Also benign
Jul. 25th, 2024 07:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lauradi7dwI mentioned the mammogram a couple of weeks ago, but didn't say that they were concerned about microcalcifications in my left breast. Another round of more specific mammograms (diagnosing vs screening), new interesting angles with the machine. Next, an ultrasound technician who couldn't find a lump. Then a radiologist doing another ultrasound (still no lump). Good enough? Nope. They wanted a biopsy. I booked the first slot they had in the system, coincidentally on plumber day. Then Arthur's father died, and we headed to Florida. There were airplane complications related to the outage day(s), but we got there in time for the graveside service on Sunday with at least 15 minutes to spare. Then more mess-ups on the way back, but I arrived home at 2:45 AM on Tuesday. I didn't have to be in Dedham for the procedure until 8:00 AM, so I got four hours of sleep, maybe.
There was some setting up to do. In this case, I was seated instead of lying prone, something that happens elsewhere, I gather. The point of a stereotactic biopsy with a core needle (I like to think of it as similar to collecting ice core samples) is that the patient is smashed into a special version of a mammogram machine the whole time, so people (not me) can see where the needle is going. It's not as tight as a regular mammogram, and there is a hole in the plate (probably not the technical term) so the needle can go through. Actually two types of needles, because I was numbed with lidocaine before the big needle went in. The lidocaine needle hurt. I can't give a great description of the procedure because I wasn't allowed to look as it was happening. I had been assigned a person to look at off to the right. She rubbed my right shoulder and tried to make soothing faces. I asked her if it is a weird job and she said, yes, but it's OK.
When she was doing other tasks, there was still a focal point
I had spent an unreasonable amount of time wondering why there were cute stickers on an emergency circuit breaker box before I realized that they were there for me to gaze upon.
Due to location of one of my clumps of microcalcifications, he (the radiologist operating the needle) had a hard time setting up the exact angle he wanted. Consulted with the tech running the machine. Brought in another radiologist to stare at the images. I had a break from compression each time they re-set the machine, and was bemused to see them wipe off my blood (not a lot). Finally, on the third try, they got the 8 cores that they wanted.
Then the tech leaned heavily on my breast to stop the bleeding (apply pressure, as they say). She added steri-strips that we hope will stay on until Sunday (if they fall off I'm supposed to use a regular bandaid). I put on a sports bra (told in advance to bring one), inserted an ice pack, put my t-shirt on top, and drove home. Ice on and off the rest of the day. No heavy exercise until this morning (if jogging counts. It's what I did, anyway).
I can shower briefly but am not allowed to swim or take a bath for at least another week, until everything is healed. (ie no immersion).
The pathology synopsis is "benign." It's not cancer (knock on wood). They are likely either the affects of a burst duct or
fat necrosis. Both of those sound yucky to me, but not particularly so to the pathology or radiology folks.
Fat necrosis sometimes is a result of a blow to the breast. I wonder if falling on my chest (as I did in November 2022 when I hurt my shoulder) would count.
They only biopsied one of the two areas. They are guessing that both sets of calcifications are from the same cause, but I will get another mammogram in six months to see if anything has changed. Does this mean every six months from now on, or back to once a year after that? I don't know.
Was this excessive? Could there have been some equivalent of watchful waiting for the whole breast? I don't know that either. Right now I am bruised and have a small wound, but it's weird that there is what used to be a part of my breast either preserved in a lab or tossed into a biohazard bin somewhere. I guess I will see whether I end up looking like I have an indentation or what. Not that anybody will ever see it but me and medical folks.
[note to self - next mammogram is January 14, 2025]
There was some setting up to do. In this case, I was seated instead of lying prone, something that happens elsewhere, I gather. The point of a stereotactic biopsy with a core needle (I like to think of it as similar to collecting ice core samples) is that the patient is smashed into a special version of a mammogram machine the whole time, so people (not me) can see where the needle is going. It's not as tight as a regular mammogram, and there is a hole in the plate (probably not the technical term) so the needle can go through. Actually two types of needles, because I was numbed with lidocaine before the big needle went in. The lidocaine needle hurt. I can't give a great description of the procedure because I wasn't allowed to look as it was happening. I had been assigned a person to look at off to the right. She rubbed my right shoulder and tried to make soothing faces. I asked her if it is a weird job and she said, yes, but it's OK.
When she was doing other tasks, there was still a focal point
I had spent an unreasonable amount of time wondering why there were cute stickers on an emergency circuit breaker box before I realized that they were there for me to gaze upon.
Due to location of one of my clumps of microcalcifications, he (the radiologist operating the needle) had a hard time setting up the exact angle he wanted. Consulted with the tech running the machine. Brought in another radiologist to stare at the images. I had a break from compression each time they re-set the machine, and was bemused to see them wipe off my blood (not a lot). Finally, on the third try, they got the 8 cores that they wanted.
Then the tech leaned heavily on my breast to stop the bleeding (apply pressure, as they say). She added steri-strips that we hope will stay on until Sunday (if they fall off I'm supposed to use a regular bandaid). I put on a sports bra (told in advance to bring one), inserted an ice pack, put my t-shirt on top, and drove home. Ice on and off the rest of the day. No heavy exercise until this morning (if jogging counts. It's what I did, anyway).
I can shower briefly but am not allowed to swim or take a bath for at least another week, until everything is healed. (ie no immersion).
The pathology synopsis is "benign." It's not cancer (knock on wood). They are likely either the affects of a burst duct or
fat necrosis. Both of those sound yucky to me, but not particularly so to the pathology or radiology folks.
Fat necrosis sometimes is a result of a blow to the breast. I wonder if falling on my chest (as I did in November 2022 when I hurt my shoulder) would count.
They only biopsied one of the two areas. They are guessing that both sets of calcifications are from the same cause, but I will get another mammogram in six months to see if anything has changed. Does this mean every six months from now on, or back to once a year after that? I don't know.
Was this excessive? Could there have been some equivalent of watchful waiting for the whole breast? I don't know that either. Right now I am bruised and have a small wound, but it's weird that there is what used to be a part of my breast either preserved in a lab or tossed into a biohazard bin somewhere. I guess I will see whether I end up looking like I have an indentation or what. Not that anybody will ever see it but me and medical folks.
[note to self - next mammogram is January 14, 2025]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-26 08:24 pm (UTC)I asked if I could have it, since it was already unsterile and they'd just have to throw it away, but she said no. They were already a bit weirded out by me taking the photo of the wall, but they did give permission for that.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-20 06:55 am (UTC)This is an excellent description of the procedure and I really appreciate your linking me to this post. Mine was similar except I was lying on that hilarious table face down so I didn't get to see anything either. Also this reminds me to mark the bag of peas before putting it back in the freezer so no one tries to eat them.