abnormal mammo question

hi all,

since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
to keep in mind?

it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
basal cell carcinoma.

thanks,
ellen

Well it sounds like they are up on top of things....remember something like
80% of lumps or spots are not cancerous. Here is a site that might be
helpful. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info...reastus&bhcp=1 I know
whenever they saw something suspicious on my mammos the first thing they did
was send me to have a ultrasound...a couple of times I ended up going in for
a biopsy. I always had solid fibrous tumors so the Ultra Sound really wasn't
any help...but they are a good diagnostic tool for cysts. I always write
down questions as they occur to me then take the list with me for my
appointment.

You do know that basil cell carcinoma is pretty common..at least it is here
in Az...it also can be taken care of pretty quickly...my sister has had
quite a few removed during her lifetime and it didn't even leave scars.
Good luck on your Ultrasound. When is the appointment?
Jacquie



"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:740b805c-43f9-4859-9504-6584c0d21a3c@8g2000hsu.googlegroups.com...
hi all,

since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
to keep in mind?

it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
basal cell carcinoma.

thanks,
ellen

"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:740b805c-43f9-4859-9504-6584c0d21a3c@8g2000hsu.googlegroups.com...
> hi all,
>
> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> to keep in mind?

Dr. Susan Love's "Breast Book" is informative; covers everything - from
normal & benign, to various abnormalalities & cancerous stuff. And is
written so that she gets the info across without the reading being dry or
laborious.

The ultrasound can determine if a lesion is fluid-filled ( cyst) or solid.
But I don't *think* it can differentiate between a benign & malignant solid.

> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> basal cell carcinoma.

Good luck on both fronts.

Cathy


>
> thanks,
> ellen
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

ellen wrote:
> hi all,
>
> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> to keep in mind?
>
> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> basal cell carcinoma.

Along with Cathy, I'd also recommend Susan Love's Breast Book.
And your approach is eminently sane and sensible.

Sorry about the facial lesion. If it is basal cell c, at least
it's easy to treat, especially when caught early. Hubster had a
growth removed from his eyelid about 15 years ago, no recurrences.

FurPaw

--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.

"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:740b805c-43f9-4859-9504-6584c0d21a3c@8g2000hsu.googlegroups.com...
> hi all,
>
> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> through this whole screening process?

Forgot to say: the steps I've encountered have been 1) Mammo comes back with
either uncertain/hazy spot(s) or something definitely there. 2) If
uncertain, more mammos taken - spot compression, magnifications, etc. 3) If
shows a lesion, but not obvious what it is exactly, then on to a sonogram.
4) If sonogram shows it's solid, then a biopsy (in my case, stereotopic core
needle).

So far, either the film was just too hazy & further views cleared the
suspicious areas, the "nodule" disappeared under spot-compression, or else a
needle biopsy (where she took about 10 - 12 samples!) on an originally
benign appearing nodule that I'd been watching for several years - its
properties had changed & it had grown - which came back as benign. That
lesion which was biopsied in 2000 hasn't shown up on mammos since then; she
made so many passes with the needle that maybe it sucked the whole thing
(approx. 1 cm) out...!

Cathy




or important issues/questions
> to keep in mind?
>
> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> basal cell carcinoma.
>
> thanks,
> ellen

ellen wrote the following on 4/11/2008 5:49 PM:
> hi all,
>
> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> to keep in mind?
>
> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> basal cell carcinoma.

{{{{{{Ellen}}}}}

Here's hoping that both turn out to be nothing or at least easily treatable.

Karen R.

On Apr 11, 6:10 pm, "jacquie" <happikat...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Well it sounds like they are up on top of things....remember something like
> 80% of lumps or spots are not cancerous. Here is a site that might be
> helpful.http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info...reastus&bhcp=1 I know
> whenever they saw something suspicious on my mammos the first thing they did
> was send me to have a ultrasound...a couple of times I ended up going in for
> a biopsy. I always had solid fibrous tumors so the Ultra Sound really wasn't
> any help...but they are a good diagnostic tool for cysts. I always write
> down questions as they occur to me then take the list with me for my
> appointment.
>
> You do know that basil cell carcinoma is pretty common..at least it is here
> in Az...it also can be taken care of pretty quickly...my sister has had
> quite a few removed during her lifetime and it didn't even leave scars.
> Good luck on your Ultrasound. When is the appointment?
> Jacquie
>

