until I knew for sure what I was dealing with. 

This whole experience has made me appreciate life more. I learned to live each day to the fullest because I know I am not promised a tomorrow. I highly urge every woman to do a self breast exam on a regular basis. Who knows how this would've turned out if I wasn't doing my own exams. My advice is to be proactive about your health and your well being. And don't think something like this could never happen to you. I thought the same thing once too.