Biopsy Day

Nanna suggested I take an Ativan or Valium for this procedure. Dr. Helgans was performing the biopsy, and he was so kind. Donna, the nurse, ran the machine, held my hand, and talked to me about her new grandbaby she would visit next week. We started talking about babies & birth (one of my favorite topics). Then the Marshall Fire came up, and everyone shared how close they were to it or knew someone who was impacted. I told them that I live less than a mile from where it started and that our condo is all wood, including the walkways and the pine trees drop so many dry needles that our home is a matchstick (not to mention all the dry open space right behind us). Except I called them pineapples instead of pine needles. Dr. Helgans laughed and felt confident the Ativan had kicked in at that point.

Dr. Helgens started with a local numbing medication – like you would experience at the dentist. The medication stung as it went in. First, it would be a vacuumed needle into the mass, and I would hear occasional ‘sucking’ noises. Next, a different (even bigger) needle into the lymph node, and I would hear clicking noises. Each area would be marked by an internal titanium tattoo. If it isn’t cancer – it will show up in future imaging that it was an area that had been of concern. After the procedure, Donna would apply pressure for 10 minutes in hopes to avoid a hematoma (bleeding and bruising). After the procedure, I took another less tightly pressured mammogram to make sure everything looked okay. No hematoma so that’s positive.

I asked them if I could see the images. I needed to know what that radiologist saw that made her say she was worried it was cancer.

They explained that there was an irregular solid mass with internal vascularity within the mass. This means it was not presenting like a benign cyst that would be perfectly round and solid black without blood flow. The lymph node was indeterminate with fatty hilum and cortical thickening.

Now, I wait.