Day 1

Today is Saturday, August 8. I'm calling this Day 1 because it's the first day after I had my mamogram, ultrasound, and biopsies at St. Luke's Breast Center. I had heard horror stories about mamograms; untrue. It was a piece of cake. Okay, I have "spoon chest" which made things a little bit tricky, but success was eventually achieved. I got to wear a pretty dark pink smock type thing, and not the usual icky floral-patterned white hospital gown. Two views of one side, three views of the other side, the one with the mass; all done. Maybe not. A few minutes later, I was called back in for seven more views of the side that doesn't have the mass. Odd. Following a short wait, I was taken back for ultrasound and biopsy. I felt kind of bad for all the people working on me because it was Friday, and late in the afternoon. I'm sure they would all have liked to have gone home. So would I.

I didn't get to watch the ultrasound because I was propped facing the opposite direction from the screen. Oh, well. The ultrasound people were very nice; one was a trainee, I think. It was pretty funny, I thought, to sign release/consent forms while lying down and at an approximate 45 degree angle, previously in the dark, then with the bright light turned on so that I could see what I was signing. I just went along with everything; whatever.

A short while later, the radiologist came in to do the biopsies. He introduced himself, and I opened my eyes long enough to get a vague impression of a man who looked to be in his mid to late 50's, gray and wavey hair and maybe a beard, but I'm not sure. As I said, it was a vague impression and obviously, I wasn't terribly excited to see what he was going to do. I believe there was an application of betadine, and then some sort of topical anesthetic. After a while, there was an injection of a local anesthetic. I don't know how much time passed; I wasn't paying attention. I remember hearing the radiologist say that we were going to begin. I started deep breathing. The first one wasn't bad at all. I felt pressure and some burning, and heard the sound of the needle aspirator (10 gauge needle...not small). The second biopsy...that hurt! Much more pressure, far more burning. It felt like a knife being slowly inserted, millimeter by millimeter. I asked them to please tell me that we were all done. No such luck. The third, and final biopsy wasn't bad at all. I asked the radiologist if he could tell; what was his best opinion on whether it was benign or malignant, and he said he thinks it's cancer. I'll believe it when I hear it from my PA (Physician's Assistant). The ultrasound tech inserted some sort of a clip; can't remember exactly why. I think it was to mark the mass for future reference. (As if they couldn't see exactly where it was? It's bigger than a lime, for pete's sake! *smile*) After that, lights up, and I was free to go...almost. One more mamogram for whatever reason. I was giggling; hysterical laughter, perhaps (hysterical giggles). They had me sit down and then brought in "the throne." The biggest chair on wheels I've ever seen. It looked like a luxury dentist's chair. Mamogram completed, and this time, I really was free to go. We should have the results around Tuesday, August 11..Day 4 and my brother's 50th birthday. Hopefully it will be good news. If not, well...we'll just cross that bridge if we have to, eh?.