OT: I will be having a biopsy

[MaryL]

I recently received a phone call and follow-up letter after my mammogram
asking me to return for some more images and a meeting with the radiologist.
This was in response to some calcification that was seen on the mammogram.
I returned for the additional images on Monday. The radiologist said the
new images showed still another cluster of calcification, so there are two
areas that will need biopsies. From the discussion, I think surgical
biopsies will probably be the type that will be performed. However, I need
to discuss that with my family doctor and the surgeon.

I met with my family physician on Thursday. Both the radiologist and family
doctor think surgical biopsy (instead of needle aspiration) will be best.
My doctor said the areas of concern are deep within the tissue. The
radiologist also said the statistics are in my favor--about 20 percent of
this type are malignant, so 80 percent are benign.

I have an appointment with the surgeon for Monday afternoon. I feel very
comfortable with him. He and his wife are good friends of mine. I have
known them for many years, and we are also members of the same church. More
important, he is an excellent surgeon, and he has done thousands of these
procedures. Incidentally, he removed my gall bladder, and he is the doctor
I called when Mother and Dad were in an auto accident years ago.

Back on topic: Holly is doing very well. She had two episodes of violent
vomiting, but there have not been any additional episodes since I started
giving her Pepsid (per TED's instructions). I crush the Pepsid and mix the
correct dosage into her food, along with a potassium supplement. Her weight
has remained stable. Her latest blood work does show some continued
decline, but much of it is fairly good. She is happy and follows me all
around the house, just like my little shadow as she has always done. As
soon as I sit down at the computer, she leaps onto the keyboard tray and
sits there purring and reaching out to touch me.

MaryL

[Matthew]

"MaryL" <stan...@invalid.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:atdsr2...@mid.individual.net...

Got you in my prayers Mary :-)

[Bill Graham]

I love it when they reach out and touch you with their little paws to get
your attention. We have one who does this when we are eating something that
she thinks she might like. She reaches out and touches your shoulder and
says, "Gee dad. I'd sure like to try a bite of that..."

[rjschw...@wi.rr.com]

I am sorry you're having to deal with this, Mary. Breast cancer runs on both my mom and dad's side directly and I had a scare last fall (which turned out to be nothing), so I undesrtand the stress and anxiety you're feeling. Prayers to you all.

[MaryL]

I saw my surgeon late Monday afternoon, and we set the appointment for a
biopsy (actually, two biopsies because there are two clusters) for Monday
morning, April 29. The radiologist will use core needles and insert them in
the exact position to mark the two locations. If I understand correctly,
she will use the imaging equipment to locate the exact location for the
biopsy. The surgeon will use those needles as a guide for his surgery. I
asked about the probabilities, based on what can be seen so far. He
emphasized that we will need the pathologist's report, but he said that he
is fairly certain that one spot (what I have been calling a "cluster") is
benign. However, he is concerned about the other cluster and would rate
that at about 50/50. I will keep you updated. We should get the
pathologist's report about two or three days after the biopsy.

MaryL

[rjschw...@wi.rr.com]

Just checking in on you, Mary. . .

Rene

[MaryL]

wrote in message
news:134f5c24-06b6-4f73...@googlegroups.com...

Just checking in on you, Mary. . .

Rene

~~~~~~
Thanks for asking, Rene. I was going to post a fairly long message tomorrow
describing the process. I thought I would wait until Wednesday to provide
more details because we will probably get the pathologist's report then, but
here's my "report" on the process up to now.

I had my biopsy yesterday (two of them). So far, everything looks good. It
was basically a two-step procedure. Helen drove me to the breast care
center and waited with me until I was called in for their part of the
process. I had really dreaded that part because it involved inserting two
large core needles straight into the two clusters of calcification. That
sounded very painful to me, although several people had assured me that it
would not be all that bad. As it turned out, it was not an ordeal at all.
The breast was numbed in each area, but those injections were not even as
painful as a bee sting. I would describe it more as a "pinching" sensation.
Somehow, those injections have an instant effect--I did not feel anything
after the medication was injected except for a slight sensation from the
wires that hold the needles in place. I was transported from the breast
care center to the hospital, which is literally next door (and is actually
part of the hospital). A nurse accompanied us to the hospital, and the two
needles were used to guide the surgery to the exact location.

The surgical removal of the calcified areas was the second of what I am
describing as a two-stage process. I was under general anesthesia for that,
so of course I did not feel anything. I woke up in the recovery room and
was extremely drowsy for a short time, then was transferred to a private
room and stayed there for a few hours. This was done on an outpatient
basis, so I did not stay overnight. I felt well enough that I did a lot of
reading on my Kindle while I waited to be released. Amazingly, several of
the nurses were former students of mine. In fact, one of the nurses told me
that not only was she my student but so were her husband and brother-in-law.
Connie picked me up shortly after 2:00 and took me home. Then, Susie (who
is also my petsitter when I travel) came by that evening and scooped litter
boxes and fed the cats. That way, I did not even need to bend over to take
care of anything.

The surgeon--who is an excellent surgeon and also a good friend--told me
that everything looks good as far as he can see. He said mine were very
deep, and he could not view the interior. So, we have to wait for the
pathologist's report (which will probably be Wednesday), but everything he
could see looks very good. So, it was a very good day for me. He will call
me on tomorrow and discuss the results, but he left me with a very positive
feeling. I also have an appointment for next week to have the stitches
removed.

I hope it is clear from this description that I'm doing very well. However,
I did decide that I should stay home for a couple of days. I have been
going to a diabetes workshop on Tuesdays, but I had enough pain last night
that it made me realize that I might be overdoing it if I tried to sit
upright for a 2-hour meeting--and I don't think I should try using a seat
belt yet. I used my left hand to hold it away from my body when Connie
drove me home from the hospital yesterday, but that would not be practical
if I were the driver. Incidentally, I said I had pain last night, but it
really was not extreme at all--it was just enough to be uncomfortable and
served as a reminder to take precautions. I also have some pain medication.

All of this illustrates, once again, how nice it is to have good friends
(and that includes those of you on this newsgroup who have shown concern).
I will post an update tomorrow when we get the pathologist's report. If it
is as good as the doctor expects, that one will be short.

MaryL

[rjschw...@wi.rr.com]

Wow, that a relief so far! I appreciate the description of the procedure; it's very interesting. I think it's smart for you to take it easy for a few days, just in case. Hoping for good news later. . .

Rene

[Bill Graham]

Many of us on this forum are pulling for you, MaryL......