CT Guided Needle Biopsy

I get checked into the hospital for the CT guided needle biopsy. Scott and my dad are with me. They take me alone into the room. The CT scan of the mass allows them to know exactly where to place the needle. After they locate the tumor they numb the area and insert the barrel type needle that stays in during the procedure. The showed me the "gun" and let me hear what it sounds like before they start. It was startling, sounding like a staple gun so I was grateful they didn't surprise me with it while it was cutting me. The technician assisting the doctor is the same technician that did my scan the week before. He was a very kind gentleman who held my hand throughout the procedure. I will always be grateful for his kindness and compassion. He was about the same age as my dad and I felt that he was actually there with me. I was shaking with fear and then the pain came. Initially there was no pain but following the first slice it started to burn. They injected more lidocane but that burned, too. After several slices I refused any more injections because they were just as painful as the slices. They offered no relief. They sent they biopsies to pathology and we waited to hear the results.

Repeat CT Scan With and Without Contrast

I visit the hospital for a repeat CT scan with and without contrast. We learn that they are looking to see if the tumors have spread anywhere else in the body. Scott has spoken with the pain management doctor several times for answers. He conveys to him that he needs to get me somewhere quickly for care, i.e. The City of Hope or UCLA. It is urgent and these facilities were the best that could be offered to someone like me. Scott's mom has a friend over at The City of Hope and together we get registered to see a doctor.

Needle Biopsy is Ordered

A CT guided needle biopsy is ordered based upon the CT results. The hospital where this is to be done first wants to repeat the CT scan. For reasons they only know, I need to repeat everything over again. First I would have to pick up copies and reports of my scans. Like any terrified patient who seeks information, I read the reports. I probably shouldn't have but I didn't know what everyone was so excited about. Why did I need to repeat everything and why did they want to stick a needle into my back? Why, I thought don't they just take this thing out and everything would go back to normal. Lymphoma of the intra-abdominal nodes is why! That was the diagnosis, lymphoma!!

Another CT Scan....WITH Contrast

It turns out they DO scan with contrast on this part of the body. I picked up the gallons of chalky drink and return to be scanned. It was quick and easy and still easy to read this poor woman trying to convince me everything was okay. We both knew it wasn't!

CT Scan

This ball did get rolling and I was set to take a CT scan of my lower back, with and without contrast. When I arrived to have the scan they inform me that they don't do scans with contrast on that area of the body. The CT was uneventlful and I went home to wait the results. I was certain their was a mass/tumor inside this swelling on my back and the technician who did my scan didn't hide it as well as she probably thought she did. The minute she came back into the room, it was written all over her face that I had something to worry about.

Pain Management

I visited the pain management doctor and immediatly he voiced his fears, kidney cancer! I was alone and terrified! I thought, for sure this doctor knows what he is talking about or he wouldn't have uttered those words. Scott jumped in his car and came and got me in Pasadena. This was when the ball truly started rolling for me.

Pain Management Doctor Referral

My primary sends me to a pain management specialist. I sat on the referral for a while because all of my understanding was that this type of doctor would manage the pain but not really fix the cause of the pain. The bump continued to grow and I was learning how to avoid situations that would cause the most pain. All of which included avoiding contact with Scott and the kids. I just couldn't see how that was going to work for very long. A friend of mine convinced me to give it a try because it could help me to get where I needed to be, with the right doctor.