8. A morning visit to the hospital

9:40am sharp at Yeovil Hospital on the 29th I had to be in the Breast Surgery Clinic to see Miss Naseem. Due to Covid you have to go in alone. She was running a bit late, which was fine, I had no other plans that day. I was called into her room for an exam. Miss Naseem and another Breast Care nurse was in the room. I took my top and bra off for the first time that day (many time more to follow).

She examined my breast and confirmed she could fill a lump. She was concerned that even though it moved it bit, it was very hard. She circled it in pen then sent me for an Ultrasound and Biopsy. She said once they are done come back to see her.

Wondered to a different part of the hospital, sat in another waiting room and called in by a nurse for the ultrasound. Top and bra off again. Clear gel was put on the sensor and then she placed it on my boob…that stuff is cold! Again I was having a nosy at the screen, not that I could make heads or tails of what I’m looking at, but it’s interesting to see. She could see a lump and wanted to do a biopsy on it as it clearly wasn’t an abscess.

First she wanted me to have a mammogram. Bra and top back on and wondered round to another part of the hospital. The lady doing the mammogram was very nice, as has all the NHS staff ive dealt with so far. She joked and told me shes quite bossy as she need to get me in the correct position. I said boss away as I have no idea what I'm doing! I took my bra and top off again and stood in front of this big scary looking machine. She cupped my boob and placed it between 2 plates, these closed together on squished my boob. Yes it was a bit uncomfortable, but again rather that than the consequences of not having it. The plates opened and the big machine span round so the plates were nearly vertical. Again boob in, and most my armpit and squish. All in all it took less than 10 mins to do the mammogram.

I get dressed, but this time I didn’t bother putting my bra back on as I knew it will be off again in 5 mins! Back to the ultrasound lady. Laid out on the bench she explained the procedure for the biopsy. A local anesthetic, small incision and then a needle goes in. You hear a click when it grabs the tissue and that’s it, simple. And it was just that. All done in a few mins. A dressing and a few steri-strips had to stay on for a few days and all should heal nicely.

I can imagine all the so far can sound very daunting. But everyone is so nice and friendly, they put you at ease. It was all a bit of a whirlwind morning! I also think suffering with chronic pain, none of the procedures felt that uncomfortable.

Once the biopsy was done I went back to see Miss Naseem. Some reason she seem surprised that I went for a mammogram as people my age don’t normally have them, but hey ho, its done. She asked me what did the ultrasound lady said, I said I don’t actually remember…she did see something and explained what it could be but my memory is terrible, especially is circumstances like this!

She said she would check the ultrasound and mammogram once the biopsy results are back. I would then be called in for the results.