My breasts before surgery. |
While I was in her surgery she rang the Breast Clinic and ascertained that I was unlikely to get an appointment before two to three months; there are few specialised breast clinics in Western Australia, and the demand is high. I should have guessed that something was wrong when I was given an appointment at SCGH less than two weeks later, but I remained very optimistic - after all, I had no lumps or other visible or palpable symptoms.
The Breast Clinic was an experience in itself. After an initial interview with a doctor (who turned out to be the surgeon) I had a series of mammograms, then a core biopsy. To have the biopsy I lay on a table somewhat like a masseur's bench, with a strategically placed hole through which my breast poked downwards. The table was jacked up high in the air, and the work was done from below. I had to lay completely still for 45 minutes while my skin was snipped, guide wires were inserted using a series of mammograms to locate the areas of interest, then the tissue samples were taken. In my case the suspicious cells were widespread, so I had two biopsies, one immediately following the other, with no chance to stretch in between. The standard mammogram clamp was on all the time, but the bruise was caused by the biopsy itself, not the clamp.
I also had a fine-needle biopsy into the sensitive area of my left breast, just to check it out, but it was fine.
After the biopsies I sat and waited for the results. On being called back into see the doctor I realised immediately that I must have had a positive result when a breast nurse accompanied us into the consulting rooms. The doctor confirmed my suspicions and informed me that I would have to have a mastectomy because the cancer was too widespread to try for a lumpectomy. I really hadn't expected that and was quite shocked, but set out to find out what happens next and what my options were within the limits of the diagnosis. The surgeon wanted to pencil me in for a simple mastectomy the next week, but I said no, and asked about other options. The breast nurse was careful to explain what was possible, including alternative breast reconstruction techniques. I didn't have to make up my mind on the spot, but I would have to make a decision by the time of my next appointment, five days later.
The initial biopsy results suggested that my cancer was ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), meaning that the cancer was restricted to the milk ducts only, was non-invasive, and non-aggressive. I would get full pathology results at my next visit.
One of the side effects of the diagnosis was that I had to cease hormone replacement therapy immediately - there went my sleep!