>
>

jacquie, that was all so helpful - it gives me a better picture
(sorry, not punning intentionally) of what the to expect. i appreciate
you commenting as well on the basal cell carcinoma - i knew it was the
most common & easily treated of the skin cancers, but it always helps
to hear more. hope you are right with that 80% figure. but i go
today for the ultrasound, so at least i'm able to get that taken care
of immediately.

thanks,
ellen

On Apr 11, 6:25 pm, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:

> Dr. Susan Love's "Breast Book" is informative; covers everything -
from
> normal & benign, to various abnormalalities & cancerous stuff. And is
> written so that she gets the info across without the reading being dry or
> laborious.
>
> The ultrasound can determine if a lesion is fluid-filled ( cyst) or solid.
> But I don't *think* it can differentiate between a benign & malignant solid.
>
> > it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> > returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> > basal cell carcinoma.
>
> Good luck on both fronts.
>
> Cathy
>
>
>
> > thanks,
> > ellen

thanks so much, cathy.

ellen

On Apr 11, 6:58 pm, FurPaw <furrealpaw...@gmaildog.com> wrote:

> Along with Cathy, I'd also recommend Susan Love's Breast Book.
> And your approach is eminently sane and sensible.
>
> Sorry about the facial lesion. If it is basal cell c, at least
> it's easy to treat, especially when caught early. Hubster had a
> growth removed from his eyelid about 15 years ago, no recurrences.
>
> FurPaw
>
> --
> "Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
> every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
> those who are cold and are not clothed."
> - Dwight D. Eisenhower
>
> To reply, unleash the dogs.

furpaw, appreciate the comments re: both areas. 'eminently sane &
sensible' is a state to which i always hope to aspire with this kind
of stuff. you will all know if/ when i head into ridiculously wacky &
irrational.

ellen

On Apr 11, 7:37 pm, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrot

Forgot to say: the steps I've encountered have been 1) Mammo comes
back with
> either uncertain/hazy spot(s) or something definitely there. 2) If
> uncertain, more mammos taken - spot compression, magnifications, etc. 3) If
> shows a lesion, but not obvious what it is exactly, then on to a sonogram.
> 4) If sonogram shows it's solid, then a biopsy (in my case, stereotopic core
> needle).
>
> So far, either the film was just too hazy & further views cleared the
> suspicious areas, the "nodule" disappeared under spot-compression, or else a
> needle biopsy (where she took about 10 - 12 samples!) on an originally
> benign appearing nodule that I'd been watching for several years - its
> properties had changed & it had grown - which came back as benign. That
> lesion which was biopsied in 2000 hasn't shown up on mammos since then; she
> made so many passes with the needle that maybe it sucked the whole thing
> (approx. 1 cm) out...!
>
> Cathy

cathy, that was very helpful. i have been called back before for a
second mammo due to hazy & unclear views, but this is the 1st
ultrasound. so i am assuming it is showing some type of lesion. but
knowing these steps helps me to understand the diagnostic process &
thus, how to better talk with the the med folks about this. knowing
that it doesn't automatically mean the worst helps quite a bit. as
does being reminded that a possible need to biopsy doesn't always
herald bad news.

thanks,
ellen

On Apr 11, 9:24 pm, WWWSC #4 <kre...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ellen wrote the following on 4/11/2008 5:49 PM:
>
> > hi all,
>
> > since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> > imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> > until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> > through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> > to keep in mind?
>
> > it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> > returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> > basal cell carcinoma.
>
> {{{{{{Ellen}}}}}
>
> Here's hoping that both turn out to be nothing or at least easily treatable.
>
> Karen R.

thank you for those good hopes, karen. i'm hoping the same.

ellen

On Apr 12, 8:11*am, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 11, 9:24 pm, WWWSC #4 <kre...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > ellen wrote the following on 4/11/2008 5:49 PM:
>
> > > hi all,
>
> > > since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> > > imaging & an ultrasound. *i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> > > until proven otherwise. *any info that i should know about the steps
> > > through this whole screening process? *or important issues/questions
> > > to keep in mind?
>
> > > it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> > > returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> > > basal cell carcinoma.
>
> > {{{{{{Ellen}}}}}
>
> > Here's hoping that both turn out to be nothing or at least easily treatable.
>
> > Karen R.
>
> thank you for those good hopes, karen. *i'm hoping the same.
>
> ellen- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Ellen,

