happily the 'had' is in the title because the cancer is gone and she is still here!

This is one of those stories about going with your instincts, pushing your doctors, and taking care of health issues ASAP.

My mom, who is now 72 years old, found a small lump in one of her breasts about 5 years ago. She went to her doctor and asked that he do a mammogram to check it out. He felt it and said that a mammogram wouldn't be necessary since it was so small and we had no prior family history of breast cancer. My mom disagreed and asked for a referral to another doc. The 2nd doctor also thought upon intial examination that a mammogram would be unnecessary, but my mom insisted. So, they did one and found a small lump, but still the doctor said it was likely nothing. My mom said she felt that it was something that needed to be removed, and again insisted that the doctor do further tests. The doctor was telling her that if they removed it she would have a scar - like that was a good reason not to remove it. My mom is a single, widow which she explained to the doctor -- "no one sees my boobs except for me and you, so why do I care if there's a scar?" (gotta love those feisty east coast moms!)

So, long story short, my mom had the lumpectomy which was found to be malignant and luckily removed so early that it hadn't had a chance to spread. She had some radiation just to be sure. The doctors were all amazed after removing the lump that it was cancerous.

Had my mom not pushed beyond the first doctor, then the second, where would she be now five years later...? Push those doctors and follow your own instincts about your body!