We don't belong in categories.

As we all know, my cancer diagnosis was a complete shock. (If your new to my blog, head over to my Breast Cancer journey in the categories.) I never in a million years thought this could happen to me especially at a young age. Since I was a little girl it was just drilled into our heads that we don't need to be worried about Breast Cancer until were in our 50s. Well news flash health care...as you already know everyone is NOT the same.

We are all different, medicine reacts differently in every person and all of our chemistry, atoms, cells are not alike...why do they put us in categories? I am my own person, I'm figuring this out along with you but you have the degree! You went to school to properly educate people who aren't fluent in the health care world. Instead every time I went for a check up I felt like a number that was checked off the patient list.

Let me make myself clear, I AM THANKFUL for all of the health care professionals that have gotten me to where I am today. But I am upset that some doctors just categorize their patients. If i didn't stick to my gut and looked at my OBGYN with my eyebrows raised and head cocked to the side when she told me "oh your lump feels normal, a lot of women your age have dense breasts and this lump is moving around. If it didn't move than you should be worried" , Lord only knows how long it would of taken to take my life.

We come to these facilities with the hope of being listened to and taken care of...after all that's what my $50 co-pay is for, not to mention all the money I have to pay after these tests. Like TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY, PLEASE! After she saw my face she immediately suggested a second opinion and i immediately said "YES". I'm not okay with you dismissing my concerns and interrupting me while I try to explain to you my symptoms...that's not cool with me.

In my last Breast Cancer Blog I mentioned that I went to the radiologist to get my second opinion. This time was a little better and less stressful in a way. They actually let me finish my sentences and let me voice my concerns...even though they thought I also had nothing to worry about, the vibe was just different. The radiologist made sure to reassure me that I wasn't making things up, I had every right to feel the way I did about the incident with my OBGYN and she was going to biopsy this "freaky little thing" just so we could rule out cancer. A week later I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to your bodies. Nobody knows you more than you! People might think they know what's best for you but at the end of the day, you're the only one that is truly in your own corner...if no one else fights for you, FIGHT even harder! Don't let ANYONE put you in a category or tell you your feelings aren't valid. Also be kind, I know it's a frustrating thing but I have been learning that nothing positive comes from an angry patient!

STAY POSITIVE AND ASSERT YOURSELF IN A CALM MANOR!