While showering I noticed that my left breast nipple appeared to be inverted. Thinking what’s up with that as I reached down feeling around my areola, I discovered a hard lump, right below my nipple at the surface, leaving me confused, because I’d just had a normal mammogram 13 days ago.

Is it possible the mammogram didn’t detect the lump? Had the mammogram left a bruise, after all it was unusually painful? But it’s not at all tender or sore now. What? What is this lump?

I followed up with an appointment to see Dr. P.S my general practitioner on May 27, and he referred me to a breast specialist for further examination and a biopsy the following week on Friday, June 6.

Did he just say a biopsy?

Okay, I’m not liking this game at all. You do know I have very good reason for not having any nipple piercing? Just the thought of anything that involves sticking a needle in my nipple makes me feel a bit squeamish, and sends me squealing wee… wee… wee… all the way home, and that’s just what I did!

***I will put this sick feeling deep in my gut on the back burner for now and not worry about it until I have an appointment to meet with the breast specialist.***

I just don’t want to play!

I went for my annual mammogram like I have been doing for the last 5 years. No big deal right? Just grasp the bar tightly and plop your boob on the pad and prepare yourself for the cold hard vise-grip and instantly your bra size goes from a C cup back to an A cup. Then just for kicks why not balance them off and repeat this procedure on your other breast.

This is how I felt with this particular mammogram. It was extremely painful unlike any other time and they took 6 views as opposed to the 4 views that I could recall from the past. The following couple of days my left breast was a little sore leaving me thinking, thank God I only have to do that once a year.

In all seriousness, joking aside despite the discomfort I personally had, I can’t express enough the importance of having a yearly mammogram, and clinical breast exam by your doctor followed by a monthly self-exam.