Biopsy needed.

Good Golly, Miss Molly! Last month I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. On Monday I was given a referral to investigate my suddenly enlarged thyroid gland - that happens tomorrow. And today was my annual check up at the breast clinic. I feel a little bit like I'm falling apart. Two years ago I noticed some thickening in my breast. Comfortingly, while the area does seem to have increased, the mammograms and ultrasounds have all been clear. Today the tech said that there's a new change they'd like to check out. "The ultrasound turned up something small. It looks benign. But the Mammogram also demonstrated something in that breast. They might not be the same thing.. It's pretty high up on the US, and it's possible the mammogram couldn't see it. So we will see you on Tuesday, and we'll stick a needle in and do a core biopsy under ultrasound, then send you back to mammogram to see if we need to do a stereostatic biopsy as well." I'd love not to worry, but I feel so defective. My normally positive attitude seems to have unceremoniously left the building. I am trying to take positives where I can - they haven't said there is anything wrong - the tech said the US mass looks like it could be benign - and they didn't rush and do it straight away. But I just want the waiting to be over. And I want good results. I don't know how to do anything else right now. I am here hoping that the reasoned voices of experience will help me prepare and get me through the next few days.

Will the biopsy hurt? Do the results take long? Is there anything I should ask about?

Thanks, Karlyrie. That's good to hear! I hope your results were good? I know I complain, but we are pretty lucky to have access to testing in the first place. I just did an intensive unit abroad with my university, and saw how many developed countries place such things low on their list of priorities. It's pretty scary.

I'm not normally a chicken, but the thought of anybody messing with my boobies has me laying eggs. I am a BioMed student, so I am trying to be all cool and clinical about it all, but I'm a bit hopeless. I should take some lessons from 'dream' me. About a month or two back there was a bunch of stuff going on in my dream, but when I woke up in the morning the only thing I could remember was that I had breast cancer. It wasn't even part of the storyline. Just something I was aware of. Dream me wasn't nearly as worried, though. She was cool as a cucumber. That chick rocks. :P

Oh earthly - I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Having to deal with idoits doesn't make the process any easier. Hope you received good results (and I hope Karen made out ok too...lol.)