From The Gynecologist To The Imaging Center
It was Oct 2022 and I was at a routine visit to the gynecologist when they said I was overdue for my next mammogram. My first one 2 years ago had no issues, I was already told my lifetime risk was lower than the average person and I was 20 years younger than the average woman diagnosed. I had no intentions of making that appointment. But I reluctantly agreed and found myself at the imaging center in my pretty little pink patient gown waiting to be put into the infamous machine.
I had recently completed a degree in radiography specializing in mammography so I was very familiar with the procedure. But I was used to being on the other side of the protective glass pushing the button not the one stuck in the machine.
After my visit I went home and forgot all about it.
A couple weeks later I got a call that explained there was something the radiologist wanted to look at closer. I wasn’t concerned at all and scheduled the appointment. I knew this meant I went from a “screening” appointment to a “diagnostic” appointment and I was probably going to get an ultrasound.
As I laid on my back staring at the ceiling with my right arm over my head, the tech got ready for the imaging she was about to do. Then out came the warm gel and she proceeded with the ultrasound. She took measurements, recorded some notes, took some pictures and eventually left the room to consult with the radiologist. A few minutes later the doctor came in and looked for herself. She said I have a lump and asked if I felt it before? I said no but felt for myself and if I tried hard enough and knew where to look, I too, could feel what she was talking about.
But I didn’t just have one, I had three!
She said “they have benign features” and sent me home with instructions to come back again in 6 months to see if anything changes.
A Hard Mass And A Return To The Doctor
I only made it a few weeks past my appointment when I felt a large hard mass where one of the tumors was. I knew then I was not waiting 6 months and they needed to look at this again.
I soon found myself staring at the same ceiling back for another ultrasound. This time a different radiologist was there that day. He came in after my imaging and explained the hard mass I was feeling (which was pretty much the entire upper outer quadrant at that point) wasn’t one of the tumors, it was inflammation. In fact, the tumors hadn’t changed at all. But he didn’t know why there was inflammation. He said something has aggravated the tissue around the tumors and I needed a biopsy.
Needles, Another Radiologist And A Very Familiar Ceiling
It was now January in 2023, 3 months after my abnormal mammogram and here I was once again on my back staring at what was now a very familiar ceiling. The tech prepped me with sterile drapes and iodine, readied a surgical tray, got the ultrasound machine in position and went to get the radiologist. I hadn’t met this one. Apparently they have several that work here as I meet a new one every time I come in.
The plan was to get a biopsy from each of the 3 tumors. The radiologist started with a small needle to numb me before the bigger one came in. I really didn’t feel much, I expected a sting as I was familiar with this part from other things in the past. You know, dentists and such.
These were going to be core needle biopsies guided by ultrasound. The radiologist put a straw like tube into my breast a little bigger than the needle she was going to use so she could go in and out multiple times with only one small incision at each tumor so it wouldn’t do more damage to the outer tissues than necessary. Each time she put the core needle in to get a biopsy sample she would push a button on the handle (instead of a syringe) and I would hear a loud snap. It was spring loaded making a quick in and out motion to collect tissue into the needle. A sample was collected and put in a little jar then she was do it again from a slightly different angle.
After each biopsy the radiologist put in a tiny unique metal clip each shaped differently so they could be identified in future imaging. If they were benign at least a future doctor wouldn’t be asking for a biopsy because the clip means it was already checked.
Each biopsy the radiologist took a few samples and cringed each time worried she was hurting me.
“I’m fine, you’re not actually bothering me at all,” I said. She thought I was crazy, but I really didn’t feel a thing and just laid there watching on the machine as the tech guided her with the ultrasound wand.
Right before she headed for tumor #3 she asked the tech if anyone checked my lymph nodes on the previous ultrasounds and imaging. With the answer to that being “no” she put the third biopsy on hold for a minute to check my armpit with the ultrasound. Sure enough, another tumor. She changed her plan and instead of the third biopsy on the third breast tumor she decided to biopsy my lymph nodes.
When everything was done, I was instructed to sit up and wait a few minutes to see how I felt. I was stuck there a little longer than I expected because I was feeling dizzy and light headed but was soon on my feet and headed home.
I thought I was having one biopsy of one very large hard lump. Turned out I was having 3 biopsies with a total of 13 samples taken that day.
I expected to be in pain over the next few days while it all healed but I really didn’t feel much at all. Releiving but weird!
Now What?
As I waited for the results of my biopsies everyone asked me how I was doing and if I was worried about it.
“Nope! Not at all,” I responded. “I’m not going to worry until they tell me to worry!”
Most people were impressed at how carefree I seemed through the whole thing, but I learned a long time ago not to worry about things I can’t control. It is what it is and I’ll know when I know. For now I’m not going to let it bother me.
And then I got the results.