It was late March 1994. I was putting Spencer to bed one night and he kicked me around my left breast. It was a playful kick, but it hurt. I reached up and felt my left breast. I felt a lump in it. After putting Spencer to bed, I went into our guest bedroom where I examined both breasts closer. There was an obvious lump in my left breast and I became alarmed after feeling both. At first I just thought I was imagining things-surely I didn't have a lump!

I have always been sporatic about examining my breasts. Mainly because breast cancer has never really haunted me-as there is no history of it in my family, and besides I have always been in good shape and good health. However, having discovered a lump, I was suddenly flooded with guilt. Last year I had turned 40 and I vowed to myself that I would get a baseline mamogram as recommended. But, like many things I managed to put it off all year. Now I was 41 and still had not done it.

I mentioned the lump to John that evening and I promised I would get a mamogram at the first of the week. That next day (Monday), I made an appointment at Bertrand Breast Center. The following day when I went in I informed the technician that it was my first mamogram and I also told her about the lump in my left breast. After the mamogram, the technician said she was going to do a sonogram of the lump. I was escorted into another room where I laid on a table while the technician rubbed a monitor over my left breast. After taking pictures, a doctor on staff came in and checked me out. Afterwards he told me to make an appointment with my regular doctor.

I called Dr Lebauer's office the next day and explained what I needed to see him about. The nurse explained I needed to see a surgeon. The word "surgeon" sent a chill down my spine- somehow I just didn't think things were that serious-YET!

My mother-in-law, who had a masectomy ten years earlier recommended Dr. Michael Leone, the surgeon who she had had. So, I made an appointment for April 1, 1994-the day before I was to leave for summer camp at Fort Bragg for two weeks. Dr. Leone was very nice- a real personable kind of guy. He examined me then said he was going to aspirate the lump by sticking a needle in it. He said that if it was just a cyst-by draining the fluid out all would be taken care of. He tried to aspirate it, but it was a solid mass- as he predicted. He then asked me a lot of questions concerning my medical and family history. He then listed my options- in this case either do a needle biopsy or a regular surgical biopsy. He highly recommended the surgical biopsy as he said the results were much more conclusive. So I set up a biopsy for May 6, 1994 at the Day Surgery Center next to Cone Hospital. Dr. Leone stated that my waiting 2-3 weeks would not be that critical. I was all set for summer camp and certainly didn't want to switch gears at the last minute.

During summer camp I thought about the upcoming biopsy and every night would feel my left breast and the lump in it. Subconsciously, I guess I tried to "will" it away, but it was always there. I shared the fact I was to have a biopsy with just a couple of people. Most everyone would say, "oh, my sister had that, but it was only a cyst". It was always downplayed- but to me it was real and frightening.

I still had trouble trying to put it out of my mind. I came back from summer camp and the following weekend John had three major weddings going (one in Charlotte and two in Greensboro) that I'd promised to help him with which had further postponed my biopsy by one more week.

Finally May 6th came. It was a Friday. Actually, let me back up to Thursday night. John again had the Blandwood Ball coming up the next weekend so he was extremely busy. Since my biopsy was scheduled early- I spent the night with mom and dad. They took me out to Anton's for a belated birthday dinner, we had a nice visit. Mom took me that next morning to Cone Day Surgery Center. I had to be there at 6:30am. When I arrived, I read some surgery procedure instructions and then signed a form. Shortly thereafter a nurse came and got me. She gave me a hospital gown and some slipper socks and directed me to the restroom to change. I placed all my clothes in a plastic bag. She took me to a small cubicle which contained a comfortable recliner chair and another chair-the doorway was secured with a curtain. As I sat in the big comfortable chair, the nurse took my vital signs. When I had come in that morning, I thought I had recognized a co-worker. Then as I listened I heard the nurse talking to him in the cubicle across from mine. I peeked my head out and said "Steve, what are you in for?" He squinted as he did not have his glasses and said "Lynn, is that you?" and then said, "I'm having hernia surgery". I informed him I was having a biopsy and wished him good luck. Steve was another Greensboro Police Sergeant that had graduated in the same academy class as me. It's a small world!!

The nurse then went and got my mom and brought her back to my cubicle to sit with me until time for surgery. While waiting, the anesthesiologist came back to explain the stuff he would be giving me to put me to sleep. Then Dr. Leone came back and explained the procedure.

Shortly thereafter, the nurse walked me back to the operating room. It seemed strange walking back and climbing onto the table. I was strapped down- both arms and feet. I felt like I was being nailed to a cross! The IV drip acted very quickly and then I was out like a light! The next thing I remembered is them asking me to assist as I was being scooted onto a gurney and wheeled into the recovery room. I was still really groggy and really just wanted to sleep but the nurse came in asking if I wanted something to drink. I got a coke- I remember shaking alot- I'm not sure if I was cold or just nervous! Dr. Leone came back and said that he had gotten the lump and it would be sent to Pathology. He stated he wanted to see me in his office Monday morning and the nurse would set up my appointment.

I was still kind of out of it, but I noticed that Dr. Leone (a very optimistic, upbeat kind of guy) seemed surprisingly sober and serious. He did not say anything encouraging like "it looks benign" or "everything's great". At the time his demeanor struck me as odd, but it also sobered me into thinking maybe it really is bad. Fortunately, I did not dwell on what the outcome was going to be.

Within 15 minutes after surgery, I was up and getting dressed. After dressing, I had to wait for mom as she had left to run an errand. I was set up with an appointment to see Dr. Leone on May 9, 1994 at 0930 hours.

Mom drove me to her house where I had some hot chocolate, then laid down on her couch and slept for about 3 hours. I felt pretty good after the surgery, but after sleeping- I awoke to some pain. The local they had given me had worn off and I was in pain!! Since i couldn't drive-mom drove me back to Thomasville around 4pm. I actually had her drive me straight to the drugstore to fill the prescription the doctor had given me for pain.

John came home shortly after I got home and he quickly scooped me up to drive to High Point to see the house he had been decorating. Luckily the pain medication worked well.

I recouped over Mother's Day weekend. we had Dot and Mom and Dad over for a cookout on Sunday. Roger, Kim and the girls came over. It was a nice weekend. The biopsy did not really hurt, so I didn't have to take hardly any pain pills.