I've got a breast boo-boo right now too, so we can go through this
together, from afar. I had an inch-size lump pop up overnight, in
February. It's rubbery and tender to the touch; the physician's
assistant at the clinic said it's part of a larger dense area. So the
24th I have a mammogram, exactly a year after the last (clean) one.
Then maybe an ultrasound, then maybe a needle biopsy, just like the
other gals described. I don't have insurance, but California's Breast
Cancer Early Detection program covers diagnostics for low-income
women. Considering the odds, there's no use getting upset yet.
Wishing you a happy outcome, and I know you'll do the same for me.

Les

"Cathy F." <clfrclfr@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:AYWdnRak2591emLaRVn_vwA@giganews.com...
>
> "ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:740b805c-43f9-4859-9504-6584c0d21a3c@8g2000hsu.googlegroups.com...
>> hi all,
>>
>> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
>> imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
>> until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
>> through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
>> to keep in mind?
>
> Dr. Susan Love's "Breast Book" is informative; covers everything - from
> normal & benign, to various abnormalalities & cancerous stuff. And is
> written so that she gets the info across without the reading being dry or
> laborious.
>
> The ultrasound can determine if a lesion is fluid-filled ( cyst) or solid.
> But I don't *think* it can differentiate between a benign & malignant
> solid.
>
>> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
>> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
>> basal cell carcinoma.
>
> Good luck on both fronts.
>
> Cathy
>

Good luck on your U/S and remember often the lumps are benign. Dr Love's
book is great, the "bible" of breast issues and you can try her website too
for additonal info.

Roseanne

Ellen,

I've got a breast boo-boo right now too, so we can go through this
together, from afar. I had an inch-size lump pop up overnight, in
February. It's rubbery and tender to the touch; the physician's
assistant at the clinic said it's part of a larger dense area. So the
24th I have a mammogram, exactly a year after the last (clean) one.
Then maybe an ultrasound, then maybe a needle biopsy, just like the
other gals described. I don't have insurance, but California's Breast
Cancer Early Detection program covers diagnostics for low-income
women. Considering the odds, there's no use getting upset yet.
Wishing you a happy outcome, and I know you'll do the same for me.

Les

Usually when something pops up overnight it's benign and it's a good sign
when there's pain involved, cancerous tumours generally take years to
develop except in the case of a very aggressive tumour.

Just wondering what's the cost of a mammo in the US?

Roseanne

On Apr 11, 4:49*pm, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
> hi all,
>
> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> imaging & an ultrasound. *i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> until proven otherwise. *any info that i should know about the steps
> through this whole screening process? *or important issues/questions
> to keep in mind?
>
> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> basal cell carcinoma.
>
> thanks,
> ellen

Hi Ellen,

I just went through this very thing this past week. I was terrified,
and so I can understand your feelings as well. I had my mammogram
several weeks ago and went back on Wednesday for more x-rays and a
sonogram. I was really freaked out - the whole time I was waiting,
thumbing through magazines, it seemed to me that I saw article after
article on breast cancer!

Thankfully they were able to tell me from the start that I would leave
there that day with an answer, and equally thankfully, I was told that
what showed up on the x-rays, after the sonogram, was just a fluid
filled cyst. I think this is very, very common; the woman before me
had the same issue.

I have also had basal cell carcinoma, btw. I have a skin graft area
larger than a half dollar on my face at my hairline - this was over
five years ago and I have had no further incidences. Basal cell,
although it is a cancer and the word cancer is always scary, rarely
invades deeper into the body than what an excision can take care of.

I know how scary all of these things are. This just seems to be a
season of them for me! I also had a cyst on my ovary, that again,
thankfully turned out to be a non-issue - a normal follicle.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

Pat

"foggydoggy" <foggydoggy@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
news:JD7Mj.51341$dA2.36375@read2.cgocable.net...
> Ellen,
>
> I've got a breast boo-boo right now too, so we can go through this
> together, from afar. I had an inch-size lump pop up overnight, in
> February. It's rubbery and tender to the touch; the physician's
> assistant at the clinic said it's part of a larger dense area. So the
> 24th I have a mammogram, exactly a year after the last (clean) one.
> Then maybe an ultrasound, then maybe a needle biopsy, just like the
> other gals described. I don't have insurance, but California's Breast
> Cancer Early Detection program covers diagnostics for low-income
> women. Considering the odds, there's no use getting upset yet.
> Wishing you a happy outcome, and I know you'll do the same for me.
>
> Les

Good luck to you, too. I was thinking what Roseanne said, below.

