Yesterday was probably one of the most stressful days in my life, and I have had a few!
I really didn’t want anyone to come to the Waterloo Wellington Region Breast Clinic with me and sit around all day. By the time I had driven into the parking lot the panic had set in and I wanted to turn the car around and go home. The check-in process; the waiting room full of women, all accompanied by their husbands; changing into the beautiful tie down the front hospital gown all added to the panic. And I am not a person who panics easily! Another lesson learned…Do not go to a Breast Biopsy on your own!
It was determined that I should have an ultrasound and the technician couldn’t find the mass. I came pretty close to screaming, “It is there. The Radiologist at St. Mary’s saw it, my Family Physician felt it. Bloody well, FIND THE THING!” But, of course, I didn’t. Crazy Woman! When she did find it, I was almost glad!
I was told to get dressed, go and relax, and come back at one o’clock. I do learn my lessons, and I sent a message immediately to Chaundra, my daughter, “Going back at one, come with me.”
Did a bit of Retail Therapy for a couple of hours…I am going to go bankrupt if this keeps up for much longer…and then stopped at Williams for a late breakfast. Funny, I am such a social person, but this morning I needed to be myself.
Well, not only Chaundra but Bob came back to the Clinic with me. I think they were both just waiting for me to smarten up. They probably know me better than I know myself.
We were called in with the Surgeon for a consult after about an hour. He took down my family history, yes we have history of cancer in our family. Questions like, when did I start my periods…who the hell remembers that! Sorry, just trying to make light here.
The long and short of it was that both radiologists had made comments about the mass. One had called it worrisome (my definition, it is probably full of cancer) and the other said it was suspicious (my definition, it is probably full of cancer).
The good news was that it was still SMALL! I loved hearing that word. I would have a biopsy that afternoon, but unfortunately, the pathology results wouldn’t be available for about a week. I asked about the worst case scenario and he “feels” that if it is cancer (ugh, that “C” word) the lump would be removed and some lymph nodes and because it is SMALL I would “probably” only need Radiation and no chemotherapy. Can’t believe I was feeling good at hearing I would need Radiation, almost like I was glad to be going to the Biopsy finally.
Now this is how nutty I am…I actually asked Chaundra to come into take pictures of the biopsy so I could post it here…well, I wanted to see what I was going to face before it happened. They wouldn’t let her come. I said I was only kidding. She looked at me and said, No you weren’t! They know me too well.

More to come about the biopsy later…will try and make it as humourous as a biopsy can be. Please if you would like to share your stories let me know. The purpose of this is to help other women on this journey.