From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
((<x¥ ‘N*xON‘zNN%«/NNNNNN54 Dense breasts
Well, dear readers, once again communication skills in the medical profession have stimulated me to write about a recent experience. Those of you who hotly follow my ravings, will know that I truned 40 in June. So, it's stime to have a baseline mammogram. Nothing was wrong - I just wanted a baseline as I now will have regular (every 2 years is normal) checkups.
If you have not done this - it's time folks. Even men. During a Sun Herald lunch this week Kerryn Phelps and I were talking about my experiences and we branched out into the incidence of breast cancer in men. Yes, it is possible. So fellas, you need to keep an eye out for lumps as well!
So, back to my experience. Here I am in the best hospital in Sydney for mammograms. My smallish boobies have been flattened in the X ray machine - and fortunately bounced back to normal after they had assumed pancake shape. I then went up to wait in outpatients. For two hours. All this is OK. I am happy to do this comfortable in teh knowledge that they are accurate and thorough in this place.
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fi And that there are no hidden or undiscovered 'things' that will go bump in my future.
Finally, the doctor is ready to see me. I go in and am asked by a final year medical student if he could examine my breasts. Even this is OK. He has to learn somewhere. Then THE doctor walks in. Says 'lie down' and proceeds to prod around my without a word. After this rapport building procedure - I would imagine that this man's raport building skills and bedside manner were learned from a snake - he walks out of the room with the immortal words...... YOU HAVE VERY DENSE BREASTS.
Now, readers, you know I try to see the lighter side of life and that I have a sense of humor. My immediate and understandable response was..."I do not have dumb tits!" He didn't see the incredible humor in my quick retort so I became suitably submissive in the face of such understanding and caring and asked 'what does that mean?'.
To which he gently replied 'you'll have to be checked again in 12 months. We'll probably have to do an ultrasound'. (Am I thinking 'that's it - there's something major wrong with me.'? You bet your sweet bippy.)
Fortunately, I am part of the medical profession and brave enough to pursue this horrible man and say - despite his obvious lack of interest or even irritation - 'what causes dense breasts?'. Back came his thought provoking response ...'hormones'. Well, thank you, now I understand!
I ask to see what they look like on X ray compared to non dense breasts. At least he spared me a couple of nanoseconds for this. Then ashe tried to dismiss me for the fourth time I ask 'what does it mean' (again). He mumbles about higher chance of breast cancer and I ask how much higher. In the face of his silence I say '5%? 10%?' and he says 'less'.
AH, NOW I really understand!I bet this guy was stressed, busy, rushed and pressured; but I would have happily waited another 2 hours to have quality time when I am actually seeing the doctor. And, had I not been associated with the medical world. I would have left that place devasted. I've never heard of 'dense breasts'. I would have thought that it meant they sat up pertly! I could have even been so scared that I woul dnot have mentioned it to my GP. I might have just worried for 12 months or 2 years or 10 years. And the worrying probably would have caused cancer without any other factor involved.
So, my message readers? Do not be silent in the face of medical indifference or apparent lack of care. You keep asking questions until you fully understand the implications of what your doctor is saying to you.We must understand what is happening to us accurately - or we sneak off and worry ourselves sick. Literally. The mind is very powerful and can orchestrate all sorts of disease processes. Pointing the bone really works and can kill people because they believe they have been cursed. And they die because the bodymind is convinced the curse works.
And although the majority of doctors do care and do take time to explain what you need to understand, I don't think they grasp the incredible level of ignorance of most people when it comes to their bodies. So they don't explain in simple enough language or in enough detail. And most people are too shy /embarrassed / upset to ask questions. They just take what the doctor offers. Then run away and wonder what hideous disease process has attacked them or what is wrong with them.
