Above the waist
Well, I had my first mammogram today. That’s not what I was expecting when I started my day, but that’s where I ended up. With my left boob smashed between two plastic plates. I’ll tell you how I got there, but I also want to ask some advice. So if you have time, read the whole thing and help me out.
In December I was laying in bed on my right side, reading a book. I had my left arm propped up on the side of my left boob to better hold the book, and I noticed a pain. Hmm, my boob kind of hurts, that’s odd. So I felt around a bit, and sure enough, a lump. I showed the Giraffe who thought I should get myself to to the doctor that very second, but I waited and had my sister check it out for me the next time I saw her. She said it was probably ok to wait until my doctor appointment in mid-January. Well, you know how that went, and I ended up not seeing a doctor until mid-February.
The doctor felt the lump during my breast exam, but seemed very unconcerned. She had me set up an appointment for a breast ultrasound, explaining that it felt more solid than cancerous lumps usually feel, and that the ultrasound should tell us what we need to know.
This afternoon, I went into the Cancer Center downtown (that’s intimidating!) and was ushered into a small room to change into a gown from the waist up. By the way, most unflattering gowns ever invented.
(Could I look any wider?)
In the exam room, they looked at my breasts, felt for the lump and marked it with a pen. Then they propped me up so my left breast was easily accessible, squirted it with warm gel, and put the ultrasound wand to work. The screen looked like nothing to me. I have no idea how they can tell anything from this mess:
(Yes I grabbed my camera and took that when the technician left the room for a moment.)
After the technician showed the doctor (who I never even met) the scans, she told me they were inconclusive.
“The doctor wants you to have a mammogram to get a better look.”
“Um, today?”
“Yep. I’ll get the room ready and we’ll do it right now.”
Three minutes later and I was face-to-face with a big shiny mammogram machine. Oddly, I wasn’t really nervous. I asked her how long I’d be smooshed, and she said no more than 20 seconds. That sounded tolerable. She positioned my left breast on the shelf of the machine, lowered the top plate, walked away to push a button, the machine made a noise for about five seconds, and it released my boob. When it was done, I literally asked if that was it because I didn’t believe it was that easy. She had to do another one with my breast in sideways, and that was a bit more uncomfortable, but still very tolerable. When she told me that the side scan wasn’t good enough and we’d have to do it again, I admit, I was a little annoyed. But truly, the mammogram was nothing like I expected based on horror stories I’d heard. Supposedly breast size makes a difference, but for anyone with a D-cup, I can assure you, it’s not bad! In fact, because the top plate is clear, I was more fascinated by the sight of my pancaked boob than I was worried about pain.
Anyway! The unseen doctor was shown the results of the mammogram, and when the technician returned, I was told that I’d need a biopsy. They think it’s a fibrous mass, and they want to do a biopsy to rule out anything worrisome. A biopsy yo! A mother fucking needle! IN MY BOOB! My mother, who has had myriad health problems in her 49 years, has never even had a breast biopsy. I’m 29 and next week I’m gonna have a needle in my boob. A needle that will take a piece of boob away with it! The ultrasound and the mammogram didn’t scare me. This scares me. Not to mention, for the last couple months I was pretty confident there was nothing to worry about. Just a gut feeling. Now even my gut is a little worried.
So here’s where I need advice. Part of me thinks that a lot of this is happening because I handed over an insurance card when I checked in. If I didn’t have insurance, would they have done an ultrasound AND a mammogram AND request a biopsy? Do they just assume my insurance will cover it, so run all the tests in the world. No problem! If insurance really did cover all this, I wouldn’t worry, but if you remember, I have a high-deductible plan, meaning I’m going to be paying for most, if not all, of this myself.
If I were to call and explain that and ask if this biopsy is absolutely necessary, would they tell me the truth? Should I do that? There is some history of breast cancer in my family, and that makes me not want to mess around here. But how do I determine if this is really necessary and worth the cost? Do I just trust what the doctor (who I never met!) says and get it done whatever the cost?
