You’re Free to Go: How a Mammogram Scare Shifted My Entrepreneurial Spirit
A few days ago, my life took an unexpected turn.
There I was, sitting inside a cramped room with a locker about the size of a foyer closet, draped in a clinical gown with my arms laced around my breast, thinking about the call that held my fate.
“Your mammogram revealed a nodule. You need to schedule a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.”
“Nodule? What does that mean?”
“It’s similar to a mass or tumor in your breast.”
Before this news, my relentless focus on growing my business had overshadowed my own well-being. Now, each moment in that little closet served as a stark reminder of life’s frailty.
“Ms. Marlow? I’m Beth, and I’ll be conducting your mammogram screening today. Follow me.”
I trailed behind Beth slough-like.
“Can you confirm your name and birth date?” Uttering my name and birth date felt as if I were talking about someone else.
“So, I’ll be taking about three images. Once I’m done, I’ll show them to the doctor. If everything appears normal, you’re free to go. But if there are any concerns about the nodule, we’ll proceed with an ultrasound. Any questions?”
I shook my head. Within seconds, I found myself leaning into the cold steel that squeezed my breast into a flat pancake, triggering tears.
If ever we needed AI or ChatGPT to discover a more innovative solution that would spare women the pain and frankly inhuman way of performing mammograms; it’s now.
After Beth took the images and left, I sat there stupefied, trying to focus on all the tasks I had to complete that day. I needed my mind to be elsewhere… anywhere but in that room.
I really can’t tell you how long Beth was gone, but it felt like hours. And hours more when Beth returned and said: “The doctor would like for you to have the ultrasound.”
By the time the Ultrasound Specialist showed up, my mind was a wreck. When we entered the dark room, I stood there watching her lips move in the same way Beth’s moved, giving me the same spiel.
Before long, I found myself lying there; my gaze fixed sideways on the screen as she probed around my right breast with warm gel. Her probing made me probe, too; on the endless nights I’d sacrificed to finish just one more task, the countless hours glued to my laptop.
I love what I do! But this was a wake-up call. I had to learn to set boundaries, to understand that I could have both—my passion for entrepreneurship and a commitment to self-care.
I can’t recall her handing me the towel to wipe away the gel; all I remember is her assurance: “If everything checks out, you’ll be free to go.”
After she left the room, I started doing the only thing that I’d been taught to do ever since I was old enough to know there was a God.
I prayed. I mean, really prayed.
“God, please let my results be good! I swear, I’ll prioritize my well-being. I won’t miss another mammogram. I’ll cut back on the late nights, the days—sometimes weeks—without seeing my loved ones.”
I can’t even tell you how long I sat there, lost in prayer. But when I heard the doorknob turn and saw the small woman, it was as if time froze. And then, at last, came the words I’d been praying for: “You’re free to go.”
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. In that instant, I knew that I had been granted a second chance—a chance to rewrite the narrative of my life, anchored in self-compassion and balance.
As I left that room, I carried with me a profound lesson: the importance of honoring my health amidst the relentless pursuit of success.
In the days that followed, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and renewal. I vowed to set boundaries, to say no without guilt, and to honor the delicate balance between ambition and self-care.
In a world that glorifies hustle and success at all costs, it’s easy to lose sight of the simple yet profound truth: that our greatest asset is not our ability to achieve but our capacity to nurture and replenish our souls.
So here’s to embracing the journey, wherever it may lead, and to finding solace in prioritizing the one thing that truly matters—our own well-being.
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