
Ladies, get your titties squeezed!
Beast cancer. It’s a term that no one wants to hear, and yet, it’s one that touches the lives of so many women every year. The recent deaths of Rachael Lillis and Shannen Doherty are a heartbreaking reminder of the harsh reality of this disease. Both women were fierce, inspiring many through their battles, but their passing underscores the critical importance of early detection.
I’m sharing this today not just because of their stories, but because of my own journey with breast health—a journey that has had its fair share of fear, relief, and uncertainty.
In my 30s, I was diligent about self-examinations. One day, during a routine check, I found a lump. I rushed to my doctor, who recommended a mammogram and ultrasound. Thankfully, after the tests, they ruled out anything serious. It turned out I simply had “lumpy bumpy” breasts, lol.
Life went on, and so did my routine checks. Fast forward to last December—I was 47, and embarrassingly overdue for a mammogram by two years (I blame Covid). Finally, I made the appointment, thinking it was just a routine check.
But it wasn’t routine at all.
They found a lump. This time, the anxiety wasn’t as immediate. I convinced myself it was the same lump I had discovered 14 years ago. But it wasn’t. This lump was in the other breast.
My heart dropped, and I felt a wave of fear unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. Sitting in that cold, sterile room, waiting for results, I felt so small. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. The tests came back, and while the news wasn’t as bad as I had feared, it wasn’t completely reassuring either. The radiologist recommended a follow-up in six months to ensure it wasn’t growing or changing in any concerning way.
Now, here I am, six months later, preparing to go back for that follow-up. What if it’s grown? What if something’s changed? The fear still lingers, but I also know that fear is why I must go back. Ignoring it won’t make it go away; early detection is my best defense.
The truth is, mammograms are about more than just early detection—they’re about vigilance, about being proactive, and about taking responsibility for our health. It’s easy to put off these appointments, especially when life gets busy or when we convince ourselves that everything is fine. But breast cancer doesn’t wait. And as the stories of Rachael Lillis and Shannen Doherty remind us, it can strike at any time.
So if you’re overdue for a mammogram, or if you’ve noticed something different in your own self-exams, please don’t wait. Make that appointment. It’s a small step that could make a world of difference.
I’ll be going in for my follow-up soon, and while I’m scared, I’m also hopeful. I know I’m doing everything I can to stay healthy, and that’s all any of us can do. Take care of yourselves, and let’s all make sure we’re around to share our stories for years to come.
xoxoxo
-The Not So Common Gal