The tech applied the goop, also known as Conductive/Ultrasound gel, generously across my chest. If I could have laid across my stomach, I could have slalomed my way to Florida in 10.07 seconds, a new record. She calibrated the machine then began the exploration. Again, the right breast was left for last. I flinched when she pressed on the already tender boob.
She spent an inordinate amount of time on the lump. "They will probably want to biopsy this." She said. Then she was done.
"Wait. Could you check something for me? I asked. "Seeing as I’m already here covered in this stuff..." She waited for me to go on. "I have a small lump on my left side, by my rib cage. They’ve looked at it already, but I’d like to be sure." Every lump or bump was now suspect.
"Okay. Show me where, exactly." She ran the wand over it. I held my breath. "It’s nothing. Look." She turned the monitor toward me. "See? It’s not attached to anything. It’s just a lipoma." (A fatty tumor, for you novices) I let out my breath.
"Thanks. I just wanted to be sure." I said, gratefully.
I had visions of all type of malignancies taking up residence in my body. Hey! I’m a lumpy girl --Whatta you expect? The ripple-less smooth body of my early 20s has long since been replaced by an older, doughy one.
"Okay. Get dressed." I asked for some paper towels to wipe the goop off. She gave me a couple, I stared at her. She turned and pointed to the dispenser. "Take what you need."
Back in the now super familiar waiting room, I called Mona again.
"I’m done with the ultrasound, I’m just waiting to see the surgeon now. They might want to do a biopsy." I wanted to warn her.
"Biopsy?!?" She was on full alert. She sputtered a couple of second, looking for exactly the right words. "Well they won’t do that today–" Silence. Then, "Nah. I think you’re wrong, they never do it right away." Trying to convince herself more than me.
I heard my name. "Gotta go. They’re calling me..." I hung up.
To be continued...
©2006 Annelise Pichardo
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