Food is right at the centre of my
universe. Not just how it satisfies my gluttonous soul, but also how it is so
integral to our wellness. I am a borderline health fanatic, try and stick to
all things organic, don`t consume fizzy drinks, hate fast food
and love to cook at home. I am by and large a healthy person and am quite
vigilant about my health.
Two years back, I felt a certain hardness in
both my breasts. It alarmed me and I immediately rushed to a gynaecologist. She
suggested a sonography and some tests. A little concerned with the
outcome of the tests, she further suggested a mammogram. To everyone’s relief,
those ‘nodes’
(as I later learned they were called) turned out to be nothing more
than fibroadenoma. Fibroadenoma of the breast are noncancerous tumors composed
of fibrous and glandular tissues. You can read more about it here
Being the sceptic that I am, I wanted a second and possibly even a
third opinion. I consulted with the HOD of Gynaecology in a prestigious
hospital in Mumbai. She literally chided me saying almost every woman has
something or the other like this and that my first doctor was stupid to suggest
a mammogram at such a young age (I was 28 then). Back then I was
relieved to hear this. In hindsight though, it was probably the worst thing to
have happened to me. The indifference of such a highly recommended
doctor made me nonchalant about these residents of my breast.
I therefore did not follow up with the routine sonography last year. I
was moving to Canada then and that occupied all my mind space. At the
beginning of 2015, I felt a certain hardness on the lower side of
my left breast. I was in Canada at the time and accessing doctors there
is quite a headache. Anyways I was mighty sure that once again it would turn out to be
nothing and I would be shooed away by my doctor.
Due to some unexpected turn
of events, I landed in India this summer. I happen to reside a stone’s throw away from a
renowned hospital. So I felt it wouldn’t be too inconvenient for me to
undertake this drill of doctor visits again. I met this new
gynaecologist, told her about why I was there and also added a few lines about
how I feel it’s nothing. She suggested I go for a sonography and to, I
guess, set me at ease, said it may just be some fat deposit.
As you all may have guessed, it was
not nothing this time around. It wasn't just a fat deposit but carcinoma of the
left breast that had spread to the lymph nodes. What makes this
whole episode even more bizarre is that I am 30 and very healthy for my age. I
have no other co morbidity and there is no
history of cancer (breast or cervical) in my immediate family.
Through this blog, I intend to
document my experience of making sense of this disease. I’m also quite aware of
the limitations of modern medicines and would be looking at ways to supplement
my treatment naturally. I hope to find like-minded people through this blog and
spread awareness about this crazy disease and its wonky ways.
A!
Hello Ankita , you do feel disturbed for sure in this situation, but i know that you are a born fighter, and being such a strong and positive person as you are, i know and pray for you that you will be fit and healthy very soon.... Stay blessed always....
ReplyDeleteThank you Ma'am. There is so much to be grateful about because of all the love and support.
DeleteHi Ankita, did the sonography miss the symptoms and showed it as fibroadenoma? Also, was there no needle biopsy done?
ReplyDeleteWishing you a speedy recovery.
Nicks, two years back there was no biopsy done. May be it really was fibroadenoma
DeleteOk, so what tests did you get done now? Just the sonography? I am almost the same age and have a fibroadenoma.
ReplyDeleteI did a Mammography and then a biopsy. Generally a sonography is enough. Only when the doctor feels he needs to further understand the lumps they suggest Mammography.
ReplyDeleteHi Ankita. I read your blog through a friend's recommendation-Neha Hans. It's really eye-opening to know how renowned doctors whom we trust, go by their experience and insight that leads to our plea later. I am sure you'll be healthy soon. Stay blessed and take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks SG. I am so glad you liked it.
Delete