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A Trip to the ER, aka, the Day the Shit Hit the Fan

A Trip to the ER, aka, the Day the Shit Hit the Fan

Days before my cancer diagnosis, I decided to get my ass to the ER due to what I thought were heart attack symptoms. The day I made that trip to the ER turned out to be the day the shit hit the fan.

I was visiting my dad at the time trying to help him out with some spring cleaning. My dad lived about three hours from my house, so when I think back on it, it was a pretty dumb decision I made that day to hop in my car, drive home (alone) and head to the ER.

What if it had been a heart attack, for crying out loud? 

I figured it was a slow-onset-of-symptoms sort of heart attack. That’s how I rationalized things at the time anyway.

When I stood in front of the receptionist later that day to check myself in at the ER, I never in my wildest dreams considered I might have cancer.

Who would, right?

One thing led to another (you can read the details in my memoir if you want) as the ER doctor ruled out a heart attack.

Then, cancer got ‘ruled in’, or more accurately, the possibility of cancer.

Call it intuition or whatever you want, at that point, I think I already knew it was more than a possibility.

After having a CT scan in an almost unbearably cold room, that ER doctor re-entered (for the umpteenth time) the exam room I was anxiously waiting in with a somber expression on his face, and right then and there, I knew it was serious. His demeanor said it all.

“We found a mass (why do they call it that?) in your left breast,” he informed me. “It’s about an inch in diameter.”

I remember thinking, gosh, you don’t wanna waste any time do you?

He said a whole bunch of other things, but I’m not sure what they were. The only words that stuck (and still do) were mass, breast and inch.

Oh, and these words, we need to get you in for a diagnostic mammogram right away.

Yeah, I remember those words too and the urgency with which they were said.

I couldn’t help wondering if maybe a heart attack might have been better.

I don’t mean to minimize heart attacks; that’s just the thought that popped into my head at the time.

Yep…

That was the day the shit hit the fan alright.

When did the shit first hit the fan for you?

Did you “know” you had cancer before you “knew” for sure?

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Some days are etched into your memory. One such day: a trip to the ER & the day the shit hit the fan #cancer #breastcancer #cancerdiagnosis #womenshealth

No sugarcoating. Guaranteed.

Read more about my breast cancer experience in my memoir. No sugarcoating. Guaranteed.

A NOTE FROM NANCY: Read the first 20 pages of my newest book, Emerging: Stories from the Other Side of a Cancer Diagnosis, Loss, and a Pandemic, via my Resource Library where you can download them for FREE. Order Emerging in print or for Kindle at Amazon. Emerging is also available at most online booksellers such as, Barnes & NobleBAMIndieBoundBookshop.org, and more. Reviews are greatly appreciated!

sharon

Thursday 16th of June 2016

I actually was having a breast reduction. I always worried about breast cancer because my mother and grandmother had it. I was very faithful with my mammograms and exams. But never once did I think I would wake up from anesthesia to find my husband and son on one side of the stretcher and the surgeon on the other side telling me they found breast cancer! It was a blessing that it was found because the type I had was difficult to diagnose on mammogram. But it was also very difficult because here I was with this breast reduction that I had been waiting years to have and not really sure if I would be able to keep those breasts because they were not able to remove the entire tumor. I needed further surgery 2 months later but thankfully a lumpectomy removed the rest of the tumor.

Tracy

Thursday 21st of April 2016

It's hit the fan more than a few times in my life so far. Witnessing my mother die of a chemo-induced pulmonary embolism in her 40's after years being treated for BC was pretty horrific. Seeing her sister waste away - cancer cachexia so no hair, no flesh, no strength - through brain and bone mets (which finally broke her hip and caused her death) was also pretty shitty. Three late miscarriages for me wasn't great, though I'm eternally grateful for the son I do have. Then there's my own run in with BC - tiny dimple, barely noticeable lump, clear mammo but something suspicious on diagnostic ultrasound and before you know it I'm diagnosed grade 3 HER2 positive with a " moderate" prognosis whatever that's supposed to mean. Finding a new job during treatment and seeing first hand what really happens to people with cancer in spite of all the legislation was quite an eye opener too!

Nancy

Thursday 21st of April 2016

Tracy, You're right. The shit actually first hit the fan for me in 2004 when my mother was diagnosed with bc. The darn fan hasn't really shut off since. I am very sorry about your mother, your aunt and your three miscarriages. So much heartache for you, Tracy. Hugs.

