The next morning Mangino drove to her Doctor’s appointment for her yearly checkup. Mangino was sitting in the office of Dr. Derazio. Since she had gotten cancer over five years ago, she now gets a routine check up once a year. Although she didn’t know or remember many people when she first moved back to California, she remembered Dr. Derazio when reflecting on her senior year and looking at her high school yearbook. Dr. Derazio was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” and her goal was to go to USC and become a doctor. Kate decided to check and see if she had become a doctor, and she had. Breast cancer was such an emotionally and physically devastating illness, it would be nice to go into familiar territory.
She wondered if Dr. Derazio would remember her. It turned out as good as she could hope for – the doctor walked into the office with a warm smile as if they were old friends.
“Kate Mangino – I was hoping it was you.”
“It is. It’s nice to see you, doctor,” Kate said.
“How are you,” the doctor asked?
“Good,” Kate said as enthusiastically as she could, while internally always hating this time of year.
The doctor began reading Kate’s answers to her health screening questions. “Ok,” said the doctor. “We’ve got a serious issue here. First, I’m going to ask you some questions. Then, I’m going to feel for lumps and then we’ll need a mammogram.
“I understand. I’ve done this before,” Kate said as humbly as she could.
“Yes, I guess you have,” the doctor responded with compassion and empathy. The doctor began her questions.
“Have you noticed any lumps on your breasts or underarms?”
“No.”
“Have you noticed any swelling?”
“No.”
“Any pain in the nipple area?”
“No.”
“Any discharge from the nipples?”
“No.”
“Any redness?”
“No.”
“Alright, good. I’m just going to feel around now,” After the doctor felt around, she said, “Good. I don’t feel anything unusual. I still want you to get a mammogram.”
“Of course, I understand.”
The doctor sat at her computer and entered and printed an order for a mammogram. “You can take this to get your mammogram. Remember the big door on the left when you first entered the building.
“Thank you, doctor,” Kate said. “I remember where it was.”
“I’ll see you soon, Kate. It was nice to see you. Bye.”
“Bye.”