A special thank you to Michaelle Moise is due. She, being a patient advocate, ordered an ultrasound of my left breast - even though there was no palpable mass. I reported, "something feeling a little different". She could have simply "checked the box" for mammogram only but being diligent and using excellent assessment/decision-making skills, decided to listen to the patient.
The mammogram showed nothing. However, the ultrasound Michaelle had ordered at the same time as the mammogram resulted in a biopsy that same day. Ninety days later, I am post-bilateral mastectomy due to Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) of the left breast. Had Michaelle not been a patient advocate and listened, I would still be walking around with invasive cancer spreading.
Thank you Michaelle! I am an RN and tell this story whenever I get the chance.