Another Biopsy: Not On My List of 2022 Summer Fun!

A biopsy wasn’t on my list of 2022 summer fun. And yet, here I am, about three years after my very first abnormal mammogram, facing another biopsy. I’m not excited. 

At the beginning of June 2022, I headed into my regularly scheduled imaging. As the day approached, I had twinges of worry. Would this be the one that resulted in more diagnostic imaging or biopsies? Turns out it would be.

After my lumpectomy in 2019, my surgeon set me up with an imaging schedule every six months. The right side, the one that had the DCIS, would be imaged every time, and I would have bilateral imaging annually. Thankfully, my right breast has been uninteresting since my surgery and radiation. The left side, not so much.

The Eventful Mammogram Session

Since I have a history of breast cancer, my mammograms are scheduled as diagnostic. This means that I have the opportunity to talk to a radiologist right after the scan. I had hoped to leave my mammogram this time with good news. Instead, I left with a referral for a biopsy.

My appointment began simply enough. I was called back into the changing area and shown to a changing room. After putting my clothes in the locker, I changed into the pink imaging smock and grabbed my phone. I have learned that keeping my phone with me during imaging helps me stay distracted and keep the anxiety at bay.  

I didn’t have time to get nervous because they were ready for me immediately. The tech greeted me, reviewed my history, and then marked my two scars with special marking tape. These markers aid in the interpretation of the 3D mammogram. 

After two images of each breast were taken, I was asked to wait in the room while the tech and the radiologist talked. I sat down in the chair and pulled out my phone. Like clockwork, my heart began to pound, and my arms began to quiver. I don’t mind the imaging, but I hate the waiting. Thankfully I have a few games on my phone that allow me to stay distracted and keep the panic at bay.  

It didn’t take long for the radiologist to come into the room. I was happy to see her because that usually means we are all done. Not this time. She wanted to have me come back for an ultrasound.

Pursing a Same-Day Ultrasound

“Could we do the ultrasound now, please? I’m happy to wait.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Let me check and see,” she responded.

It seemed like I needed to add a little more color to the story to get them to work me in. “In the past, I’ve been able to move right from the diagnostic mammogram to an ultrasound on the same day. Could we do that today? The insurance coding usually allows for additional imaging with a diagnostic mammogram. Are there any calls I can make to get this done today? ” I was working all the angles.

I had just been on the phone with radiology scheduling for another member of my family, and I knew that the wait time would likely be weeks. I was not interested in leaving with an order for more imaging. 

The radiologist and the tech said they were willing to ask and see what the options were. I was asked to wait in the private waiting area while they worked out the details.  

I found a chair and got comfortable. Time to pull out the Disney emoji and let Dave know I would be there longer. A half an hour passed, and I realized that the techs were starting to clean out the changing rooms. It was late on a Friday afternoon. Had they forgotten about me?

I decided to get up and ask what the status was. The staff confirmed the order from my surgeon did allow for more imaging, but first, they needed to finish up with their regularly scheduled patients. When I returned to the waiting area, I decided to sit in a chair visible from the main hallway. Hiding in the back of the waiting room might not be the best plan on a Friday afternoon.

After quite a while, the tech called me back to the ultrasound room. The imaging didn’t take long, and soon she left to consult with the radiologist. When they both returned, I was excited. Looks like we were done with imaging.  

Results Time

Then the radiologist said that she wanted to order a biopsy. I have a round, palpable mass on an area of my left breast (the non-cancer side) that has increased in size since last year. This was cause for suspicion. It had the appearance of a fibroadenoma, but the size change was enough to cause them to be cautious.  

“What BiRads would you place this as?” I asked, trying to process the news that I would need a biopsy.

“I’d put it as a 4 because of the increase in size.” 

“Well, I know that BiRads 4 is a big category. If you were to put a letter on it- A, B, or C, which would you choose?”

I could see her weighing the different choices in her head. “I think I’d put it as a low suspicion, an A. I highly recommend the biopsy, though.”

Blah. I was not excited about this and decided that I would need to consult with my surgeon to get his perspective. I was pretty sure he could agree with the radiologist, but I wanted to have the conversation anyway.  

Heading Home and More Waiting

It was late on a Friday, so I wasn’t going to get any answers from him over the weekend. Time to head home and wrap my mind around the fact that a biopsy was upcoming.

Note to self – don’t schedule diagnostic imaging on a Friday afternoon. The weekend of waiting wasn’t fun. I did plant some flowers in the yard, which was an excellent distraction. However, I know my surgeon is in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, so a Friday appointment means waiting a long time to get hold of him.

I was able to have a phone call with my surgeon on Thursday, nearly a week after the imaging. As I suspected, he agreed with the radiologist. I appreciated the additional information he shared about why we would do the biopsy. It wasn’t simply the size change. There were some questions about the border of the finding that were questionable as well. During that appointment, I asked him if he could prescribe me anything for anxiety. I had no idea how I would feel approaching the biopsy. I’d rather have something as an option if I’m feeling overwhelmed. He was happy to do so.

The next day, I called to schedule the biopsy for after my vacation. There was no way I was going to start my vacation recovering from a biopsy!  

I’m heading into the biopsy in a few days. It’s been nice to have the time to go on vacation, recover from the excitement, and make significant progress on my book publishing process. I hope to have some more concrete news to share soon!

Until then, I’ll be rereading my Biopsy Prep post and getting the dark sheets on my bed.

I appreciate all the good thoughts and prayers as I move from the imaging phase of cancer survivorship back into the diagnosis process.