I feel a little funny asking for myself, but I would really appreciate your prayers. Tomorrow I'm going in to see my OBGYN about a funny fleshy thing in my armpit. It's not hard, but it does hurt (a little) and I'm praying it's just a swollen lymph gland. Breast cancer does not run in my family, and I'm only 35; but I am anxious... Thank-you.
Emily

By all means, Emily!
Sure wishing you the best!!
Let us know.
Mary Jane

Emily,
I so will be praying for you. Keep the positives in your mind, everything will be ok.
Stay real busy and try to stay distracted. Remember we overreact and catastrophize everything and 99% of the time things are never
what we imagine them to be. Read good positive things and watch a funny movie. Keep your mind on the good stuff. Everything will be fine, we will be praying for you and keep us posted.
Your friend
Angla

Thanks, ladies. Your support and kind words are much appreciated.
Hugs and Blessings to you both!

Hi Emily,
You've got my prayers today, and I'll say some early tomorrow, too. Best wishes, Pecos.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers last night and today!

I just got home from my GYNO/OBGYN and she didn't seem overly worried (), though she did recognize there is a slight difference between my left and right armpit. She's scheduling a mammogram "just to be safe." It sounds like I'll be able to get in within the next week, so that's another answered prayer.

Naturally, I would have liked to hear that I had nothing to be concerned about, but I probably would have worried anyway... so, I guess I'm glad to be having a thorough testing.

Again, thanks to all for your support (Mary Jane, you made my morning! I opened my e-mail to your pm and immediately felt warm and fuzzy. Thank you!;*)).
God Bless,
Emily

OK-
So I'm scheduled for a mammogram tomorrow and my anxiety has reared its ugly head again. I'm having a really hard time with anticipatory thinking, even though I'm trying to tell myself this is only a formality according to my GYNO (frankly, I'll be shocked if there is a problem...- that doesn't make much sense ).

Anyway, if anyone reads this, I really appreciate a quick prayer- you don't even have to respond. I know there's power in prayer and God knows what I need to feel peace.

Many thanks and blessings to all!
Emily

Hi Emily, I will pray for you. I have gone through many tests in the lasts 2 years, and it is scary, but you will get through it and then think, Wow, its over, keep us posted. God Bless you.

((hugs and prayers))

You will get through this. You are going to be ok. The test will be over and done with in no time flat and someday you will look back and be able to laugh at the fear.

I will pray for you...try not to worry and leave every thing in God's hands

Hi Emily,

Good Luck today we are praying for you Emily. Remember this is only a formality and everything will be okay . Keep using your positive self talk. Let us know how you are.

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! I just got home and my breasts are healthy and normal (haven't heard THAT diagonis for awhile, NORMAL, that is... ). And the extra "fleshy" thing in my right armpit is muscle over glands(I'm right-handed, guess this is pretty common). Praise God!

Once again, thanks for everyone's prayers and encouragement- it was/is greatly appreciated.
Hugs for all!
Emily

Thought I'd share a funny story. This morning before my appt. all this breast cancer stuff was sprinting through my brain, and I thought of something a former student said a couple years ago.

Each year our staff "challenges" one another to wear pink for breast cancer awareness day. In turn, participants donate x amount of $ for each person- male administrators and coaches are always "worth" the most (???).

Anyway, two years ago students became informally involved and many wore pink. One young man (and I use this phrase loosely, because he was... immature, I guess ) said innocently/naively (?), "Yeah... i think it's a good idea- I support healthy breasts." Before I could think twice, I replied, "I bet you do!" and quickly moved on. When I think about it now, I'm thoroughly impressed (and shocked) he didn't say boobs or tits.

So glad for your good report! It unfortunately
opened a real source of anxiety that I've been trying to ignore for a few years!!! I've had a couple biopsies, all benign thankfully, with a fibroma once and then about 4 years ago, they found an increase in calcium which can hide problems, and I went through a rather horrid procedure (wire pushed into each of my poor bosoms with NO anesetic SP?, to mark for the biopsy spots...), it was painful beyond words, and the waiting for results, agony as many know... All turned out completely fine, thank GOD,,, but I haven't had a mammogram since... I am short of breath and rather panicky just writing this!!! Anyway,,, it's been about 4 years ago, no mammogram since,,, so of course in the back of my mind is the fear that there could be either more deposits they'll want to repeat the horrid procedure for,,, or a real problem,,, all that anticipatory anxiety etc...
Just sharing, I know I have to get the nerve up to go,,, just can't face it on top of starting this program and dealing with anxiety, depression, panic, heart worries, (stress test ok!) moving to another state etc. All my previous records are lost, can't make myself even begin to try and hunt them down through Doctors offices about a 1000 miles away... I am really such a coward...

Hi Fairlight-
Hey, give yourself a break; simply reading the post and then sharing is COURAGEOUS! I'm proud of you for just responding. I can certainly relate to the difficulty in delibertly recalling anxiety incited situations; it's like reliving it all over again, and who wants to do that?!

I can't begin to fathom what you went through- both physically and emotionally. (This procedure sounded like sheer torture- and no anesetia [sp?]???). You have A LOT going on right now, tackle one challenge at a time and be good to yourself ;*).

I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts, and remember, we're all here to support one another.
Blessings,
fischee