Breast lumps were never something I thought I would have to deal with. Despite hearing since childhood about the importance of checking for any irregularities, I never made it a priority.

The reality hit me hard when I was told, “It looks like you have solid lumps here at 12 and 6 o’clock.”

How did I come across it?

By luck. Yes, by god’s will. I stumbled upon the lumps during health screening.

Yes, yes, so many questions that you have. Hold up, okay. I’m writing this just right after being discharged. It’s hard to concentrate when they’ve just opened some part of your boobies to take something out.

I always wanted to get a health screening but needed more motivation to go for it. One fine day, I saw an advertisement for a health screening promotion at Damansara Specialist 2. I called and inquired for more information. The price was within my budget, so I booked an appointment. The hospital was brand new, and I longed to visit it.

I was ecstatic. The hospital was new and spotless. The staff was super accommodating. I felt like I was in a luxury hotel rather than a hospital. The lobby was so inviting that I even forgot my initial purpose for visiting. 😂

I took a Health Screening Package for women above, which includes a pap smear, a breast ultrasound, and an abdomen/pelvis ultrasound.

The Ultrasound Scan

There were three of us waiting for the ultrasound check: my husband, another patient, and myself. The nurse called my name first, and I went off smiling happily. I was thrilled to skip the wait!

The doctor scanned the abdomen and pelvis area. Everything was clear. Then, she moved up to examine the breast area.

Well, guys, remember that smile I had on my face just now? This is the moment that it disappeared here, like no kidding.

“There is something here. It doesn’t look like a common standard cyst. It’s solid.”

She scanned the whole breast and found another lump at 12 and another at 6 o’clock.

I kept quiet. I didn’t know what to say or what to ask. My mind just went blank. I couldn’t remember what the doctor told me next. Deep down, I knew I would be referred to a specialist.

Emotional Breakdown

As I walked out of the room, my husband went next. I didn’t have the chance to talk to him about it. When he came out, I explained to him. He hugged me and reassured me.

No matter how much I didn’t want to think about it, the screening results bugged me in my unconscious mind.

That evening I remember sitting in the bedroom and crying silently. I started praying to God. If this is okay, I will stop complaining and be grateful. I will be thankful for my health and take care of the body you gave me.

I was anxious. In fact, I was scared. Thoughts playing in mind from the past, present, and future. It’s like a CD player being rewound and playback in an endless loop.

I couldn’t imagine what my husband felt at that time. He must have been worried or scared but doesn’t show it. I was finding it very difficult.

The Follow Up

I was referred to Dr. Naqiah Ibrahim, a breast and endocrine surgeon from KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital. I felt extremely nervous and anxious during my follow-up appointment, as anyone would in my situation. My biggest concern was whether or not I had cancer.

I felt comfortable with her because she explained everything in detail, from A to Z, ensuring I fully understood my condition. She carefully reviewed all my scans and discussed all possible outcomes for both lumps.

“So, what options do I have? How do we move forward?” I asked.

“First option, you can opt for a biopsy. We take a small portion of the lump out and send the lump for tests first. If the lump turns out to be nothing dangerous, we leave it as is. If the lump turns out dangerous, we shall proceed accordingly.” Dr. Naqiah said.

She added, “Our second option is to opt for the operation directly. Take both lumps out and send for lab tests. From there, we can also discover the lump’s nature.”

I was already finding it difficult to grasp the idea of having a breast lump. Now, I had to decide what to do with my breast lumps and how to move forward.

The days felt long. The weeks felt longer. I was hesitating between a biopsy and an operation. I sought a second opinion at another hospital. Then, I asked my husband over and over again. After that, I went on Google Research, typing all the questions that came to mind.

I Opt For An Operation

Why? Simply because I got scared after I read about the breast lumps biopsy process.

I’m scared of the small blood-taking needle and imagine having a needle poking in my breasts. The imagination itself is terrifying. I informed the nurse of my decision, arranged the operation date, and prayed for the best.

I thought having breast lumps was terrible enough. The story took a downhill turn from here and didn’t stop there…

Should I keep going?…