I was just settling in to celebrate my 7th anniversary post double mastectomy. I’d received my annual breast MRI. It’s rather amusing, this breast MRI has lead to some interesting incidental findings in the past.

One year, a new lesion was noted on my liver. With a history of invasive breast cancer, that of course set off alarm bells. A scan was done and it showed to be cystic. However, in the course of that scan, a mass was noted in one of my kidneys. Good lord I thought, if we keep scanning, just how low can we go? That actually turned out to be something we follow.

This year, the report came in, I opened it, read it and was extremely happy that all was well with the breasts. And then……Those pesky other findings.

A 1.9 cm spiculated mass was noted in the left hilum. Meaning, a really not great type of mass in a former smoker was seen in the middle section of the left lung.

I swallowed hard. These were the times I wished for ignorance. My head swam. Why? You smoked, you idiot. Hadn’t I had enough? Such a myth. I went back and re-read the report. No lymphadenopathy seen. Well, that’s good. And it’s small. My surgical brain kicked in. Thoracotomy with a wedge resection and it should be fine. A CT was recommended to confirm the finding.

True to my nature, I made a plan. I’d need a CT and if positive a bronchoscopy. Being immune suppressed, there was no time to waste. Of course, it was Friday evening but, I began emailing my doctors. Let’s get the CT scheduled asap. And I informed my PCP and requested input for who he thought would be best for a bronch.

By Monday afternoon the CT was scheduled and my PCP had referred me to a pulmonologist who had already called me to schedule an appointment.

I then also spoke with the pulmonary oncology nurse at the cancer center who very graciously offered any help she could provide. Everyone at the cancer center where I already have been a “frequent flyer” was absolutely shocked by the news. But, they couldn’t have been more supportive and kind in offering any and all resources they could provide.

I’m incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic team of physicians and nurses. And I recognize that. I recognize how fortunate I am as compared to most people who have to battle our failing health care system. To be honest, I too have had to fight a number of battles. And I often think about how people who have no medical knowledge can possibly do it. I’m keenly aware of the problems and the need to address those problems. But, that will have to wait for another time.

The CT was done. The report arrived literally as I went to look for it. The results were not good. But, I noted some glaring errors the radiologist made. It was sloppy. There’s no room for sloppy in medicine in my opinion. I would ask my surgeon to have it read by someone else and to let me see it myself.

When I met with my beloved breast surgeon, she was way ahead of me. Have I mentioned she’s an overachiever? Not only had she had it looked at again but, she had an interventional radiologist look at it with her. We discussed what they had concluded and then she and I looked at it. And she agreed, the first read was sloppy. She would request the report be amended.

What I saw and what she and the interventional radiologist saw was in fact, problematic. Given my history of being a former smoker, most likely lung cancer and not metastasis from my breast cancer. Let the fun begin.

I then asked the funniest question I think she’s heard in some time. “Does our cancer center have cooling caps? We have to save the hair.” She stopped, looked at me and said “Can you, for once, take this one step at a time?” I told her no. And she should know that. I may not be working anymore but, I’m still type A and I need a plan.

We agreed that given my immune suppression, time wasn’t on my side. We needed to act quickly. She assured me she would take care of it. I explained I’d already spoken with the thoracic oncology nurse and she was standing by to help as well. Coincidentally, my PCP called twice while I was in my appointment. Have I mentioned how fantastic my team is? They are rock stars.

Within 2 hours I had appointment with the interventional pulmonologist who was recommended for tomorrow morning. She will be performing the bronchoscopy. That’s when they’ll biopsy this pesky mass.

There are a few of lessons here. Surveillance and or screening saves lives. Were it not for that MRI, this wouldn’t have been found until who knows when. I’m not symptomatic. We need to do a better job of that.

Have a great team that you trust starting with your PCP. If you don’t like them or feel you can’t communicate well with them, find someone else. If you ever find yourself in a critical situation, you’ll be grateful you did.

Be your best advocate. Ask questions, take notes, ask for options. No, you may not have my background but, you can ask to have things explained in a manner you understand and communicate in a manner that works for you. If you feel you’re not getting the answers you need, ask again.

I’m going to be fine. Worse case, it’s going to be a really shitty winter. But I assure you, this isn’t my final chapter. I’m far too hard to kill. And I now have a legitimate excuse to not clean the house. “Sorry it’s dusty, I have cancer.”😎