It was an MRI scan. Susan alludes to it above. Not painful.
I think it was in the month between the 2 biopsies, when the doctor was deciding whether or not I should have the second one.
I’d had MRIs before when I’d bumped my head. When they do your breasts, they want to protect the rest of your torso, so when you go through the scanner, you lie face down on this molded breast-plate with two holes cut out for your breasts to drop straight through and dangle free.
While I was positioning myself, all I could think was “There are fetish-wear people out there who would love to get their hands on this thing.”
Not much to add except to agree with those that have had it. . . it’s not awful, it’s just so bizarre. The sounds, the position, all of it.
I, too had a lovely volunteer lady hold my hand and talk to me throughout. The hardest part is NOT MOVING once they’ve positioned you and taken the initial images. Moving means they might hit the wrong place.
You’ll be fine, and hopefully the results will be too!
A while back, a man I worked with was going to take advantage of a local program that was offering free prostate cancer screenings for men over 50, which involved a blood draw and a digital rectal exam (i.e. the doctor is going to stick a finger up your butt :p). We joked that he was going to have a Man-O-Gram.
If anyone runs out of things to do at 8 am Central time tomorrow, I invite you to send supportive (as it were) thoughts to my left boob. Picture it happy, healthy, frolicking in the park, floating in a swimming pool, going to the movies, being fitted for a pretty bra, and doing the fun things that boobs enjoy.
Even if it doesn’t help me, it will be fun for you, and imagining it will distract me and my boob while we’re having needles stuck in us. Thank you.
It’s over and I’m back home. It wasn’t as bad as I thought. It’s just such a grotesque posture. My arm started aching from being in a crooked position and I couldn’t move. But all in all, it was okay. The female technician did plenty of explaining, and the doctor was a peppy, cheery, informative person, too. Even the lidocaine shot was no big deal. I’ve never been a wimp about needles and don’t even mind getting an i.v. I’m still in no pain, but one of the women there said to take some ibuprofen as soon as I got home (and I just did) because it will start hurting when the local wears off.
The tech showed me the films of what they took out and the cells in question aren’t any bigger than a poppy seed! With digital imaging they can really see some serious detail. I’ll go back next week for the results. The doctor said they have everyone come in person for the results whether they’re negative or positive, that way the patients who are told to come in don’t freak out-- EVERYONE comes in.
No one gave me any ice pads. I’m still not feeling any pain. They said I didn’t bleed at all. I told them I’m a good clotter. Everyone is good at something-- singing, cooking, playing the piano-- I’m good at clotting.
I’m glad for the positive outcome for you from that day.
A long-term friend, dearly loved, just had one breast taken care of, and now there are “suspicious” cells in the other. One bit of good news is that she has a tremendously positive attitude going for her.
The cynical physician in me says that way the doctor also collects for an extra visit which is unneeded in the case of a negative biopsy, and skips the “bother” of a phone call to the patient.
Most small breast biopsies on a Friday will be completed ('signed out") by the pathologist on the following Monday, so unless there are additional studies or second opinions required, the referring physician’s office should be able to call the patient with results a day later (Tuesday).
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