Timeline

Friday, July 5, 2024

Lump discovered. Tried to schedule a mammogram myself but mentioned the lump, only to learn that I needed a doctor’s referral for a diagnostic mammogram. Appointment with my ARNP. Referral for mammogram sent. Received a scheduling call and found out the referral was incorrect: instead of diagnostic mammogram, it said screening mammogram. Called doctor’s office to ask for another referral.

Long weekend . . .

Monday, July 8, 2024

Received a scheduling call and asked for the soonest appointment possible. Result? 11 a.m. on July 16.

Long week . . .

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

The mammogram technician took multiple views. The radiologist requested an ultrasound. The ultrasound technician had difficulty locating the lump. In consult with radiologist, no one said the “C” word, but he recommended a biopsy and suggested I schedule with breast surgeon. Imaging sent to my primary care to do the referral. I left a note with information at the doctor’s office. Unfortunately, my note led them astray.

               

That week . . . (lost track of days)

A call from doctor’s office that referral was rejected by OCSRI (Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute) because they do not perform biopsies. I gave the nurse what was listed online as the breast surgeon’s contact information (in Tulsa).

Call from imaging to schedule me for biopsy locally. Declined, determined to reach the breast surgeon.

Could not find breast surgeon’s office or even phone number despite multiple calls to Ascension St. John’s, Tulsa. Was eventually referred to hospital scheduler and found out that the breast surgeon rarely does biopsies, but he could schedule me for one with someone else at St. John’s in Tulsa. I said, “No thanks,” called the Bartlesville hospital and scheduled. (Why drive the hour to Tulsa when I could have the biopsy locally?) The soonest appointment was July 31^st at 1 p.m.

Gradually realized I had been given incorrect information from radiologist. Temper rose.

 

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

“Lesion” of about one centimeter at the 3 o’clock position very close to chest wall, requiring radiologist to perform biopsy from side instead of top. Learned during pre-biopsy conversation that the last time he had done a breast biopsy was in May. A little rattled, but I put up a good front. Second try was successful, but he forgot to leave the marker, so had to do a third entry. (Fortunately, the local anesthetic worked well.) Radiologist or technician said my doctor’s office would call me when they received the pathology lab report.

Long weekend . . .

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Called doctor’s office to see if lab report was in. It was, but since my primary care person would not be in until Wednesday, it could not be given to me. (He had to see it first.)

 

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Stopped by doctor’s office. Pathology report is not yet available to me. Received call in the late afternoon that it was in and I could pick it up in the morning.

 

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Picked up pathology report. Sat in car to read it. It didn’t seem right, only reporting that my estrogen and progesterone receptor classifications were negative. Drove into work and read through it again. Noticed it was titled “Addendum Report Surg.” Realized I must be missing the main report.

Finally did what I should have done (but never thought of) in the first place on July 5: called Tulsa OCSRI to schedule an appointment with my oncologist who treated me for breast cancer eight years ago. Received an appointment for tomorrow morning at 9 am!