Biopsy Results

The biopsy came back as a fibous something or other with no abnomalities. This is good, I'm told, as it is benign. Have a lot of bruising on the breast and it is still extremely tender. Looks like there are no stitches under the Steristrips. Must have used glue. Fine with me as then there is no removal work.

Went Fine

The biopsy surgery went fine. Only took two nurses to get the IV needle in me this time. The record is three nurses and an anesthesiologist, so it was better -- painful, but better.

Difficult to move my arm this morning as I feel bruised, sore, and tender under the arm and of course in the breast. The incision bled quite a bit yesterday, soaking thru my shirt twice before I noticed and changed. Mike added a thick padding of gauze and that helped, but leaked thru overnight. More difficult for me to change it since I only have the one hand. Oh well, it'll get done.

Just hope that I can use my arm tomorrow, even on a limited basis, since I have a dog to groom.

Pathology results back Thursday or Friday.

Surgery for Biopsy

I met with the surgeon yesterday and found that there is a 'lump' but it is so small that a needle biopsy is impractical. He said that the needle would be bigger than the lump and if he missed it and if there was any bleeding in there then he wouldn't be able to see it by ultrasound.

So we will do a guide-wire biopsy. Goody. That's the same procedure I had on my right breast several years ago. Not fun.

While my boob is squished in the mammography machine they insert a wire and make sure it is touching the lump. Then the surgeon follows the wire and cuts out a 1" by 2" cylinder of flesh (which should include the lump) to biopsy. They will also examine the surrounding flesh to see, in the case of cancer, if the cancer was contained in that cylinder or extends to the edges which would mean that a more radical surgery would be required to remove the cancer. That's what happened with my mom. The cancer cells went clear to the edge of the cylinder of flesh which meant it went beyond it in her breast.

The procedure is scheduled for next Tuesday morning. I was pretty depressed yesterday, not getting anything on my to-do list done and breaking into tears randomly.

I hate my boobs.

"Family History"

How I hate those words.

For any of my male readers this post will be about my boobs so you may want to stop reading. (Of course the mere mention of boobs may get those male readers to stay tuned, who knows?)

I lost my mother to breast cancer back on August 11, 1999. That fact now gives me a 'family history' of breast cancer. So each year when I get my mammogram they mention my 'family history.'

Now I carry a good amount of extra fat along with being 'well-endowed' to begin with, so my annual mammograms are very uncomfortable (i.e. painful). Add to that the ongoing fear of 'family history' and my annuals become extremely stressful.

So a couple weeks ago, after my annual mammogram I received a phone call from my GYN's office telling me that the radiologist saw 'something' in my left breast, most likely just thick tissue but with my 'family history' . . . 

I went thru this scare about six years ago when they found a lump in my right breast. I had a lumpectomy and it was benign but it was a very worrisome experience. So I know the drill.

I had my second, more specific mammogram on Tuesday and then was sent to the basement for an ultrasound of the area of my left breast that was in question. The ultrasound tech wasn't sure what she was looking for as she couldn't find anything to take a picture of. Guess she was looking for a lump and this is an entire area of concern. My boob is bruised from her searching for a lump . . .

Anyway, yesterday I received another call from my GYN's office - I need to see a surgeon again. Whether we do a biopsy or a full surgery to assess what is in my boob will be up to him and I'll find that out on Monday morning after he looks at my mammogram and ultrasound. I do know that I'll be having the procedure fairly quickly as that is how surgeons work - get them in and cut them asap.

Am I nervous? Hell yes. Scared out of my wits. This 'family history' stuff is scary business. Right now I really hate my boobs.

I'll post what will happen when I find out.

Sigh.