Here's what life has been like for me for the past 2 weeks: one long panic
attack, interrupted by occasional distractions such as work and laundry.

I found a lump in my armpit.  This is on the right side, where I had the
mastectomy and radiation (and subsequent plastic surgeries).  I had had 15
lymph nodes removed, but it seemed to me that this felt like it must be an
enlarged lymph node.  I called my breast surgeon's office immediately but
couldn't get an appointment until today.

Today dawned.  I felt like you feel when you get into a car accident, at the
moment before the other car smashes into you, when you know there is no way
out.

I went to the doctor.  After examining me, she sent me across the street to
the hospital for a sonogram.  I had to wait more than 2 hours for the
sonogram because I was an "add-on" without a scheduled appointment.
Fortunately I'd brought a snack, but I'd forgotten my water bottle.  Then
the sonogram itself took a while, because a student intern did it, and her
supervisor then repeated it.

Afterwards, I went back to the doctor's office, waited for the radiologist
to call her..............GOOD NEWS! YOU HAVE A CYST IN YOUR ARMPIT!  NOT
DEATH THIS TIME!  JUST A CYST!

Are you going to lance it? I stammered.

No.  Just leave it alone!  Go home and have a drink, the doctor said.

But I went shopping instead.  Nothing crazy.  I had a department store gift
card I'd never gotten around to using.

So that's what life has been like for me.  I feel like telling the angel of
death to stop *hovering* already.  He's really pissing me off.

Thanks for listening.

Eva