The MRI results showed that the right breast was clear, thank God for that. The scan of the left breast showed a long thin 'tail' maybe only a few cells wide arising out of the tumour site, which, when added to the 2 cm tumour makes the overall area more like 6 cm. 'So it's a mastectomy then?' I say.
'Not necessarily. We need to biopsy this new area to be sure that it is also cancer.'
'And if it is?'
'Then yes, that would indicate a mastectomy.'
In the car on the way home, my husband bursts into tears as he tries to say he is so relieved the right breast is clear. This worry we have been holding inside, the fear that every time we go to the hospital we will get more bad news, that's the basis of his relief I think. We have been to the hospital and got some 'good' news for a change.
I am thinking about the biopsy, trying to imagine what this one will be like. It's going to be an MRI biopsy because they cannot see the 'new' area with an ultrasound ( they tried) nor on the mammogram (it had not shown up on previous ones) so it needs to be done under the MRI scanner. For once I only have to wait a couple of days for the scan, the doctor who is going to do it has cancelled a meeting so that he can see me before he flies out on his holiday.
