Dear Diary,
Remember when I told you I was waiting?
Waiting for the phone to ring. Waiting for the pathology report. Waiting for someone to tell me whether those two little clusters in my left breast were something I needed to worry about.
Remember how I said the hardest part wasn’t the mammograms or even the biopsy?
It was the waiting.
Well, guess what?
THE WAIT IS OVER! 💜🎉
And for once, the news was exactly what I had been hoping to hear.
BENIGN. NO SIGN OF CANCER.
Now, if that isn’t a reason to exhale, I don’t know what is!
Because after three mammograms, one biopsy, and several days of trying to keep my imagination from writing stories that hadn’t happened, I finally received the answer I had been hoping for.
And what a beautiful answer it was.
💗 The Message I’d Been Waiting For
There it was.
A message from my doctor confirming that the breast biopsy was benign.
“Very good news — the breast biopsy was benign. There was no sign of cancer.”
Those words.
Those beautiful, reassuring words.
After three weeks of appointments, unanswered questions, and anxiety, I finally had an answer.
No sign of cancer.
And while the medical team still has a few follow-up details to work through, the biggest question hanging over my head finally has a reassuring answer.
Because let me tell you something.
When you’ve spent days preparing yourself for the possibility of bad news, receiving good news is something worth celebrating.
And today?
I’m celebrating.
🌻 Apparently, My Breasts Were Just Being Dramatic
Now that the biopsy results are back, I feel like I need to have a serious conversation with my breasts.
Ladies…
WHAT WAS ALL THAT ABOUT?! 😂
Three mammograms.
One biopsy.
Multiple appointments.
And enough anxiety to qualify as a part-time job.
All for the biopsy to come back benign?
Ma’am!
We could have had a meeting about this!
A memo! An email! A calendar invitation!
Something!
Instead, my breasts decided to turn October into their own personal medical drama, and apparently, I was the unwilling star.
And let’s not forget the physical abuse they endured in the process.
Three separate appointments involving compression plates that apparently had absolutely no respect for personal space.
At this point, my breasts have been photographed, repositioned, compressed, and biopsied.
I’m surprised they haven’t requested legal representation. 😂
But you know what?
I’ll happily accept this ending.
Because if the price of reassurance was three mammograms, a biopsy, and a few uncomfortable afternoons, then so be it.
Although I would appreciate it if my breasts could find a less dramatic way to get my attention next time.
💜 Relief Doesn’t Erase What You Went Through
Here’s something I want to acknowledge.
Just because the biopsy came back benign doesn’t mean the anxiety I experienced wasn’t real.
It was.
Every bit of it.
The fear that came with the first callback.
The uncertainty after the second mammogram.
The vulnerability of having a biopsy.
And the mental exhaustion of waiting for answers.
All of those feelings were valid, even though the outcome was reassuring.
Sometimes we have a tendency to minimize what we’ve experienced once everything turns out okay.
We tell ourselves we worried for nothing.
But I don’t believe that.
I wasn’t worrying for nothing. I was navigating an unknown.
And there’s a difference.
I didn’t know what the results would say.
I didn’t know what the next step might be.
And no amount of positive thinking could give me an answer that only the pathology report could provide.
So yes, I’m relieved.
Extremely relieved.
But I’m also giving myself permission to acknowledge that the last three weeks were emotionally exhausting.
Because good news doesn’t erase the journey it took to get there.
And sometimes, even when the outcome is positive, you still need a moment to process everything you experienced along the way.
🎀 One More Step Before We Close This Chapter
Now, before I start throwing confetti and officially declare my breasts off probation, there is still a little unfinished business.
The biopsy results are benign, and that is absolutely worth celebrating.
But there is still one more step.
My doctor explained that the radiologist will review the pathology report alongside my imaging and determine whether any additional follow-up is needed.
Remember, there were originally two clusters identified in my left breast, and only one was biopsied.
The medical team previously explained that if the sampled cluster was benign, the other would likely be benign as well.
Now we’re waiting for the radiologist’s final recommendations.
And separately, I still have my six-month follow-up mammogram for the area in my right breast associated with my previously removed port.
So apparently, the mammography department and I are not officially breaking up.
We’re just taking a little space until our next scheduled appointment. 😂
But there’s a significant difference between waiting for biopsy results and waiting for a follow-up plan after receiving reassuring news.
