| Deep Core - The Expedition into the Center of the Unknown |
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The time has finally come for me to go see a surgeon. I was armed with all the films from my mammogram, ultrasound and my MRI. I was ready to get down to business and get this over with.
I didn't have to wait long before the nurse called my name and lead me into the area where the exam rooms are. She first led me into one room with the typical exam table, chairs and counter. She then decided to move me to a different room thinking the doctor would like to do his own ultrasound.
So, once again after she got me into the room she promptly hands me one of those lovely paper vests and tells me to put it on.
I do believe they should just issue me my own personal paper vest and I could just wear that to my appointments, it would save a lot of time.
The doctor soon comes in and we exchange pleasantries and he begins to ask me some questions. The same old questions I have been asked before concerning family history, when I first noticed the lump etc etc.
He then says he's going to do an ultrasound himself. So I laid down on the table and threw my arm up over my head. He first comes over and feels the lump and then he brings the ultrasound machine over. He squirts the nice warm goop on me and takes a look on the machine.
When he is done I sit up and he tells me his impressions. He does believe it is breast cancer but the only way to be sure is to do a biopsy of it. When I hear that, I'm thinking oh great, now I have to wait even longer before I find out what this is.
He then informs me that he will be doing the biopsy right then and there and they just need to get some equipment for the procedure. Well, so much for having to wait again.
I have to lie back down on the table with my arm up over my head, which is not exactly the most comfortable position. He then places a small wedge under my right side to get a better position of the lump. This now makes me feel like I'm about to fall off the side of the table, but I manage to hang on with my left hand.
I then look up to see an extremely large needle coming towards my right breast.
"This won't hurt long, this will make the area deaden."
Yeah, right! You're sticking a sharp needle into a place that it shouldn't be near, and you're telling me it won't hurt long! I'll believe that when I -- Oh, whoa, wait, you're right, I don't feel a thing. Hey, that’s kind of cool. Weird, but cool.
He then brings out the scalpel. He needs to make a small incision in my breast to be able to insert the biopsy needle. He tells me I shouldn't feel a thing.
Well, I'm not too sure how well this anesthetic is really working, so I figure the best way to know is to turn my head and NOT watch him slice me. If I can't feel it, well then I know the drugs are open. If I can, well, we'll not think about that.
He then brings out the big gun. It is called a deep core biopsy needle. You gotta love a piece of equipment with the name "deep core" in it. To put it simply, it basically looks like your average handheld fire starter except it has a large needle on it. You know the kind where you just pull the trigger and a flame comes out the other end. Well, on a core needle, when you pull the trigger you don't get a flame, but you do get a rather loud "SNAP".
After he pulled the trigger twice, Doc then proceeded to place the needle into the incision from earlier and then guides himself using the ultrasound. I'm just lying there, trying to mind my own business, looking up at the ceiling, counting the tiles, not bothering anybody, slowly drifting off to sleep.
SNAP!!!
"Did that hurt?" He asks calmly as he peels me off the ceiling.
"Uh, no just startled me a bit is all" I reply. He could have at least warned me! I was practically asleep.
It takes two snaps to get a sample of the tumor. After that initial snap I decided I better pay more attention and be prepared for it. He did another snap, which didn't seem to be quite so loud and then removed the needle. He placed the sample into a specimen cup and then turned back to drill again.
The second time I was prepared for the snap, but this time it actually hurt. Then he came for the third go round. What could happen now?
Well, you wouldn't believe it. This time, nothing happened. It was the easiest of all three! LOL!
He finally removed the needle and then closed my incision. That was it; I was done for the day.
Now it was just a matter of waiting for a week to get the final diagnoses.
I hate waiting; I'm not a patient person.
18:27 But he said, Things which are not possible with man are possible with God.
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