Doctors, Dentists, and Icicles

When I was a 3rd year veterinary student, I was taught a lecture

on breast cancer. In people. It was one of a few lectures that were given to us about human medicine with the knowledge that we would likely be asked about said topics from time to time. We learned that breast cancer has both genetic and phenotypic risk factors (larger breasts have higher risk.) African-American women have the highest risk (partly due to genetics, partly due to size) and Asian women have the lowest risk (again, partly genetics, partly size.) After this particular statement in class, my male classmate Andy (who sat next to me all that year and was one of my very good study-buddy friends) leans over and says to me "Les, you've got NOTHING to worry about!" Thanks, Andy. Love you. Mean it. :)

No woman in my family has a history of breast cancer. I also do not fall into the 'size' risk category, either. :) But, I have had a nodule for a couple of years that has been growing a bit recently and becoming painful. I also have 2 friends that I care deeply about that have recently undergone treatment for breast cancer and a former roommate that is struggling with ovarian cancer. These women are not that much older than I. So, at my yearly 'woman' doctor visit I mentioned the nodule and my doc and I agreed that an ultrasound was in order. She and I both felt that it was likely not anything to worry about, but an ultrasound would be due diligence.

I had that ultrasound yesterday. All is well. It is a fibroadenoma - a benign mass that grows and hurts and is completely harmless. I can have it removed if it bothers me too much, but there is really no need to do that at this point. But with everything else that has been going on, it's nice to breathe a sigh of relief about this.

Yesterday was my day of doctor's visits. I had the ultrasound at 9, a chiropractor appointment at noon, and a dentist appointment at 3. I ran errands and hung out at the clinic in order to fill the time between appointments. I was most excited about my dentist appt - as I have not had my teeth cleaned since before our wedding. (2 YEARS ago!) I like clean teeth and currently they don't stay clean very long. 2 hours after I brush they feel 'furry.'

At 2:15 I was entering the mall to return something when Matt called me and asked "did you know you had a dentist appointment today?" "Yes - it's at 3." "Nope - it was at 2 - you need to call them and reschedule." Crap!!!!

I decided to drive there (I was only 7 minutes away) and see if I could plead to keep my spot. After all, it's much harder for them to say 'no' if I'm standing there in front of them. :) They were very, very nice and actually did work me in! They were not able to clean my teeth, but they took my x-rays and let the dentist do an exam. I have a small cavity (um, it's been there since before the wedding, I totally forgot that I needed to have that done!) and I have a filling that needs to be replaced. They worked out to have both of those things done tomorrow. My dentist HUGGED me before I left and told me how happy she was to see me again.

I bought them a small pot of tulips to take in tomorrow to show my gratitude. I doubt that many dentists get gifts from their patients - and I know how much I appreciate gifts from our clients, so yeah, I'm going to thank them for their helpfulness and kindness. :)

Last on the title list are the icicles! We have some crazy icicles around here! I've never seen the likes of these before. Matt saw one the other day that was like 5-6 feet long!

Here are a few pics of some around our house. Enjoy!

This is right outside our front door - scary!!!!

Frozen door handle. Cool.

This is an "8" that is in the ice on our front porch that I think is just weird.