1. An "Invitation"
It had been a busy day for a Friday and it wasn’t finished yet. I’d had an osteopath appointment at 8am and a full day at work. I had just 30 minutes after walking in the door to grab a quick dinner and head out the door again to writing group.
A plain, window faced envelope sat on the corner of the table, with a typed address. It could have been a bill and I didn’t really have time, but curiosity got the better of me and I opened it. As I read the contents I let out a loud ‘Oh crap! That would ruin your Friday, wouldn’t it?’
‘What?’ asked my husband from his study.
I walked towards him as the news sunk in.
‘I’ve got a recall from the mammogram I had two weeks ago,’ I said in a small voice.
‘Following your visit to our breast screening centre, we would like to invite you back for further tests to clarify the results of your breast x-rays. While most changes are harmless, further information is needed before a result can be given. In most cases, women who are recalled are found not to have breast cancer’. I read this out in a slightly theatrical voice which belied the tingly feeling creeping up my limbs.
I hadn’t had a mammogram for 5 years. I’d had my first just before we moved overseas. What a delightful 50th birthday present I thought wryly to myself at the time. It wasn’t really that bad, compared to some of the horror stories I’d heard. I missed the next one 2 years later as we were still living overseas. I had probably been reminded about having one my by doctor when I went for my annual checkup after we moved back from Ireland. I figured they’d get in touch, and anyway, I’d heard some stories expressing concern about radiation levels from mammograms, and were they really that accurate?
Back at the end of February my mobile rang and it was BreastScreen – they had tracked me down as our address had changed a year before we came home. Thank goodness they were so diligent. I made an appointment and they sent a confirmation letter out. Anyone I spoke to assured me it was probably nothing and they all seemed to have had recalls and it turned out to be nothing. That week was chaotic. My Mum had eye surgery and I took her to the hospital and home again. I took her to the surgeon the next day and then went straight to work. I had dental work done on the Wednesday. I hardly had a spare minute and my daughter suggested I postpone the appointment for the screening. It seemed like a good idea, what would a few weeks’ difference make? But I was so busy I didn’t have time to make that call, so I turned up on the Thursday morning and 15 minutes later I was out the door, all done. I sent my husband a text: ‘you’ll be pleased to know the girls are still attached’. I thought that would make him smile.
So that Friday night I put the letter aside and grabbed my writing folder and headed out the door. I really didn’t think much about it and decided I would keep it to myself. After all, heaps of people get recalls and it’s nothing, right? It was good to see everyone and the chatter was going in all directions when I arrived. I sat next to John, said hello and glanced down as I put my books on the floor next to him. I saw a book that immediately caught my eye. I’ve always been a sucker for a good book cover and this was beautiful. It was white, with a tree forming a circle and what looked like pink blossoms hanging from it. A female sat on the roots, looking up into the tree. The book was called Journey. Oh, I loved travel and a journey. Then I read the fine print underneath. ‘Women’s stories of their Journey through Breast Cancer’. CRAP! I playfully made to hit John with the book and announced about my letter. Again, I received more reassurance from everyone that it’s usually nothing and just a precaution.
That night as I was getting into bed, I turned on the radio to catch the 11 o’clock news. ‘One in 9 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This Mother’s Day, you can take part in the biggest fundraiser for research into breast cancer by participating in the Mothers Day Classic’ said Penny Johnston. I turned the radio off abruptly. ‘Shut up Penny! What are you trying to tell me?’ Is this a sign I wondered.