A Friend's Experience Saved My Life
Please feel free to share my experience with anyone you
know.
| I
remembered Phyllis. I demanded a biopsy. The
biopsy took twenty minutes under local anesthetic.
My insurance covered 100% of the cost. The
tumor was malignant. I had a lumpectomy and
radiation. |
Many years ago this month, my friend Phyllis went to her
doctor.
"Doc," she said, "there's a lump in my
breast."
"There, there sweetie," quoth the doc. "It's
nothing. Come back and see me in 6 months."
Six months later, Phyllis's cancer had metastasized into
her bones. She died soon thereafter.
Thirteen years ago, I felt a lump. Not one but two
doctors told me it could not be cancer because
(1) it did not show on the mammogram;
(2) it hurt;
(3) it was mobile;
(4) it was too small.
I remembered Phyllis. I demanded a biopsy. The biopsy
took twenty minutes under local anesthetic. My insurance
covered 100% of the cost. The tumor was malignant. I
had a lumpectomy and radiation.
I am here, thirteen years later. Tomorrow morning, I am
having breakfast with Phyllis' mother, as I have done
nearly every month since Phyllis died. The day I told
her that Phyllis had saved my life? Neither of us ate
much that day. And I've promised her I would pass on
this story as often as I could.
ALWAYS GET A BIOPSY!
Susan Klee, Berkeley,CA
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