I think they normally don’t continue to run the tests unless it looks necessary. If they could be sure of everything with one test, that’s what they’d normally do.
They are not doing it for insurance purposes, it’s their job to check everything. Please get it done. My mom had a biopsy, and then a bit more I think. Turned out ok though. Call me if you have trouble sleeping. I want to call you tonight, but don’t want to wake you. This is creepy to read now because the character in the book I’m reading now just went to the doctor and had an ultrasound, then a biopsy (because she had already had her regular mammogram). Just read that chapter a few hours ago, and reading your blog seemed too real for me. Again, call me if you’re up tonight.
I agree with the others – do the tests! Better to be safe than sorry!
First of all, let’s establish that anyone who tried to come near my boob with a giant needle would get a karate chop to the neck. Okay.
Second of all, if all this came out of a regular exam, you might want to question the necessity. But, you do kinda have a lump in your boob. And that’s kinda not cool. My mom had breast cancer, and they had to cut off both her boobs. Do you really want your boobs cut off? (Especially since they never get the replacement nipples quite right…)
Who knows whether they would have done this work-up without insurance, but I can’t think of money better spent. Peace of mind and the assurance that anything worrisome will be quickly and safely dealt with? You can’t put a price on that.
Well, let me first say that I think it is highly unacceptable that you NEVER saw a doctor. I would certainly complain about that. Even for just peice of mind, he should have come in and explained to you what was going on.
Second, definitely get the biopsy.
I will tell you right now, chances are the technician and the doctor have no idea what kind of coverage if any at all. I was always being asked, do you have good insurance, which tells me they didn’t know. The reason they would ask, is because if I did, then they would give better medicine, if I didn’t. I wouldn’t.
You should have it done. My mother-in-law just had a biopsy on Friday. It wouldn’t have been so bad for her,except she was allergic to the anesthesia. So that made her stomach sick, but as far as her chest, it wasn’t too bad.
As to Babs response, not seeing a doctor is not a big deal. In fact, it’s better that you didn’t see the doctor. If the doctor sees you for like 2 minutes, which is all they would have seen you for, your insurance and you would be charged booko bucks. Trust me, I have enough medical experience to know that. The doctor would tell you no more than what everyone else does, until the biopsy comes back.
Get it checked out!
I’d do the test… only for peace of mind.
And I’ve always wondered about the mammogram machine! I have A-cup boobs so I wonder if its even possible…
I can’t believe you could ever sleep again not doing the biopsy. You wouldn’t wonder? Always, always better safe than sorry. PLease do it.
Get it done. I have notoriously good insurance, and I was told that I didn’t need a biopsy when they did my mammogram/ultrasound.
Although I’m usually skeptical of medical professionals, I don’t think they’re doing it because you have insurance. I think they legitimately need to do it in this case and your best bet is to get it done.
I’m sorry you have to go through all of this.
My second comment ever, please Shannon get it done. It will help with peace of mind.
dude. get it done.
Definitely get the biopsy. That way you never have to worry. I recently had a needle biopsy and it was cake. I was really nervous though. They numb your breast (it takes like a second because they are so fatty). Then they insert the needle into the mass using the ultrasound screen to direct themselves and the needle kind of sucks out a portion of the mass. Really, no big deal. One of my lumps was completely removed by the needle biopsy. You really should have it done for peace of mind if nothing else. Good luck!
Shan, first of all, holy crap!
Second, I say, this is nothing to mess with. Better to be safe than extremely sorry. Do it. Have the tests done. Please.
It’s not the insurance card. It’s the big boobs. I have big, “fibrous” boobs and even though every doctor looked at the mass and said, “it’s probably just a fibroid” I still found myself lying on my side with a needle jabbed in my boob. You can back channel me if you want.
Shannon, I believe we have a unanimous vote here! Get it done! Ewww… I had that Cable guy’s voice come into my head… get-er-dun, sorry for that.
Thought erased.