Post Biopsy

Biopsies hurt.

In essence I have a solid mass in my right breast.

Two weeks ago I had a sonogram which confirmed that the mass was solid meaning not a cyst and not a lymph node. 

After that  the next step was getting an image guided large-core needle biopsy.

And when they say the needle is big…they mean big.

Despite the local anesthetic they inject in before everything it still feels like someone is shoving a pencil into you because the doctor does physically have to shove to get the needle in. 

I being the pansy I am, covered my eyes the whole time. 

This was a far worse idea. Why you ask?  

Because this isn’t just they poke a needle in and then suck up some blood.

No, when they take out the tissue samples they use something that makes a mechanical whirring sound similar to the sound of a thumbtack or a rubber-band getting sucked up a vacuum cleaner.

It honestly still bugs me that I did not look to see what the heck was making the noise.

After the samples are taken they stick a tiny titanium marker in and leave it there forever. Just to tell future doctors “hey no need to shove something in here again, we’ve checked this one out.”

Thank you tiny marker, for saving me repeat experiences and giving me the satisfaction of knowing I have a tiny bit of awesomeness implanted in me.

Now two days later I am dirty and sore. I am not allowed to take a shower for another day in order to prevent infection or something.

The last part is waiting to see if I have a potentially life threatening disease. 

Yay…nothing like breast cancer scares at twenty-years-old to make a girl feel like a statistical anomaly. I am soooo special.