How My “Routine” Mammogram Became the Start of a Very Different Journey
March 28 – The usual check-up.
I went in for my annual mammogram expecting the same “all clear” I’ve always received. No nerves, no red flags.
April 11 – The callback.
Getting asked back for extra images never rattles me - I have dense breast tissue, and second looks are practically a tradition. But this time, after the mammogram, the radiologist stepped into the room, met my eyes, and said, “Take this seriously and schedule a biopsy.” That landed differently.
April 18 – Biopsy day.
I’d never had a breast biopsy before, and yes, it felt strange and unsettling. I was surprised at how little pain it was, considering what was happening. But tears ran down my face the entire time, I was so scared - of the pain and what all of this meant. The team was wonderful - gentle, reassuring, and somehow made the whole thing less painful than my imagination - but it was still a moment that pressed pause on normal life.
April 20 – Easter distractions.
With family in town and my mother-in-law recovering from shoulder and cataract surgeries, I wrapped myself in busy schedules and holiday cooking, choosing not to worry until there was something concrete to worry about.
April 24 – The phone call.
Early that morning the imaging center rang to ask which doctor would be handling my results, since my primary was retiring. My heart sank; if everything were fine, why would it matter? I opened the patient portal, read the word cancer, and felt the world tilt. The rest of that day was a blur - equal parts disbelief and shock.
By afternoon, I had my doctor on the line and a shortlist of specialists in my hand. Suddenly I was learning a new vocabulary - survival rates, staging, margins. I’d stepped onto a path I never intended to walk, and every decision now felt enormous.
That’s where this blog comes in. I’m using it to capture the milestones, the coping tools (hello, “mouse time”), and the lessons I pick up as I navigate what comes next. If you’re on a similar road - or just cheering from the sidelines - I hope sharing my story helps us both feel a little less alone.
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