Cancer log. Eight years out, and I’m back in for a routine now-annual screening MRI, bilateral breast. It’s been long enough now that I don’t remember the answer to a lot of the questions, so I end up writing ‘don’t remember’ all over the intake form. When was the biopsy? How many were there? Which sides? No clue. It’s all at the same hospital, so the info is in their records if they need it. It’s nice to have the details not burned in my brain anymore.
Not a whole lot to report, but there is one change at my hospital — it used to be that they let you keep on MRI-safe sweatpants and socks and even sports bras for some procedures. Not anymore — at Loyola, you have to strip down completely for MRIs now; it’s apparently because they were seeing blistering on patients because of copper threads in their clothes. I think that’s an athletic clothes thing — copper is anti-microbial. Coppertone socks, etc. So just to be safe, everyone strip down, please.
Ah well — when you’re climbing awkwardly into a contraption that has your breasts hanging down through strategically placed holes, modesty and dignity have pretty much gone out the window a while ago…
Oh, one more note. I mentioned to the tech who was putting in my IV (I get an MRI with contrast, which means they need to stick a needle in me) that I have a tendency to faint sometimes with needle sticks. Low blood pressure, vasovagal reflex, etc. And she thanked me for telling her, and when she saw that I also have pretty small veins, she decided to go off and get a smaller needle. (I’m not entirely sure why? Easier stick? Less likely to make me faint?) It’s been a while since I actually fainted at one of these; I do my deep breathing and don’t look at the needle and I’m usually okay.
Anyway, my point is, if you have issues, tell your medical folks. They’ll often be able to make accommodations, find workarounds, etc. But they won’t know to look for them unless you tell them…
Results in a few days, I think, but I’m not expecting them to find anything. Will still likely be a little fretty until they come in, though…