> Usually when something pops up overnight it's benign and it's a good sign
> when there's pain involved, cancerous tumours generally take years to
> develop except in the case of a very aggressive tumour.
>
> Just wondering what's the cost of a mammo in the US?

I just looked back at my insurance statement from the last mammo I had done,
in Nov. '07. The total charge to the insurance company was $384. My
insurance plan paid $227 of that charge, & that amt. was accepted by the
hospital where the imaging was done. No balance left for me to pay. But,
OTOH, it was a diagnostic (vs. routine screening) mammo - due to a symptom I
was experiencing, & I think they took more films than they would've if it'd
been a regular screening. So, between that factor & the hospital accepting
the $227 payment, the initial $384 charge might be a tad on the high side.

Cathy


>
> Roseanne
>

On Apr 12, 1:02*pm, "foggydoggy" <foggydo...@cogeco.ca> wrote:
> Ellen,
>
> I've got a breast boo-boo right now too, so we can go through this
> together, from afar. *I had an inch-size lump pop up overnight, in
> February. *It's rubbery and tender to the touch; the physician's
> assistant at the clinic said it's part of a larger dense area. *So the
> 24th I have a mammogram, exactly a year after the last (clean) one.
> Then maybe an ultrasound, then maybe a needle biopsy, just like the
> other gals described. *I don't have insurance, but California's Breast
> Cancer Early Detection program covers diagnostics for low-income
> women. *Considering the odds, there's no use getting upset yet.
> Wishing you a happy outcome, and I know you'll do the same for me.
>
> Les
>
> Usually when something pops up overnight it's benign and it's a good sign
> when there's pain involved, cancerous tumours generally take years to
> develop except in the case of a very aggressive tumour.
>
> Just wondering what's the cost of a mammo in the US?
>
> Roseanne

Thanks, Roseanne, for the encouragement. I'm not too worried about my
lump, but of course one has to get these things checked out. My first
mammogram, back in the 80s, cost $40 with a $15 charge for the
radiologist.

Les

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:e7d9b401-1cb0-4200-a830-be70a5910c10@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...


