GS oh GS!

Recently I have a constant pain on my left breast. The pain will be there for a few weeks with a slight 'bum'. It feels like having a block vein. In fact I always have block vein during my breast feeding period. If it is block vein, I'm okay. What worries me is, I do not have any more milk & the thought of breast cancer is very disturbing.

I've been contemplating a few months before I decided to see a doctor. Reason is there are not many panel female doctors around and I am definitely not comfortable seeing a man to discuss about this. In the company that I worked with, women are covered for mammogram only after we are 45 of age. That will be more than 10 years from now. I can't wait that long. So I considered going to one of the woman wellness program at a hospital which will cost me RM98 (tak silapnya). Being a stingy person, I try my luck with the insurance company again and found out that the test will be covered if I were to see a specialist with a referral letter.

To get a referral letter translate the need to first see a GP. Like I mention earlier, not many female panel GP around - pusing punya pusing, I managed to get a referral letter from a GP without him doing a physical examination who in turn refer me to a general surgeon.

Then another problem. A female general surgeon is a rare species. I found one, but have to wait for another 3 months, before I can see her. Her dates are full. Can you believe that? I need to know now! If possible, today! Forget the surgeon, I went to the wellness program instead. I was examined by a female doctor (not specialist) and confirm that there is a lump at the pain area. So she sent me for a scan instead of mammogram. BTW, I was told that they will normally do mammogram only if you're above 40 - reason being your fat is 'somehow fattier' (lebih lemak) after that age… thus scanning won't detect the possible lump.

When I was escorted to the scanning room, the nurse ask why did I not see the surgeon since I have a referral letter. I told her that I don't feel comfortable - to which she replied :
'It is just another part of anatomy.'
'If a matter of life or death, I consider la kot…' came out instantly from my mouth.
I may be childish, but I have a very bad experience during my first labour...

Anyway, the result came out good. Nothing serious. They told me it is just swelling because of hormone changes probably due to menstrual. So, it just me being conscious as since young, I have not had any serious syndrome of PMS.

Well, the point is to all lady doctors out there, tolong la consider jadi general surgeon ye... apart from a gynae... rupa-rupanya, breast cancer are referred to general surgeon... macam that lady doctor. It will release some of the patient worries as well...