And that difference?
I’ll gladly take it.
💗 A Reminder About Women’s Health
If there’s one thing I hope someone takes away from this experience, it’s this:
Please don’t let fear keep you from taking care of yourself.
I know mammograms aren’t comfortable.
I know callbacks can be frightening.
And I certainly know that hearing the word biopsy can send your thoughts in a hundred different directions.
But I also know how important it is to follow through.
Had I ignored that first callback, I wouldn’t have the reassurance I have today.
And while my biopsy came back benign, not every woman receives the same news.
That’s why recommended screenings, timely evaluations, and appropriate follow-up matter.
Early detection can make a meaningful difference when breast cancer is present.
And sometimes, as in my case, additional testing provides something equally valuable.
Peace of mind.
So schedule your mammograms according to your healthcare provider’s recommendations.
Ask questions.
Follow through when additional testing is recommended.
And please don’t allow fear of what might be found to prevent you from getting the answers you deserve.
Because taking care of yourself isn’t always comfortable.
But it is always important.
🎵 Music Playing…
“Lovely Day” — Bill Withers 🎶
Because today feels a little lighter.
The uncertainty hasn’t completely disappeared, but the biggest question finally has an answer.
And after the emotional roller coaster of the last three weeks, I’m choosing to enjoy this moment.
No overthinking.
No imaginary worst-case scenarios.
Just gratitude, relief, and maybe a little dancing in my living room.
Because these breasts have put me through enough, and somebody owes me a celebration. 😂
💭 Reflection Corner: Sometimes the Answer Is Good News
You know what this experience reminded me?
We spend so much time preparing ourselves for what could go wrong that sometimes we forget to leave room for what could go right.
I had spent days thinking about the possibilities.
The what-ifs.
The unknowns.
The things I couldn’t control.
And while I tried to stay hopeful, I would be lying if I said fear didn’t occasionally get the best of me.
But today, I received good news.
And I’m allowing myself to fully appreciate it.
Not because everything is completely finished.
Not because there aren’t still follow-up recommendations to come.
But because today’s news is worth celebrating all on its own.
Sometimes we don’t need to rush ahead to the next concern.
Sometimes we need to stop long enough to appreciate the relief of a moment we’ve been waiting for.
And this?
This is one of those moments.
Sometimes the answer really is good news. And we deserve to celebrate those moments, too.
💌 To the Woman Still Waiting
I know how difficult it is to sit in that space between testing and answers.
I know how easily your mind can wander.
And I know that hearing someone else’s good news doesn’t automatically make your own waiting any easier.
So I won’t tell you not to worry.
I won’t tell you everything will be fine.
Because the truth is, none of us knows what a test will reveal until the results come back.
But I will encourage you to keep your appointments, ask your questions, lean on the people who support you, and give yourself grace during the process.
You don’t have to pretend you’re fearless.
And you certainly don’t have to navigate the uncertainty with a smile on your face every minute.
Just keep showing up for yourself.
Because your health matters.
And so do you.
💬 Let’s Talk About It
Have you ever experienced the emotional roller coaster of waiting for medical test results?
Did you feel immediate relief when you received good news, or did it take some time for the anxiety to finally settle?
Let’s talk about the emotional side of women’s health, because those conversations matter just as much as the appointments themselves.
🌻 Until Next Time…
Three mammograms.
One biopsy.
A whole lot of anxiety.
And finally…
BENIGN. NO SIGN OF CANCER. 💜
I still have some follow-up details to work through, but today, I’m choosing to celebrate the news I’ve received.
Because for three weeks, I lived in the space between what if and what now.
And today, I finally get to replace those questions with two beautiful words.
Thank goodness.
As for my breasts?
Ladies, consider this your official written warning. One more stunt like this, and we’re scheduling a disciplinary hearing. 😂
Sometimes the most beautiful part of a journey isn’t that you were never afraid. It’s finally getting the chance to exhale.
And today?
I’m exhaling. 💜🌻
With love, laughter, gratitude, and two breasts that are officially on notice,
Kia Lorice
Founder • Author • Advocate • Future Wellness Coach
The Dual Diagnosis Diaries | Kia’s Journey
Because life is more than a diagnosis, and every chapter deserves to be told.
Leave a Reply