Cathy

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

Sorry this is so long - I think I needed to get a little off my chest! My mother died of brain mets (original may have been ovarian, but breast also possible) at age 28, and my dad died of lung mets at age 54 (origin was never determined; he was diagnosed when his spine started collapsing, but they could never find the primary). So I always expected to get cancer and die young. As I got into my late 40's I thought maybe it wouldn't hit me after all. Then shortly after my 49th birthday and my annual mammogram, I got the call to come back for a follow-up mammogram. I wasn't particularly worried until the nurse called me in to take more images for the third time. It was a Friday, and I sat in the waiting room for hours in between. They finally told me the radiologist saw something, probably just 'folded breast tissue,' but they wanted to do an ultrasound. So they did that the same day, and weren't sure there was anything there, but wanted to do a biopsy. So I scheduled the biopsy for Monday, was a nervous wreck all weekend, and then on Monday they couldn't find anything on the ultrasound, so told me there was nothing there and no biopsy was necessary. Then the next morning the surgeon called back and said the radiologist was insistent that a biopsy be done because he believed there was a problem, and could I come in right away. Talk about going from high to low in 24 hours! Went in, had the biopsy and was again a nervous wreck until Friday when I went back for results. I knew the surgeon's nurse, so as soon as I got in the room I asked her how the biopsy was. She said 'oh, it was fine.' I was so relieved, and said, 'good, I don't have cancer.' She said 'oh no, you do have cancer.' I've never quite understood that exchange. I was very calm, because I had never really done any research into breast cancer (was BRCA tested years previously and was negative), so I had bought into the pink hype, and said to the surgeon, this shouldn't be a problem, right? They can do a lot against this now.' She said yes, there have been many advances. After double mx that revealed stage 2A lobular (and then a hemorrhage a week later where I lost 25% of my blood requiring 3 transfusions, then two infections requiring removal of the right expander, a DVT from the IV antibiotics for the infection, and 3 hospitalizations for c. diff., then replacement of the expander, oophorectomy surgery, and exchange surgery), I hoped I was ok for the time being. But my hip started hurting, so I asked for an x ray. That was inconclusive, so I asked for a bone scan. I got a call from the oncologist's office on a Friday morning last November exactly a year from the date of my diagnosis that the bone scan showed nothing. I decided to look at my online records that afternoon to see a copy of the report .... and it said 'diagnosis of secondary metastatic lesions to bone.' I thought I was going to have a heart attack on the spot. And of course, my oncologist's office closes at noon on Fridays. So I called my surgeon's office and she told me to come right away. When I got there, my blood pressure was 176/115. They kept telling me to calm down. Right, like that was going to happen. My surgeon looked at the report and said 'why didn't anybody tell me you had been diagnosed metastatic?' I said 'why didn't anybody tell ME I had been diagnosed metastatic?' So she called the radiologist who originally diagnosed me (he wasn't the one who read the bone scan originally) and he looked at the bone scan. He said he had no idea where the diagnosis came from, because all the scan showed was arthritis in my back. So they told me it was a mistake. I was somewhat reassured, but still a nervous wreck all weekend. Monday morning marched into oncologist's office waving the report, and said 'somebody needs to explain this.' Oncologist called that afternoon and said 'this is going to sound really lame, but ...' It turned out a clerk had put in a diagnostic code for the bone scan that she knew would ensure that the insurance company would approve the bone scan. The code was for previous metastatic lesions. Yes, I did think it sounded really lame. My PCP thinks that was the final straw that pushed me into PTSD. She may be right. And my hip still hurts. That lobular is sneaky stuff - I'm not convinced it isn't really in there chewing away ....

Nancy

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

Cathy, Gosh, that's quite a story. Highs and lows, no kidding! I'm sorry about your parents. And I'm sorry about all you have had to endure too. Talk about stress. Thanks for sharing; hope it helped to get all that off your chest.

Cancer Curmudgeon

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

I was not quite myself the whole summer prior to DX. Not quite sick, but not well, either. I just kind of felt "off". When my aunt was DX'd and then I asked for my first mammo, I did not connect the dots. Of course, that first mammo came back clear, I didn't really give it much thought until a few weeks later when my nipple inverted. I took a morning off from work to get it checked (not dreaming it would be an issue--hey, I just got a letter from that radiologist saying there was nothing to be concerned about)--and, well, I never did get to work that day. My gyno made sure I went straight over to the breast surgeon, and suddenly I was having another mammo, an ultrasound. I was alone too. After all, I did not really think I had to be worried. What were the odds both my aunt and I would have cancer simultaneously? Her under 50, me at age 38? After all the testing, I thought back to how "off" I'd felt that summer. But I was under a lot of stress, extremely unhappy--I thought that slightly sick feeling was just a result of that. I don't like to remember those times.

Nancy

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

CC, Interesting how you didn't feel yourself all that summer prior to your diagnosis. And then to get the clear mammo... Good thing you went to get checked out again and that your gynecologist sent you to the breast surgeon for another mammogram and then an ultrasound. It must have been quite shocking for you, especially after that clear mammo. Don't blame you for not wanting to remember those times, but we can't forget either, or at least I can't. Thank you for sharing. So important to follow your gut feelings sometimes.

Meeka

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

It's amazing that as time passes, and our memory is crap due to the treatment, but one thing remains the same is our ability to recall that day as if it were only moments ago.

It was on 9/11 (I honestly thought I couldn't despise that day any more) and I was at home alone with my then seven year old son when I received the phone call.

My entire world was shattered, as I have three daughters and I know that they were immediately threatened.

Prov31wannabe

Saturday 23rd of April 2016

I got my news on Sept. 11, too! The words were "we've found some malignant cells." Over the phone. I remained calm. I somehow was not surprised, although it felt like an out of body experience at the same time. I had had a "cyst" two mammograms prior, and this new finding was in the exact same place, although they insisted it was "new" tissue. It's true there was an "all clear" mammo in between, but maybe they were just thinking like I was, it's just that little "benign cyst" in there. And yeah, of all the things we do forget, how come we never forget that day. I play and replay every doctor visit since then. At this rate, I will never forget, now matter how much I want to! I try to use the prompt to pray for the doctor, and to forgive them for all the stupid things that have been said and done to me. It's gonna take a miracle!

Nancy

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

Meeka, How awful to be home alone with your young son and on that date, too, when you got the call. I'm sorry. I understand about your concern for your children. And yes, some memories never fade. Hope you're doing okay now. Thank you for sharing about the day the shit hit the fan for you.