I’m Okay!!!

Thank you all for the good hopes. I probably shouldn’t have written about it at all, but I was scared. My doctor was very sober about it, which didn’t help. As I mentioned, intellectually I was pretty sure we weren’t looking at cancer. Breast lumps that are cancerous are like little marbles, today’s doc told me. I knew that. And my background was in my favor. Still, the human imagination is an incredible worrier, and we artistic types are quite neurotic already.

Now, a word from the medical establishment: if you notice ANY bump, or you have any suspicions at all, it’s best to get these things checked. Just because it’s not cancer, you could have some other things going on, and it’s better to know the terrain of your body. Also, that reassurance that tells you that things are normal is worth WHATEVER it costs. Believe me. Today I believe I can function. Yesterday, not so good.

So, what is my problem? Same old. I’ll put the wimmin’s stuff under the cut for those of you who might be delicate flowers. 🙂

I am blessed/ cursed with fibrocystic breasts, which means that I am a bumpy terrain map. As a matter of fact, that’s why I do my monthly breast exam without fail (are you doing a monthly breast exam? You should be!), because I have to be familiar with the topography just in case something abnormal pops up. Age means that the condition is migrating a bit northward, hence the new, exciting bumps in an area we didn’t have bumps before. Awesome.

I still have some accompanying pain, so per doctor’s orders, no caffeine and no sugar. Sugar is a new cut for this condition, but as you know, I’ve really cut back on a lot of that sort of thing thanks to the osteoarthritis anyway (and that has really helped. I haven’t had a flareup since Icon, even when exercising!), so it’s not a big jump. Just gotta say decaf and stay away from most of the holiday goodies. I predict a slimming Christmas! Another blessing in disguise, maybe?

So, THANK YOU again for your support. When you are afraid, it’s good to be able to know that there are people pulling for you. And I was pretty afraid.

All right. I need to get ready for a meeting and get serious about checking some finals. I just thought you’d want to know, and it would be irresponsible of me not to share the good news immediately.

Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump

Catherine Schaff-Stump writes fiction for children and young adults. Her most recent book, The Vessel of Ra, is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. She is currently working on its sequel, as well as penning the middle grade adventures of Abigail Rath, monster hunter. View all posts by Catherine Schaff-Stump