Trusting Yourself…

Trusting Yourself

Your health is of utmost importance. I've learned it the hard way. I've also learned that no matter how elite the healthcare institution you are with, only you have your best interest in mind and you know yourself best. I was with a world renown hospital during the first part of my cancer treatment so I trusted them and when it progressed and I thought it could something serious, I brought it to the attention of my physicians.

Most of them told me I was fine and was worrying too much. Some thought it was a rash and said to take Benadryl. I went to a Dermatologist at the same hospital who told me to take Ivermectin for scabies. I saw one physician and his resident and he told me I was worrying too much and I should just calm down. Finally, I contacted a Nurse Practitioner I connected with who was my radiation NP. She listened to me and asked me to come in. She took photos of the lesions on my chest and contacted my oncological surgeon (who before I had contacted, and nurses intervened with recommending Benadryl cream). Upon viewing the photos, my breast surgeon requested I come in for a biopsy and it came back positive. They determined I had stage 4 cancer. 

This experience proved to me that no matter what, you need to trust yourself; trust your gut. One key thing is that if a wound/lesion does not heal in about 3 weeks, please have a biopsy. Even if your healthcare professionals advise against it, get a second opinion. Even if it's nothing, you'll have peace of mind.