In Which we are made AWARE

I had a mammogram about a week and a half ago. At one point the chatty technician looked at the screen and said “Hmm.”

I thought, “Hmm what? Hmmm, you say? I’m sorry, did I hear you say, ‘Hmm’?” But I said none of those things, because I knew she wasn’t allowed to discuss.

At least she didn’t follow up the “Hmm” with a complete mood reversal. The tech who did my very first MRI was all pleasant and chatty on the way in. On the way out, he had the sad eyes. I was left wondering if the other techs who swarmed into that room had been making fun of him instead of looking at my spine like they were supposed to.

However, on the long walk back to my car it occurred to me she probably “Hmm”ed at my lipoma. Lipoma: A tumor of fat. I had one in my left breast. (I have many in my left and right thighs, but I don’t get thighmograms.)

So then I was a little surprised to get a letter back from the MammoCenter suggesting I need to be re-mammed. On that same day I got phone calls from the crotch office and the GP urging I don’t ignore this. But of course I had already made an appointment. And I already know it could be another lipoma, or the Boob Gristle Mom had, or as Mom suggested, “those cysts overweight people get. You know, the ones aggravated by CAFFEINE.”

However, as Robin’s also-lumpy friend said, “October. Not the best month to get a lump.” Yes, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. SO, okay, now I am AWARE.

Maybe they’ve gotten so freakishly large because they contain huge watery cysts. Hmm.