My last regularly scheduled breast MRI was in June 2022, and it was all clear. The tissue biopsied from the October 2022 breast reduction was all clear. In December, I would typically have had my mammogram and ultrasound, but I didn't schedule it as my breasts were still recovering, and they were being removed in January. Dr. Lee Char advised/required me to have a mammogram/ultrasound pre-surgery just in case. I managed to schedule it for January 3 - the day we arrived home from our vacation.
I cheerfully arrived on January 3 and was nonplussed when the radiologist (no longer Dr. Harriet, as she relocated to New Jersey for personal and professional reasons) needed some additional pictures of my right breast. That's happened before. After the ultrasound, the radiologist said there was a suspicious area, and they'd like to do an MRI. My response was that my surgery was on January 10 - so we need to move quickly. My MRI was on January 4. I wasn't worried about seeing a curveball because I already had a plan that I thought was ironclad, regardless of the biopsy results. I figured - no matter what, my breasts would be gone in a few days, and I had been cancer-free in October. Even if it was cancer, it couldn't be advanced, and the surgery would eradicate it.
After the MRI, Mills Women's Health Center called to say I needed a Core Needle Aspiration (CNA).
I stepped into the batter's box, sized up the spin, speed, and trajectory of this unexpected pitch, gathered information, marshaled my strengths, and swung at the pitch. I advocated and pushed the timeline because there are 3 surgeons, 3 fellows (also surgeons), anesthesiology, and people traveling to support me - moving my surgery from January 10 was a lot of hassle. In fact, I told the scheduler that I was not prepared to move the surgery that would remove the tumor IF there actually was a tumor. If the doctors needed to know in advance if the suspicious mass was cancer, they were going to have to adjust to my schedule. So they did. Somehow, they found an 8am appointment on January 5.
The CNA was exceptionally painful, even with my high pain tolerance. I wasn't sure if it was more painful because I had been so pushy about getting it done quickly, but no one mentioned the considerable and lasting pain I would have following the CNA. In fact, the radiologist advised me that the sound of the biopsy device was loud and I should not jump when I heard it. When I felt brass knuckles collide with the right side of my right breast, I gasped and looked at him - "I think you buried the lede there.' In any case, my right breast was seriously bruised. It was worth it - my surgery was on track, and the disruption to my life was on my timeline.
I went through the weekend preparing myself for the surgery and recovery. I barely considered if I was on the chain lift of the cancer roller coaster. Even if it was cancer, my mother and sister had surgery first, so perhaps I was ahead of the curve. Maybe I was delusional, but I think the magnitude of the surgery (10-14 hours) as well as previously false alarms distracted me from the possibility that this time, it was cancer. Tracey thought it would be fun to have a Bye-Bye Boobies party on Monday night, January 9, where my girlfriends (and guy friends) could say “thanks for the mem” and send my breasts off into the sunset.
Jessica is a master planner, and she had the invitations, restaurant, and RSVPs all complete for a fun party before my extensive surgery. It was scheduled outdoors, just to be safe. I liked keeping it light and focusing on my cancer-free future. The best-laid plans…
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