Biopsy

Today I had a MRI-guided biopsy of the 'probably benign' lump in my left breast. (This website talks about the procedure - http://www.mayoclinic.org/breast-cancer/mribreastbiopsy.html) On Tuesday, it dawned on me that I shouldn't wait to hear from Dr. Robert or Dr. Moynihan but I should call the surgeon's office to ask if I could have the lump biopsied. The nurse spoke to Dr. Moynihan and later that day, Jayne, the Breast Cancer Navigator in their office, called back to say that I should schedule to have the biopsy done at the same place where I had gone for the MRI. I called and scheduled, and was told I didn't have to do anything to prep except not take any ibuprofen, aspirin or herbal supplements.

It's always hard to know what the traffic's going to be like getting to the area where the Fairfax Hospital is, around Gallows Rd and Rt 50, from Ashburn cos of all the construction for the Dulles and Hot Lanes projects, so I gave myself over an hour, but got there in about 40 minutes, over a half hour early. After I was checked in, I had to wait about an hour and a half cos they were running late, and the biopsy ahead of me was 'the longest one ever' as the nurse came to tell me. The doctor who was going to do the biopsy came (Dr. Chen) to explain the procedure and ask if I had questions. It was going to be a needle biopsy, and I'd have the results back by about Tuesday. I asked how she'd know if she'd sampled the right location - she said that if the results said that it was just benign breast tissue, she'd know it was not a good sample cos it had to either be a benign fibroadenoma, or similar abnormality, or a malignant mass, since they already knew that it was not just normal fatty tissue. If that did happen though, I'd go back to the surgeon for a possible surgical biopsy - either way, I am trusting that all will be well, and that the results will show it to be a benign fibro... and nothing more.

The procedure went fine and Dr. Chen got two samples from a location in the center of the breast. I had to be in and out of the MRI bore several times as they took pictures before, during and after the biopsy. After that they put in a little titanium chip (about the size of a grain of rice) inside the breast at the location where they extracted the samples from so they'd have a reference point for it. I was surprised how concerned they were about the bleeding since it was such a small hole - the nurse applied pressure for over 10 minutes before I was allowed to get up. After that they sent me up for a mammogram to check that the chip was in the right place; then I got to leave with an ice pack strapped on tightly to me with a velcro strip. Had to keep it iced till bedtime, not shower, and not have any ibuprofen for a while.

It's always kinda strange that the technicians/doctors/nurses carry on their casual conversations when something that feels so critical to you is going on. My main focus as I lay there on the MRI table was to make sure I didn't move, but I could hear them chatting about various things... such as how two of Dr. Chen's feet put together were about the same size as one of the technician's (she wears size 3 -'where do you find shoes??', etc, etc). Last week when I was there, the same technician told me that a patient had told her that she should take a vinegar and honey mixture to help her with her very hoarse voice, and that she planned to try it. I remembered that last night when Chinya came home with a sore throat and decided to give it to him (I checked on the internet and found the same remedy, with the proportions...). It seemed to help so I told her about it today and she laughed cos she hadn't had the guts to do it - the thought of drinking vinegar... but they laughed about how husbands will try anything!

I ended up taking Tylenol for the pain today but overall it's been OK, except for the fact that they wanted me to wear a tight sports bra all day to hold the ice pack in place, which was uncomfortable. After getting ready for bed and changing out of it, Bianca asked how I was feeling and I told her I was perfect. She said, Mom you're lying. No-one is perfect. I told her I felt better cos I'd changed out of the tight bra that the doctor had told me to wear. She looked at me and said, Was it a man? :-)

No word yet about the Her2 results. Dr. Robert called me on Wednesday to ask if Dr. Moynihan had responded about the biopsy, and to say that another oncologist in his office would follow up with me while he was out of town. I got a call from the Genomic Health (http://www.genomichealth.com/OncotypeDX/Index.aspx#) about the cost of the oncotype dx test and insurance coverage. It sounds like they are ready to help with working with the insurance company to lower the costs we will have to pay.

I thank God for the peace I feel lately. I'm actually not worried but know that He will take me through what's ahead.

Thank God for another day!