3: My personal “profile team”

August 17, 2015/Monday

The CD’s that I expressed mailed to the CCC, which contained my diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound would not import onto the CCC computer. Maui Diagnostic Imaging (MDI) burned another CD and I also printed my images. I printed select images of my own ultrasound.  Working along side with Dr. Lander I knew which images she would want to have. However, I also knew that Dr. Lander or a technologist  would be scanning prior to the biopsy. We drove to Palm Springs so I could drop off these images and CD’s. I reached out to one of my fellow co-workers, she met me outside and took my images. I would have loved to have gone in the Cancer Center, but I knew how busy they were and I did not want to disrupt their busy Monday morning.

August 18, 2015/Tuesday

Driving to Palm Springs that morning was different. My husband Jack and daughter Jacquelyn went with me. For five years I would drive to that Cancer Center to go to work. Prepping sterile trays for a biopsy that I would be in on with one of our Radiologist. Consenting patients, explaining the biopsy, assisting with the biopsy then afterwards holding pressure over the biopsy site. After an Ultrasound Guided Core Biopsy a two view mammogram is obtained to confirm tissue marker placement……..I knew exactly what was going to happen.

I was immediately registered, all the familiar faces started to see me there. I did not hesitate to tell them why I was there cause I needed all the support I could get…….lots of hugs. The Cancer Center Supervisor came and took me back, she did an Ultrasound on me prior to the biopsy for Dr. Lander. I was then taken into the 3-D automated ultrasound room to have that scan preformed on me. An ABUS is performed on women with dense breast tissue. Additional Mammo images were also done, Catherina did Magnification views of the “Unsub”…………..the profile team was hard at work!

Laying on that table was surreal. The area was cleaned off by Dr. Lander. The local anesthesia was administered, except I was on the receiving end. I knew that when Dr. Lander asked for the #11, that it meant “scalpel” I knew it was time for the #11 because she had already numbed superficially and deep into the tissue! So I said, ” I didn’t hear you ask for the #11?” Her response was, “you know too much, there for I am using facial expressions”………the biopsies started. I had three biopsies that day, one on a lymph node and two of the “Unsub”. The area on the Left breast was two lesions. The position I was in permitted me to watch on the monitor as each sample was retrieved with her 14g Tru-Cut needle. Doctor numbed me up so well that I did not feel a thing, only slight nudging……no pain! After the biopsies were over then came the hold pressure part! Sometimes the pressure held is more uncomfortable than the biopsy, but very necessary. So there I lay, allowing my friend hold damn good pressure on me. You finish up a biopsy with post instructions, I know those by heart……..I was given my post instructions!……………the biopsies were done…………tomorrow I will know.