Betrayed

Biopsy

"Do you have an appointment, Miss?" an elderly gentleman in a teal blazer asked.

"Hi, yes I do," I smiled. He led me to a number reel and handed me a piece of paper with a number.

"You can sit here dear, and when they call your number you can go see the receptionist. Have your cards ready and have a nice day" he said walking towards another helpless soul. A chime indicated the number change on the screen and I made my way to the chair across from the receptionist.

"Health card?" she asked and began typing furiously. "You haven't been to this hospital before?" I shook my head. "Okay, you'll have to fill out this form so we can open a chart for you here. When you are done you can come right back here and I will register you okay?" She handed me a clipboard with a pen attached to it and I filled in the questionnaire as I was told. It took at least 15 minutes for her to register me.

"You will have your ultrasound first, so just follow the green arrows and put this file in box number 14, have a great day" she smiled. I was greeted by a technician when I arrived at box 14, he brought me to a changing room and instructed that I remove everything above the belt and to don 2 hospital gowns.

"The first one ties in the back, and you wear the second one like a housecoat, '' he instructed. "Just come right into the room when you are ready". The gowns were itchy against my skin and a little suffocating. I walked over to the technician's room pulling the second robe tightly around me, disliking how naked I felt without my bra on.

"You can take off this robe" he said pointing to the housecoat "and untie the other one at the back, I will need full access to your neck and shoulders" he said while fiddling with a large machine. Dumbfounded, I wondered why they bothered giving me the second robe if I was going to remove it so soon, but I kept my questions to myself.

I laid flat on a hard leather table with my neck hyperextended. The technician squirted some warm gel on my throat and proceeded with the ultrasound. I stared at the technician for any signs of surprise or concern but his face was completely unreadable. After what seemed like forever he announced that he was going to page the radiologist to come and do the biopsy. I glanced at the clock to see that it was already 4. I wished someone had come with me to help me pass the time and help calm my nerves. I took a deep breath and relaxed my muscles which were incredibly tense. A heaviness sat on my chest as my anxiety mounted. If only I could turn back time and never mention this lump to my doctor. Now that I had asked questions, I was afraid of the answers I would find. I was scared and alone. I started to hyperventilate as the radiologist walked in.

"Miss Saunders, I'm doctor Khenessi, I will be doing the biopsy on your lump. How are you doing?" he asked. I swallowed hard and smiled at him. How the hell do you think I'm doing, you're about to poke me in the throat with a needle!

"Good, thanks" I replied.

"Good, so this procedure doesn't take very long but we do have to keep you here for half an hour afterwards to monitor your vital signs" he explained. I nodded at him. "First thing I'm going to do is freeze that area of your neck, then, once it's numb I'll use this ultrasound to guide the biopsy needle. You might feel some pressure but you shouldn't feel any pain. If you do, let me know. Is that clear?"

"Yes doc" my mouth was incredibly dry in pure fear.

The doctor left the room and a nurse walked in.

"Miss Harper Saunders?'' She asked "My name is Linda, I will be assisting Doctor Khenessi. '' Can you tell me your date of birth?"

"October 6th, 1988" I replied