Thanks, Roseanne, for the encouragement. I'm not too worried about my
lump, but of course one has to get these things checked out. My first
mammogram, back in the 80s, cost $40 with a $15 charge for the
radiologist.
``````````````````````````
Wow; my first one - done as a baseline in '86, cost $125. Out of pocket,
because at that time preventative screenings weren't covered by my
insurance.

Cathy

On Apr 12, 11:29 am, sage hen <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote:
> On Apr 12, 8:11 am, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Apr 11, 9:24 pm, WWWSC #4 <kre...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > ellen wrote the following on 4/11/2008 5:49 PM:
>
> > > > hi all,
>
> > > > since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> > > > imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> > > > until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> > > > through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> > > > to keep in mind?
>
> > > > it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> > > > returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> > > > basal cell carcinoma.
>
> > > {{{{{{Ellen}}}}}
>
> > > Here's hoping that both turn out to be nothing or at least easily treatable.
>
> > > Karen R.
>
> > thank you for those good hopes, karen. i'm hoping the same.
>
> > ellen- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Ellen,
>
> I've got a breast boo-boo right now too, so we can go through this
> together, from afar. I had an inch-size lump pop up overnight, in
> February. It's rubbery and tender to the touch; the physician's
> assistant at the clinic said it's part of a larger dense area. So the
> 24th I have a mammogram, exactly a year after the last (clean) one.
> Then maybe an ultrasound, then maybe a needle biopsy, just like the
> other gals described. I don't have insurance, but California's Breast
> Cancer Early Detection program covers diagnostics for low-income
> women. Considering the odds, there's no use getting upset yet.
> Wishing you a happy outcome, and I know you'll do the same for me.
>
> Les

hi les,

i did read about your prior post on breast density & am sure hoping
that everything turns out fine for you. i had my ultrasound
yesterday. the technician did show me the area of density on the
mammogram & it sounded like the ultrasound was showing two small
cysts. but i'll get the results sometime in the next week.

i'll be thinking of you & wishing you the best.

ellen

On Apr 12, 3:55 pm, "foggydoggy" <foggydo...@cogeco.ca> wrote:
> "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
>
> news:AYWdnRak2591emLaRVn_vwA@giganews.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > "ellen" <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:740b805c-43f9-4859-9504-6584c0d21a3c@8g2000hsu.googlegroups.com...
> >> hi all,
>
> >> since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> >> imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> >> until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> >> through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> >> to keep in mind?
>
> > Dr. Susan Love's "Breast Book" is informative; covers everything - from
> > normal & benign, to various abnormalalities & cancerous stuff. And is
> > written so that she gets the info across without the reading being dry or
> > laborious.
>
> > The ultrasound can determine if a lesion is fluid-filled ( cyst) or solid.
> > But I don't *think* it can differentiate between a benign & malignant
> > solid.
>
> >> it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> >> returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> >> basal cell carcinoma.
>
> > Good luck on both fronts.
>
> > Cathy
>
> Good luck on your U/S and remember often the lumps are benign. Dr Love's
> book is great, the "bible" of breast issues and you can try her website too
> for additonal info.
>
> Roseanne

roseanne, thanks for the reminder & the good luck.
ellen

On Apr 12, 6:27 pm, Miss Trish <trishca...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> On Apr 11, 4:49 pm, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > hi all,
>
> > since my yearly mammogram showed changes, i need to go in for more
> > imaging & an ultrasound. i am approaching this as routine diagnostics
> > until proven otherwise. any info that i should know about the steps
> > through this whole screening process? or important issues/questions
> > to keep in mind?
>
> > it was slightly disconcerting since the call came right after i had
> > returned from my pcp for a check on a facial lesion that she thinks is
> > basal cell carcinoma.
>
> > thanks,
> > ellen
>
> Hi Ellen,
>
> I just went through this very thing this past week. I was terrified,
> and so I can understand your feelings as well. I had my mammogram
> several weeks ago and went back on Wednesday for more x-rays and a
> sonogram. I was really freaked out - the whole time I was waiting,
> thumbing through magazines, it seemed to me that I saw article after
> article on breast cancer!
>
> Thankfully they were able to tell me from the start that I would leave
> there that day with an answer, and equally thankfully, I was told that
> what showed up on the x-rays, after the sonogram, was just a fluid
> filled cyst. I think this is very, very common; the woman before me
> had the same issue.
>
> I have also had basal cell carcinoma, btw. I have a skin graft area
> larger than a half dollar on my face at my hairline - this was over
> five years ago and I have had no further incidences. Basal cell,
> although it is a cancer and the word cancer is always scary, rarely
> invades deeper into the body than what an excision can take care of.
>
> I know how scary all of these things are. This just seems to be a
> season of them for me! I also had a cyst on my ovary, that again,
