I woke up, rolled over, scratched an itchy spot on my boob, and felt a lump move under my fingers. A very solid, round lump that slipped away from under my fingers. I woke up for real, and panicked. A wave of coldness washed through me. I checked the time - it was still dark outside - 4.30am on a Tuesday morning. I checked the lump again, and even though I was really awake, it was still there.

I lay there, completely awake, my mind spinning with possibilities and variables and how they might affect the plans I have made for the next few months. It never occured to me that it might be a cyst. I didn’t know much about cysts. I didn’t know that cysts could develop in the breast. The best that I was hoping for was that I had made a mistake of some sort.

I thought about cancer, and all the people that I know who have suffered, in one way or another, from their own or their loved one’s cancers. I thought about the fact that I have started smoking again. I thought about the potential expenses. I wondered why it is that I teach people to do breast-self examinations and yet do not do them as regularly as I should at home. I wondered how long the lump had been there. Eventually it was 7.30am and my alarm went off. I got up and got ready for work.

Ms. Indigorayz was staying with me, so I told her about my discovery over our morning cuppa and smoke. I called my GP and managed to get a 9.15am appointment. I headed off to work promising to call Ms. Indigorayz after the appointment. I got into work and had a chat to my boss, sorted out the doctor’s appointment with him, and then it was time to go already.

The doc checked me out and told me straight away that he thought it was likely to be a cyst, due to the lump being neatly spherical and mobile. I was so relieved! He called a hospital near by and booked me in for an ultrasound and mammogram at 3pm that same day. I went back to work very relieved. I called Ms. Indigorayz and she said whe would come with me. No ifs, buts or maybes. So that was settled.

I left work at 2.30pm and headed home, picked up Ms. Indigorayz and off we went to the hospital. I got a mammogram (and boy are they uncomfortable!) and an unltrasound, both of which confirmed that the little lump was indeed a cyst. I decided not to have the fine needle aspiration and that was the end of the appointment. It cost around $350 all up, $150 of which is covered by medicare. Expensive! But still, within 12 hours I knew what it was and it was all sorted.

So, a very relieved Ms. Indigorayz and I traipsed off to the pub for a drink or 3, met up with the VNM and a friend of his for dinner, and then we crashed early. I was so tired.

That was an interesting way to start the year. I have to keep a check on the cyst, make sure it doesnt grow too much. And suddenly I’m motivated to do that! I’m very motivated to check regularly, and to pay attention to changes, and I’m seriously considering getting health insurance…. well, maybe not this year, but after I start earning again.

• Kristen (Tokyo) said on 09/01/15 at 04:22 PM.....

  Wow, that must have been frightening. I am glad that it was so quickly resolved. I rarely do breast exams and I haven’t had a mammogram, but as a middle-aged woman, I guess I should be having them now. The ward offers them for 1,000 yen if you apply by postcard. Hmmmm.

• arumanda said on 09/01/17 at 06:42 PM.....

  i’m really glad you’re ok. take care of yourself. my smiles to ms. indigorayz

• T (At the office) said on 09/01/18 at 09:50 PM.....

  OOH scary.  Am pleased it has sorted itself out. But we are getting to the age where we just can’t take chances so you did exactly the right thing.

• j-ster (wage-slaving at the work desk) said on 09/01/18 at 09:53 PM.....

  Yes, it was rather scary… but see, i CAN get my butt into the Doc’s in good time when i need to!

• Acai (USA) said on 09/02/15 at 05:56 AM.....

  Glad it didn’t turn out to be anything serious!