Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

Harlan Levy. Courtesy photo

By Harlan Levy

Here’s this week’s price check as of Tuesday afternoon.

Avocado prices:

• Big Y: 3/11:$0.99 (on sale); 3/18: $1.79
• Whole Foods: 3/11: medium $1.69, large conventional $2.29, organic large $3.29; 3/18: medium 4/$5, large conventional: $2.29, organic large: $2.99.
• Trader Joe’s: 3/11: 4-pack medium $5.99, 4-pack organic $6.99, $1.99 for conventional large, $2.49 organic large; 3/18: 4 medium size $5.99, 4-pack medium organic $6.89, large conventional $1.99, 6 small avocados, $3.99.
• Stop & Shop: 3/11: medium $1.79, 4-pack medium $3.99; 3/18: $1.79

Breast cancer

A week ago Friday I had an unforgettable, scary experience that affects very few men.

It all started when by chance I discovered a large flattened ping-pong ball-size lump in my left breast and a much smaller one in my right one. I freaked out briefly. After an anxious weekend I was able to see my doctor bright and early Monday morning. He said he had no idea what it was and whether it was cancerous, stating that I should find out by getting an ultrasound and a left breast mammogram (Ha ha ha! A mammogram! How unmanly! But on the plus side, I’d be able to truly understand what my wife and all other women go through every year.)

Screenshot. Courtesy of Harlan Levy

So the doc sent out the orders to three nearby radiology sites to give me a chance at the earliest date.

On Tuesday I called them to see if they got the orders. No, they all said, we got nothing, which was unnerving. One site told me that you can’t get a diagnostic mammogram for just one breast. Who knew? I then immediately called my doc, who said he’d correct it and electronically send it that day.

On Wednesday morning I called the three radiology offices and, with effort, controlled myself when they told me once again that they had received nothing.

I had had enough. I resolved to go to my doc’s office that day and get paper copies of the orders that I intended to personally drop off at the three sites’ offices. What I carelessly failed to notice was that my doc’s clerk gave me two copies of the mammogram order and not a copy of the ultrasound. [Rule: Always check orders, sales slips at all stores!]

I then visited the closest site and showed my mammogram order, and, despite missing the ultrasound order, the clerk scheduled me for the mammo anyway – for Monday morning March 17, while she awaited the ultrasound order.

Late last Wednesday I called the next closest site, and Renee, a sympathetic rep, armed with my mammogram code numbers that I gave her, was able to schedule the mammogram for last Friday morning in the Vernon office in the Tri-City Plaza – which I had driven past and visited many times in my 20-year career as a newspaper reporter at the Journal Inquirer.

Then on Thursday morning I received a disturbing text saying my Friday mammogram was canceled!

What the hell??? I immediately called the imaging center and found that radiology outfits always did both mammograms and ultrasound procedures together, and since they had still not received the ultrasound order, I had to reschedule. “How about March 28?” Renee asked. Two weeks from my shocking discovery! OK, I said, thinking at least I had the March 17 appointment, adding that if someone canceled I’d be happy to come in earlier.

Two hours later Renee called: A cancellation allowed her to reinstate my Friday mammo – and the ultrasound, since that order had miraculously arrived..

Last Friday, after canceling the other site’s scheduled Monday mammogram, I drove to Vernon, worried and nervous, and had both procedures. The mammogram – in which each of my little breasts was squeezed tight between two metal planks for about 30 seconds (Ouch!) – and the ultrasound took an hour, an hour I’ll never forget. Nor will I forget the results which the on-site radiologist delivered minutes later: They were both benign cases of gynecomastia, she said.

Gynecomastia is an increase in the amount of breast gland tissue in boys or men. An imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone causes it. Gynecomastia may go away on its own. If it doesn’t, medicine or surgery may help.

Anyway, yay for technology, after a nightmare just to get an appointment! And it took three days of multiple, paralyzing phone calls keeping me from doing almost anything else. And I’m wondering, do all women go through hassles like that???

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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