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It's so rare to have them, that I thought I'd share! I have had a lump in my breast for about a year that I figured was a plugged duct, so didn't really worry about too much...but it's been a year, so I had my midwife look at it when I went in for my pap. She said she THOUGHT it was nothing, but that it'd probably be better to have a breast specialist look at it, just to be sure. She gave me the number for the local hospital's breast care center. Where I was talked down to and treated like a freak because I am nursing and my "baby" is 3 years old...and the soonest they can get me in is the middle of July.<br><br>
So, we called my husband's surgical oncologist at UofM, and asked HER for a recommendation there. She highly recommended the director of the Breast Center. They got me in (after some phone tag) literally overnight. Every single person from the time I walked in the door treated me like I "gasp" had a brain in my head.<br><br>
The head of breast imaging/radiology happened to be the one who performed my ultrasound and read the digital mammogram within seconds of it being taken. While he was starting the ultrasound, I asked a few questions about what we were seeing. I have some basic knowledge of the structure of the breast, so was able to ask INTELLIGENT questions, yes, but he would have answered me regardless...spent extra time zooming in on stuff, just to show me. Cool. Then showed me my mammogram pictures and talked to me about them, as well, and about current research on density and correlations with cancer later in life, etc. Mentioned to me, too, during the ultrasound, how nice it was that I had thought to bring my son with me to nurse right before the radiology part of the day, so that the images would be easier to read (apparently, fluid comes up as black splotches, and so do tumors...) and was happy to hear that I'd been lactating five years straight and that my baby was three. He said that they most likely wouldn't be seeing MY kids in for cancer treatments. What a change from the other hospital!<br><br>
Overall, even though I was there basically my entire day, I came out (tumor free, by the way!) with a really great taste in my mouth. I haven't ever worked there as a doula, but have been there with my husband's surgeries and now had my own "day" there, too...and have always just had the experience that the doctors and staff in general there are really eager to share what they know...not like it's some secret society where the people in the white coats know more than everybody else and plan to keep it that way! I hope that someday I'll find the same on the OB unit...<br><br>
Well, we can always dream, can't we?<br><br>
I guess I'm just so accustomed to a lack of courtesy now, because I'm in "hostile" OB units so often, that I'm no longer used to hospital staff being courteous and kind, and willing to share information...excitedly. It was a nice change.
So, we called my husband's surgical oncologist at UofM, and asked HER for a recommendation there. She highly recommended the director of the Breast Center. They got me in (after some phone tag) literally overnight. Every single person from the time I walked in the door treated me like I "gasp" had a brain in my head.<br><br>
The head of breast imaging/radiology happened to be the one who performed my ultrasound and read the digital mammogram within seconds of it being taken. While he was starting the ultrasound, I asked a few questions about what we were seeing. I have some basic knowledge of the structure of the breast, so was able to ask INTELLIGENT questions, yes, but he would have answered me regardless...spent extra time zooming in on stuff, just to show me. Cool. Then showed me my mammogram pictures and talked to me about them, as well, and about current research on density and correlations with cancer later in life, etc. Mentioned to me, too, during the ultrasound, how nice it was that I had thought to bring my son with me to nurse right before the radiology part of the day, so that the images would be easier to read (apparently, fluid comes up as black splotches, and so do tumors...) and was happy to hear that I'd been lactating five years straight and that my baby was three. He said that they most likely wouldn't be seeing MY kids in for cancer treatments. What a change from the other hospital!<br><br>
Overall, even though I was there basically my entire day, I came out (tumor free, by the way!) with a really great taste in my mouth. I haven't ever worked there as a doula, but have been there with my husband's surgeries and now had my own "day" there, too...and have always just had the experience that the doctors and staff in general there are really eager to share what they know...not like it's some secret society where the people in the white coats know more than everybody else and plan to keep it that way! I hope that someday I'll find the same on the OB unit...<br><br>
Well, we can always dream, can't we?<br><br>
I guess I'm just so accustomed to a lack of courtesy now, because I'm in "hostile" OB units so often, that I'm no longer used to hospital staff being courteous and kind, and willing to share information...excitedly. It was a nice change.
