"At Least You Caught it Early"

I can't tell you how many people have said that to me.  It's almost the first thing people say when they find out I've joined Club Cancer.

I wonder how they know I caught it early?   Do they have special powers to see through my body back to when that first cell mutated?  "Ah ha!  April 2nd, 2009, your normal cells just started dividing abnormally.  Thank goodness you found it so quick!"

I should be flattered that all these people think I'm a responsible adult who got her regular mammograms, and thus naturally assumed that I found this cancer at the first possible moment.

They clearly have no idea who I really am: an unfocused, ADD-type person who will do just about anything to avoid discomfort, if she can even remember why she was supposed to be uncomfortable in the first place.

The fact is, it had been years since my last mammogram. In an earlier post, I explained my rationale for the delay, which still still seems quite reasonable to me.  I also did not realize just how long it had actually been  - I mean, I remember the last one like it was yesterday so in my unfocused mind, it had been pretty recent.   Of course, I'd do things differently now,  given the power to see into the future. Although, even with those powers, I'd probably get distracted by something else and forget to go.

Oh look!  A bird!

The point is, that sucker could have been dividing for many years.  Most breast cancers have been growing for two to five years before they are found.  In breast cancer years - based on size -  mine's a teenager ready for keys to the car, and not an infant cuddled under the blankets.

"At least you caught it early."  I'm not quite sure how to respond to that comment.  

I don't think I caught it early.  But, I am hoping I caught it early enough.