Biopsy

I went in Friday to have my biopsy performed. Basically they brought in another Radiologist, who looked at my mammograms and the ultrasound and talked with my Radiologist about the concerns they had over my breast tissue. They pulled up the ultrasound machine so they could mark where they needed to go in on the breast to perform the biopsy, decided they did not like the machine they were using, and sent the tech out the door to grab a higher powered machine.

Here is where it gets funny. The room they had me in was at the end of a long hallway, which basically intersected another hallway in the middle. When the tech left the room, she left the door wide open so I was in full view of anybody coming down the hall. This was NOT the experience I wanted to have since my arm was extended above my head, I was turned out at a 45 degree angle, and my breast was exposed to the world. My radiologist about lost it and yelled at the tech to shut the door. AWKWARD!

They marked the spot on my breast for where they needed to make an incision, numbed me with local anesthesia, and then made an incision. I barely felt the cut, but I could feel the biopsy needle going in and it was uncomfortable. They took a bunch of samples, stitched me up, talked to me about next steps, and then told me I would know Wednesday. Not good enough. My mother made a call to her breast center in Knoxville, and set up an appointment for me for Monday morning. So here I am in Knoxville waiting for my appointment tomorrow morning. Early results point towards a form of breast cancer called DCIS with a mass of unknown makeup. They are running tests tomorrow and will determine what my next steps are in the process. If need be, I will undergo a lumpectomy this week to remove any of the bad tissue, and will also start radiation treatment. Til we know for sure, I am keeping my fingers crossed and my prayers lifted.

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Mammograms

I went in for a baseline mammogram last week and within a couple of hours was called back in for additional views. Yesterday I went in and for the next 1.5 hours had to endure the vice like grip on my right breast, the agony of waiting for 45 minutes for some sort of answers, and the additional misery of sitting through an ultrasound for another 45 minutes while they looked at my breast tissue.

They found a mass and a bunch of other triggers that concern them. Basically I have a bunch of calcification next to my areola which is also encompassing a mass. I knew something was wrong when the radiology tech took 45 minutes to come back and tell me they were doing an ultrasound, and especially when the Radiologist came in and scrutinized the ultrasound live.

My suspicions were confirmed when he pulled up a chair, and in a voice which reminded me of a Funeral Director coordinating a funeral, told me what they believed was going on. All I heard was a four letter acronym called DCIS, calcification, blah blah, tissue, blah blah, biopsy, blah blah...wait!? BIOPSY? Huh?

So, they scheduled it for today. The sooner the better. Having just been blindsided with the news, I sat there stunned and then burst into tears. My mother is a breast cancer survivor. All I could think of was her and what I went through 20 years ago. The painful memories flooded me and I cried for the unknown. What was happening? Was i dying? Is it treatable? What am I going to do? I hope it isn't cancer. Will I have children? What about my husband....what will he do?

I am numb. My mind is vacant. I don't know what to do....I am 38 years old. I am not supposed to be battling something like this, but I trust God and this is HIS war to wage.

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