Sabine and I met at work and left at around 9:30 for my 10 a.m. biopsy.  Sabine was her usual cheerful self and I was still believing that we are getting this routine matter over with. no.big. deal.  Not a bad attitude to have, I think.   

While getting prepped for the ultrasound, I met Deb McDermott, the nurse who would gather more information and explain the why’s and the hows of what was being done.  But first I decided to tell her my acorn story.  After quite a bit of laughing by all of us, (come on, it is pretty funny), she asked me where the acorn hit.  When I pointed she raised her eyebrows and said, ‘hmm..  one o’clock… that is exactly where we are doing the biopsy.’  She explained that breast tissue can get a bump like that when it is hit or traumatized so it was good to know that this had occurred.

She also mentioned that, again, because of being BRCA2, any abnormality is treated is suspicious.  And where a non risk patient, may be told to wait until their next screening to see if ‘it’ changes in size, high risk patients get checked very closely, including a biopsy on the same day as the ultrasound if the ultrasound reveals anything.

First was the breast check.  Deb was able to feel the lump, which would help to find it on the ultrasound.  Or so it was thought.  When I went to the imaging area, both the PA and Dr. Z had difficulty pinpointing anything on the screen.  Dr. Z called Deb to to the imaging area and after much poking and pointing and staring, a target had been located!

The procedure itself was tolerable.  I was given a local anesthetic and then a pierce, a drill and what sounded like little chopping sounds.  I started smiling and dr. Z said I must be doing alright, since I was smiling.  I told him it sounded like I was in my husband’s workshop.  I think I made the room laugh.