sally pickering

At 63 years young, I went for my yearly mammogram a month early because my husband and I were planning to go to Vermont for an extended vacation. The Womens center where I had the mammogram was fairly new with all new equipment and beautifully decorated. When I received the notice to return for an ultrasound I just figured that the equipment was so new and I had large breasts, that it probably was just picking up everything so I really did not worry. However when the radiologist came in to perform the ultrasound and showed me the area of interest in my left breast, I was now convinced that maybe there was something there. Following the core biopsy, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and I will never unsee or unhear those words. I have an amazing team and will undergo chemo and radiation as soon as I heal. I had a wide excision lumpectomy and removal of sentinel node and two other lymph nodes under my arm. This had been a huge education journey for me and I am still overwhelmed. My message to all women is to get your yearly mammograms as I never felt a lump or anything. Needless to say we did not take that Vermont vacation......but will go another time.