Monday, 9 February, 2026
Today was my follow-up mammogram – at last. I got ready, remembering not to wear deodorant and choosing clothes that were easy to take off. The scan was at Women’s College Hospital, where I worked for so long – although this is a new building now. Continuing from the Live Page:
I love WheelTrans. Even when they are late, I still love them. They’ve opened up my life. Today it sped me down to the hospital, no delays. In fact, the driver was, I told Krish, ‘driving like a bat out of hell. Great, he said. What? But I got there alive so that’s OK.
The breast centre is on the 5th floor. I was early and thought maybe that would mean I’d have time afterwards to get some shopping. They sent me off to the changing room. This was all so familiar. Grabbing a gown, undressing, putting the gown on, throwing everything in a locker, and off to the waiting room. There I need to fill out a form, considering carefully how to show all my surgeries, all my results…and all the time thinking, why can’t I have done this at home, online, ready for me when I got here? There are always questions I falter on: When was your last menstruation? Hmm… Some things don’t change.
The technician came to get me. I was pleased to see that she was the same person who had done my last three scans. She’s an older lady with a calm manner. I let her know that I was worried this might hurt more than usual, since it already hurt anyway. She promised she’d be careful. She was. All the turning and arranging myself, it’s all familiar, yet the technician has to push and pull and shift your body and breasts as if you’ve never done this before. I had forgotten I was concerned about my port getting squished when the right breast was scanned, but she noticed it and said it would only be a little pinch. She was right.
And I was done. The technician took me back to the changing room and as she said goodbye she lightly stroked my arm. I went into overdrive. What did that mean? Was she consoling or reassuring me? I pushed off the feeling and got dressed.
Emails from and to Denise:
Denise
12:56
Xx
Jan
13:04
Thanks. Waiting. I’m not usually scared. This one might hurt. Hope hope hope 💕
Denise
13:07
I just want the best news in the world please. xxxxxxxx Did you take any Clonazepam before? Marla gave me a morphine pain killer for before! (it made me sick so now I do MRIs)
Jan
13:11
Don’t have any drugs except Tylenol. I meant to take one. Oh well. It doesn’t last long. I’ll warn them
Jan
13:13
Took a Tylenol. It won’t kick in in time but I took it anyway
Jan
13:49
Will blog about it. The worst part is the food prices downstairs while I wait for my ride
Denise Grant
13:52
You’re still thinking of food??
Of course I am. That’s me. My cab arrived to take me home, this time more slowly.
I had just sat down to check something in email when I saw there was already a test result:
BILATERAL MAMMOGRAM
INDICATION: Surveillance. Status post left lumpectomy.
COMPARISON: Multiple priors, most recent May 2025.
FINDINGS:
The breasts show scattered fibroglandular densities. Stable post therapeutic changes are seen in the left breast.
There are no dominant nodules or suspicious calcifications seen in either breast.
IMPRESSION: No evidence of malignancy. Routine follow-up is recommended.
There it is. And the aftermath:
Judy
that’s most excellent Jan congratulations❤️
Me
Celebrations. Not sure when. First a nap
Email from Denise:
THANK-YOU BABY JESUS!!!!!
Difference in style there.