> thankfully turned out to be a non-issue - a normal follicle.
>
> I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!
>
> Pat

hi pat, thanks for the good thoughts & the prayers. it sure sounds
like you have had alot of things going on. by i do appreciate you
sharing your experiences with me & am glad that everything turned out
well for you. i was just thrown by the back to back stuff about the
facial lesion & the need for further breast screening. the women at
the mammography center where i go are so pleasant & that always make
me feel better anyway.

i have some other skin issues that are possibly precursors to cancer,
so that has always been out there for me. just look forward to having
it taken care of.

then i can deal with the next thing at hand, whatever that may be.

thanks again,
ellen

On Apr 13, 9:18*am, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:
> "sage hen" <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:e7d9b401-1cb0-4200-a830-be70a5910c10@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> Thanks, Roseanne, for the encouragement. *I'm not too worried about my
> lump, but of course one has to get these things checked out. *My first
> mammogram, back in the 80s, cost $40 with a $15 charge for the
> radiologist.
> ``````````````````````````
> Wow; my first one - done as a baseline in '86, cost $125. *Out of pocket,
> because at that time preventative screenings weren't covered by my
> insurance.
>
> Cathy

Cathy, that's the same year I had the $40 mammogram. This was in St.
George, Utah, a small town at that time. I'm sure it would've been
twice as much in California.

Les

On Apr 13, 9:18*am, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:
> "sage hen" <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:e7d9b401-1cb0-4200-a830-be70a5910c10@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> Thanks, Roseanne, for the encouragement. *I'm not too worried about my
> lump, but of course one has to get these things checked out. *My first
> mammogram, back in the 80s, cost $40 with a $15 charge for the
> radiologist.
> ``````````````````````````
> Wow; my first one - done as a baseline in '86, cost $125. *Out of pocket,
> because at that time preventative screenings weren't covered by my
> insurance.
>
> Cathy

Cathy, forgot to add the astonishing amount my hysterectomy cost in
1985, in Cedar City, Utah. It was a little over $2,000 total.

Les

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:78770d91-5157-444f-9321-be39cb66db3b@r9g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
On Apr 13, 9:18 am, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:
> "sage hen" <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:e7d9b401-1cb0-4200-a830-be70a5910c10@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> Thanks, Roseanne, for the encouragement. I'm not too worried about my
> lump, but of course one has to get these things checked out. My first
> mammogram, back in the 80s, cost $40 with a $15 charge for the
> radiologist.
> ``````````````````````````
> Wow; my first one - done as a baseline in '86, cost $125. Out of pocket,
> because at that time preventative screenings weren't covered by my
> insurance.
>
> Cathy

Cathy, that's the same year I had the $40 mammogram. This was in St.
George, Utah, a small town at that time. I'm sure it would've been
twice as much in California.

----------------------------------------

But, but... I'm in upstate NY, in an area with a relatively low COL. But I
guess not as low as Utah's. ;-)

Cathy

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:50a22c03-bf37-4c85-a587-8e35ad531675@1g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
On Apr 13, 9:18 am, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:
> "sage hen" <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:e7d9b401-1cb0-4200-a830-be70a5910c10@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> Thanks, Roseanne, for the encouragement. I'm not too worried about my
> lump, but of course one has to get these things checked out. My first
> mammogram, back in the 80s, cost $40 with a $15 charge for the
> radiologist.
> ``````````````````````````
> Wow; my first one - done as a baseline in '86, cost $125. Out of pocket,
> because at that time preventative screenings weren't covered by my
> insurance.
>
> Cathy

Cathy, forgot to add the astonishing amount my hysterectomy cost in
1985, in Cedar City, Utah. It was a little over $2,000 total.

----------
(Line above, because it's not quoting correctly, for some reason...)

I don't know what its cost would've been here. Although I can guess "way
more". ;-)

The only semi-comparison I have is: in 1980, a 2-week stay in the hospital
(for pneumonia), with a set of x-rays and 2 sets of blood cultures, IV drip
with meds mixed in, in a single room for most of the time (I was considered
super-contagious - had to use plastic utensils, visitors had to wear a mask,
all of my discarded stuff was red-tagged, etc.) was $3K. Which seemed like
an enormous bill to me then - if no insurance, I would've had to take out a
loan to pay it. But I had to pay just $30 out of pocket - & that was only
because of the private room.

Cathy

yay! good news - results from breast ultrasound=benign cysts!

& - i am planning to meet a woman this weekend about a a little girl
golden retriever.......

thanks for all the good wishes.
ellen

"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:8d6c1cde-5520-4a65-bfd3-3f443644381f@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> yay! good news - results from breast ultrasound=benign cysts!

Yea! Nice relief, yes? :-)

>
> & - i am planning to meet a woman this weekend about a a little girl
> golden retriever.......

And good luck on that count, too.

Cathy


>
> thanks for all the good wishes.
> ellen


>

ellen wrote the following on 4/16/2008 6:16 PM:
> yay! good news - results from breast ultrasound=benign cysts!

