Dr Helen WilliamsDec 2, 2022
Dr Lindsey Fitzharris

"'Do you see the puckering around this white mass?' The radiologist pointed to a white blur on the monochrome scan. To my untrained eye, it resembled a comet throwing out plumes of dust in the blackness of space. 'That’s a tell-tale sign.'

I had just turned 40, and until this point I had never even had a mammogram. Now I was being told I had breast cancer."

My article in the @wsj about historical treatments of #breastcancer, and my own experience with the disease.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-medical-historian-confronts-breast-cancer-11669917623?st=47w2guxbp6b1rtf&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink&ns=prod/accounts-wsj

A Medical Historian Confronts Breast Cancer

After her diagnosis, a writer reflects on how the pain and suffering of generations of women helped lead to today’s medical advances.

The Wall Street Journal
Dec 1, 2022 at 7:19pmWeb
Show threadmem_somervilleDec 1, 2022

@DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj Thank you for sharing your path through this. I'm sorry you have to, but I appreciate knowing what it would look like.

Anyone's next mammogram could be the one where they face it too.

Good on you for pressing for this, leading to an early detection. You go, girl!

Show threadArabella Proffer-VendettaDec 1, 2022
@DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj I’m so sorry Lindsey. It was my bizarre cancer that led me to studying medical history (and thus meeting you and Brandy!) as it was a way for me to feel better about the century we currently live and channel my anger about procedures that are still ridiculous in the medical industrial complex.
Show threadDr Lindsey FitzharrisDec 1, 2022
@VendettaBella @wsj Ah, Arabella, I'm so happy to see you over here on Mastodon. Brandy has been keeping me updated about you. I'm so sorry about all your struggles and sending you lots of love.
Show threadFuchsia PalpatineDec 1, 2022
@wsj @DrLindseyFitzharris thank you for writing so eloquently about a subject that I think strikes fear into everyone. Xx
Show threadsue_twin2Dec 1, 2022
@DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj Thank you for sharing the article. I was fortunate to identify my breast cancer early and pre-pandemic and am the first in my family to have it although two sisters have each had a different cancer. I hope your onward journey is along smoother roads - take care of yourself!
Show threadDiana SpencerDec 1, 2022
@DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj breast cancer in one’s 30s is hugely disorienting—I totally agree. I love how you’re giving voice to a journey that’s comparable to mine; when I was having chemo/radio surgery etc. it was mid2000s and I didn’t feel I had public spaces in which to speak it x
Show threadCLMDec 2, 2022

@dianajspencer @DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj

100% agree re voice. . . was 34 y.o. in early 2000s - felt very alone w much support geared toward ppl in 50s / 60s. For ex. Menopause vs child bearing.

Show threadDiana SpencerDec 2, 2022
@CLMilne @DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj exactly! Systems (at that time, at least) not set up (in tone and framing of treatment) at all for anyone non-“standard”…
Show threadStephen Rockower MDDec 2, 2022
@DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj Thank you for not putting this behind the paywall.
Show threadDr Helen WilliamsDec 2, 2022

@DrLindseyFitzharris @wsj

I am sorry this happened but very appreciative of you sharing your story alongside some history. As a medical scientist who is interested in history, I think you're a wonderful person to be following and I really enjoy your posts.