Potential Breast Cancer at 23

It must have been about 2 days before Christmas, right before morning turned to afternoon. Between gift wrapping, reserving train tickets home, cleaning, packing, tending to the Rabbit (who will from here on in be referred to as B), the last thing I wanted to do was wake up. With a yawn, I rolled over and tried to fall back asleep. Maybe it was the way I turned, maybe it was my body trying to get my attention, but there was a sudden spasm just below my right armpit, almost on the side of my breast. It felt weird, but didn't hurt at all. I absentmindedly rubbed the spot. And froze. I felt something...hard. Rolling back over onto my left side, I concentrated and ran my fingers over the area. There was no doubt; A lump, on the outer right side of my breast, about the size of a nickel.

What the hell. I'm 23, graduated, starting my first job. The last time I was at a doctors office for an actual physical was right before college, some 5 years ago maybe. I KNOW. Stupid stupid stupid thing to do. But I've always been pretty healthy. Aside form contracting lengthy colds, I never get sick. I'm adopted, with no known family history. But I was a healthy kid growing up. No cavities, no broken bones, no serious illness. Not even the flu! So whats this thing under my skin.

I grabbed my phone, retreated under the covers and started Googling. Cysts was first on my list. Sure I'd heard of cysts, fluid filled little sacs. Annoying, sometimes painful. But not a tumor. Good place to start...Ok they're supposed to be squishy and moveable. I went back to my chest. Not squishy. Sort of moves. Shit. Ok. Well. Continuing on.

Women under 40 account for about 5% of breast cancer cases. Thats what I find in the search engines. So what are the chances I'm in that 5%. It has to be rare. This is just a strange cyst that is going to go away on its own. Besides. What am I going to tell a clinic. Wait. Where do I even find a clinic? Wait, what clinics are even covered under my health insurance? Wait. What does my health insurance even cover? Wait, how expensive is all this anyway?

I stopped. Got up. Brushed my teeth, and started my day. Two days later I was on a train home, trying to put the whole thing out of my mind. Fast forward to today, February 7th, 2012. The lump is there...different. Somehow. But there.

I guess I should get some help. Huh?

Well....I started this kind of as a "haha"...even though I know it's not funny, I guess I'm one of those idiots who laughs at inappropriate times. Now, though, that I have myself thinking about it again. I can't sleep...so I decided to bite the bullet and at least look for a healthcare provider.

I'm a lucky girl who has parents who cover her under health insurance. Thats a huge step one that I will remember to thank them profusely for in the near future. I wish I could share my insurance with my friends who don't have any. It's so scary the idea that they walk out of the house every day and aren't safe from the world like I am. Like so many other people are. I'm not gonna turn this into a political themed hub...but it sucks. And I don't like it. So there!

I asked my all knowing Virgo (blood relations have never meant much to me, so I take the liberty of considering her my sister, who I won't name) the other day how to go about finding a health care provider. She said to look on my health insurance's website and they'd walk me through it. So that's what I'm doing now. I also took the liberty of googling free clinics in my area. There are quite afew, and most offer womens health services. So if you are struggling with the insurance problem, look there first.

Cigna's website is comprehensive, I went ahead and entered my info, what kind of care I was looking for etc. I'd recommend having a dictionary on hand- digital or hardcopy, because some of this terminology is completely foreign (at least to me it is).

30 mintues later...

Ok so CIGNA was helpful, but they don't have links to the the practitioners websites! Not a problem for tech-savvy me but imagine someone else less web-literate. I requested an appointment at a local teaching hospital, and maybe can sleep sort of well tonight. I have insurance terms running through my brain...HMP..PPO...POS...OAP,.....OA.....this is a little intimidating :/ But I feel better that you, Reader, are with me :)