Yay!

> & - i am planning to meet a woman this weekend about a a little girl
> golden retriever.......

And double yay!

Karen R.

ellen wrote:
> yay! good news - results from breast ultrasound=benign cysts!

Phew! That's good news!
> & - i am planning to meet a woman this weekend about a a little girl
> golden retriever.......

And that sounds very hopeful! Fingers and paws crossed that she
will be the right one for you.

FurPaw

> thanks for all the good wishes.
> ellen
>


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.

On Apr 16, 9:07*pm, FurPaw <furrealpaw...@gmaildog.com> wrote:
> ellen wrote:
> > yay! *good news - results from breast ultrasound=benign cysts!
>
> Phew! *That's good news!
>
> > & - i am planning to meet a woman this weekend about a a little girl
> > golden retriever.......
>
> And that sounds very hopeful! *Fingers and paws crossed that she
> will be the right one for you.
>
> FurPaw
>
> > thanks for all the good wishes.
> > ellen
>
> --
> "Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
> every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
> those who are cold and are not clothed."
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * - Dwight D. Eisenhower
>
> To reply, unleash the dogs.

Ellen,

Delighted at your benign result. I still have another week before the
diagnostics on my lump begin (and hopefully end). So maybe I'll have
good news then too.

That should be a wonderful dog. When I got our last puppy (before
this one) at the Salt Lake City pound, I thought she was a golden
lab. But it turned out she was half pit bull and who knows what else--
a good dog nevertheless. All happiness to you and your new pup.

Les

cathy, karen, furpaw, les - thanks all for sharing in my cheers &
celebration. les, i've been thinking about you & will keep doing so.
hoping for all good news all around.

as far as pups, you know that i'll be posting as soon as we bring the
right one home. my ears may be ringing (like hell these days, it
seems), but my heart is singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0MXV3D0Vmo

xo,
ellen

On Apr 17, 2:08*pm, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
> cathy, karen, furpaw, les - thanks all for sharing in my cheers &
> celebration. *les, i've been thinking about you & will keep doing so.
> hoping for all good news all around.
>
> as far as pups, you know that i'll be posting as soon as we bring the
> right one home. *my ears may be ringing (like hell these days, it
> seems), but my heart is singing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0MXV3D0Vmo
>
> xo,
> ellen

Ellen,

Your mention of ringing ears strikes a chord, ha ha. Chinese medicine
recognizes that problem and has several remedies, none of which helped
me. Several people have told me about their ringing ears, including
my mom. Sometimes it's one ear, sometimes both. One of mine is worse
than the other. So though I don't know what to do about it, at least
I can tell you you're not alone.

Les

sage hen wrote:
> On Apr 17, 2:08 pm, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> cathy, karen, furpaw, les - thanks all for sharing in my cheers &
>> celebration. les, i've been thinking about you & will keep doing so.
>> hoping for all good news all around.
>>
>> as far as pups, you know that i'll be posting as soon as we bring the
>> right one home. my ears may be ringing (like hell these days, it
>> seems), but my heart is singing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0MXV3D0Vmo
>>
>> xo,
>> ellen
>
> Ellen,
>
> Your mention of ringing ears strikes a chord, ha ha. Chinese medicine
> recognizes that problem and has several remedies, none of which helped
> me. Several people have told me about their ringing ears, including
> my mom. Sometimes it's one ear, sometimes both. One of mine is worse
> than the other. So though I don't know what to do about it, at least
> I can tell you you're not alone.
>

The only thing I've found that works for me is my iPod with some
gentle masking sounds - the official "maskers" don't work well for me,
but I found that those meditation CDs with a mix of environmental
sounds (waves, whale song, birds) and "new age" music give me just
enough to focus on that I don't hear the tinnitus but not enough to
distract me from other tasks. I swear when I put "Refreshing Ocean
Waves" (my favourite) on, I can actually feel my blood pressure drop.


--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:f353a275-8926-4637-921f-cf459111092b@u36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
On Apr 17, 2:08 pm, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
> cathy, karen, furpaw, les - thanks all for sharing in my cheers &
> celebration. les, i've been thinking about you & will keep doing so.
> hoping for all good news all around.
>
> as far as pups, you know that i'll be posting as soon as we bring the
> right one home. my ears may be ringing (like hell these days, it
> seems), but my heart is singing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0MXV3D0Vmo
>
> xo,
> ellen

Ellen,

Your mention of ringing ears strikes a chord, ha ha. Chinese medicine
recognizes that problem and has several remedies, none of which helped
me. Several people have told me about their ringing ears, including
my mom. Sometimes it's one ear, sometimes both. One of mine is worse
than the other. So though I don't know what to do about it, at least
I can tell you you're not alone.


Les

``````````````````````````````````````
Nope - she's/you're not; this was one of my symptoms in peri - my right ear,
esp. Except it was more like an a/c noise, than ringing. Accompanied by a
super-sensitivity to loud - esp. clanging sort of - sounds. Showed up out
of the seeming blue, drove me nuts for quite a while, & I had no clue it was
linked to peri - went to ENT for tests. Still have it, many years later,
but to a *m