I had a first this week. I had my appointment...with my brother...at an OBGYN. Apart from it being obscenely awkward, I had a really good time. We were celebrities there. Scott and I were the first male patients they've ever had in the office.
I'm sure you're probably wondering what I was doing there. Yes - well, my family as a very long line of cancer patients, more specifically almost entirely breast cancer (including my grandfather). My mother, her sister (my aunt) and mom's dad and my dad's dad have all had cancer. When my wife went in for her most recent appointment, my family history came up in conversation. Her doctor told her about a new test that their office recently began offering. It's called a BRACA test - a blood test that can let you know your risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. If the test comes back positive my brother and/or I are have a 6% chance of having breast cancer in our life time. Yes - breast cancer.
I learned that only .05% of males ever contract breast cancer, but with my family history chances are much, much higher for my brother and I (if the test comes back positive). The doctor said it's about a 50% chance of the test coming back positive. And if so, we would begin yearly MRI screenings.
Fortunately our chances are good (very good) of not getting ovarian cancer.
I had a pretty good time in there - my brother was extremely uncomfortable (along with all the people in the waiting room and most of the nurses). It made it even better that they called us back together. I kept putting my hands on his belly in the waiting room just to add to the curiosity.
I dared my brother to get up on the table to "saddle up" before the doc got there, but because there was no paper on the table, and what normally goes on in that room is altogether foreign to both of us, he wouldn't do it.
Most memorable moment of the day - watching the doctor teach my brother how to give himself a breast exam.
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6 comments:
Oh dude - that is priceless!! Great news on the ovarian cancer though. I was worried.
Best laugh of the day! I could picture the whole ordeal and only wish I could have been a fly on the wall of that exam room!
Pretty much the best OBGYN story I have ever heard. You can believe that I will pass this along to many, many friends. Hope that test comes back negative!
A friend sent me your blogpost about the OBGYN. Aside from the family history of Cancer, I was rolling on the floor, laughing. I needed that. Thanks.
Bahahahhaaaa!
As a mom - I'm proud. Very proud. I bet most moms can't say they've had one son - let alone two saddle up at the OB/GYN's. Life is good when you're me.
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