Don't Succumb to Itsjusta: Be Proactive about Breast Health

Phyllis Johnson Been Through It Inflammatory Breast Cancer Survivor Phyllis Johnson grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. Parents of... Send Message Subscribe: Phyllis Johnson

Monday, July 20, 2009
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It’s just a cyst. It’s just an infection. It’s just a rash. I’ve heard these words so often that I’ve decided they name a new disease: itsjusta. People fear cancer. And women fear breast cancer probably more than any other type...

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Good stuff
PJ Hamel
Monday, July 20, 2009 at 07:57 PM

Thanks, Phyllis - great post. Once you've had cancer, you do tend to downplay everything else as "not serious." But as you say, a staph infeciton can certainly kill you, and a lot faster than cancer. This is a great reminder to all of us not to ignore any possible health issues, simply because we think "they're not cancer, so they're not serious." PJH

Don't ignore that mammogram
Jane Beard, England
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 10:56 AM

As someone who has recently been diagnosed with non hormonal breast cancer, aged 52, wgich was picked up at a very early stage via a routine mammography, I would urge any complacent or fearful woman to go ahead and have the examination without a moment's hesitation. I am a very large breasted woman, I have every reason to be embrarrassed at stripping off. I am also very overweight - not a pretty sight indeed. Who cares. I went and it saved my life as the cancer was a stage 3 but only 11 mm wide and had not spread to the lymph nodes. If I had not bothered with the mammogram, I don't care to think what the situation would have been a few months down the line. LADIES -GO FOR YOUR CHECK UPS AND ALSO DON'T IGNORE ANYTHING UNUSUAL IN YOUR BREASTS. DON'T DELAY - GO NOW!

re: Don't ignore that mammogram
jomo1960
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 11:42 AM

I totally agree. DO NOT IGNORE SYMPTOMS. I have Inflammatory Breast Cancer and when it first started, it felt like I had hit my breast on something. It was very sore. Then it engorged. I still was thinking it was nothing. Then the nipple inverted and I had to say to myself, "that is not normal" and went to the doctor. I think 3-4 weeks went by before I went. I told a co-worker and she said "girl, get to the doctor now." I know eventually I would have went but when she said that, I made the appointment and the doctor got me in the next day (Usually takes weeks). He then sent me to Breast Care Specialist the next day. Within 2 weeks of diagnosis I had CAT Scan, Bone Scan, MRI, Echo, and Port placed and started chemo. It was a whirlwind experience. It will be 1 year on Sept 17th. I believe my friend saved my life. But, I still worry because I am not out of the woods yet. I tell everyone I know what happened and to not ignore any change in the breast. Even if itsjusta cyst, fibroedema (I had one of those too in 2000, same breast), or breast infection. Get it checked out! It just might save your life.

Great post! Johanna

re: re: Don't ignore that mammogram
Phyllis Johnson
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 01:39 PM

Johanna, I'm glad you listened to your friend. I found the first couple of years after my IBC treatment very difficult because I was so worried about a recurrence. Try to believe in your future long life. It really helped me to plan for the next year's vacation, plant bulbs that wouldn't bloom for months, and so forth. Part of my mind was saying, "but you might be dead or back in chemo by then," but I worked really hard to start thinking of cancer as something I had, as a past tense sort of thing. That was 11 years ago. I wish you the best as you recover from your treatments.

re: re: re: Don't ignore that mammogram
jomo1960
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 02:39 PM

Thanks PJ. I am actually looking into a new career. My job moved while I was out sick so I am now retired (I had 30 years). Now I am looking at other opportunities. I am not going to think about a recurrance. I have to see Oncologist every 3 months for 2 years so those visits will reassure me, I'm sure. I always try to stay positive. Now if I can just decide what I want to do now. So many opportunities out there.

thanks, Johanna

re: re: re: re: Don't ignore that mammogram
Phyllis Johnson
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 04:21 PM

Wow! A new career. I think that's wonderful. I hope you find the perfect place to use your talents.

re: Don't ignore that mammogram
Phyllis Johnson
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 01:31 PM

Thanks for that very wise advice. I'm glad you had that mammogram.

So true
youtwo
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Phyllis, this is so true...my mammogram came back clear, and an ultrasound came back, with the report.....cysts etc., but nothing suspicious.

I decided to be more assertive with my family Dr. and ask for it to be examined more thoroughly, and it has turned out to be early breast cancer. I dont know

at what point I suddenly thought, "this has to be checked out more carefully",

but I am lucky I did.

All the best ,

H.

re: So true
Phyllis Johnson
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 01:30 PM

I'm so glad you listened to your intuition and acted to find out what you had. I wish you the best.

Untitled Comment
barbararydesky
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 05:13 PM

I didn't take my doctor's "it's nothing" to worry about attitude. I insisted on further tests (an MRI). I have hormone-positive breast CA. You have to take charge of

your own health sometimes!!!

re: Untitled Comment
Phyllis Johnson
Friday, July 24, 2009 at 07:47 AM

It's great that you pushed to get the correct diagnosis. I'm sure that experience will help you as move on through treatment and follow-up care.

Itsjusta...
Jan
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 06:22 PM

Thanks, Phyllis, for the reminder to have symptoms checked out if they aren't shortly resolving on their own. As a cancer survivor, I don't want to suffer from itsjusta-itis.

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Tania
Monday, October 05, 2009 at 09:53 PM

When I was 37 I went to my doctor and told her that I had a lump in my left breast. She felt it and said it was a Just a cyst. I came back to her when I was 39 and said if this is a cyst I would like it removed. She said she would aspirate it herself. I asked to have an ultrasound and then biopsied. I was diagnosed May 15th 2009 with Breast Cancer, and the CYST was not just a cyst, but it was a tumour. Please all women of any age should have all lumps biopsied.

re: Untitled Comment
Phyllis Johnson
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 at 05:25 AM

Tania, thanks for sharing your story. I hope your treatment is going well. I'm so glad you went back to the doctor and insisted on being checked more thoroughly.