Monday, February 28, 2011

I have been reading.

Most of my posts have been silly and joking or explaining our trip.  This one might be a bit more serious.  When we met with plastic surgeon #3 he like the other docs have remarked on my upbeat nature.  He suggested I read "Why I wore lipstick to my mastectomy"  I am almost done with the book.  When I was diagnosed, even now, it has never occurred to me that I might die from this.  I know I have a year of hell ahead of me, but that is all I have given this disease, one year... This can have one year of my life, my husbands and my daughters.  After that I will be fine.  As the date gets closer to my surgery I guess I am more worried about this.  I need to get this out of my head, I will be here for Maddie's next Birthday, the family weddings this year, our next trip to Disney or where ever.... Maybe I shouldnt read, but I just cannot put the book down.  It doesnt help that I have it on my kindle, Jeff's kindle and now on my iphone, so there is no escaping it. 

Disney threw Maddie's eyes

I can not begin to describe how much Maddie loved disney and the characters.  She would yell "wow wow" and "hi" she would hug herself with excitement and then throw her arms in the air to get there attention.  There where characters on the boat and we did meet most of them, she loved them all.  I found it very funny as we stood in line to watch Maddie try to wiggle out of our arms so that she could just run up to Daisy or Donald.  Why wait in line when I can just go now.  I am not patient, how am I ever going to teach my child that we have to wait.

When we got to Magic Kingdom on Friday we saw Pooh and Tigger we got in line.  Thank goodness it was a short one.  When it was our turn Maddie was a little shy, but as we stood there to get our picture Maddie leaned over to pet Pooh next thing I knew she flung her self into his arms.   Good thing Pooh had quick reflexes and could catch her as she clung to him.  After pooh we headed to Dumbo, which again she loved and clapped for.  After that we met up with everyone and headed to its a small world.  We (Jeff, Maddie and I) sat in the very front of the boat Maddie stood on Jeff's lap and clapped so hard and yelled the entire ride.  She looked at the others like why are you not as excited as I am, this is great!! I have pictures, I just need to figure out how to post them.  With in two minutes of getting off its a small wold and putting Maddie back in her stroller she was sound asleep.  We spend the rest of the day in MK and did our shopping and eating while she napped.  Maddie woke up to see the character parade and a few more rides.  We went and stood in line for Princess Tiana, which she was so excited to see but the line took forever so by the time we got there she wanted nothing to do with them.  I think if it was Louis and not the princess she would have been happier.  We stayed for the electric parade which we thought might be pushing it, but again our girl rallied and loved it.  She was sound asleep before we made it to the bus for the resort.



Almost killer stingray

Our first full day on the boat was last Monday.  Our port of call was Nassau.  We (Jeff, Maddie, Aunt Carol, Uncle Joel and I) got into a taxi and headed to Atlantis.  Maddie and I walked around the grounds and shops while the others spent some time in the casino.  After lunch we headed back to Nassau to visit the shops.  I had shown Jeff a pink sapphire band that I wanted before we ever went on the trip.  I  have seen it online just not had a moment when I am in the city to see it in person.  Maddie's birthstone is sapphire (which I love) and have said since she was born that I would like something with her birthstone.  I used to wear a necklace every day until it became a way of Maddie to choke me, earrings are hard too since she like to tug at those too, I have never been a bracelet person (I am a klutz and get them caught on things) so a ring is what I want.  I thought a pink sapphire instead of the normal blue to symbolize what we are going threw.  I am not a ribbon person so I thought this would be my understated symbol. 

Now to the title:
After running my napping child, husband, Aunt and Uncle around Nassau to look for the impossible we headed back to the boat.  Maddie woke up from her nap and I decided to take her to Nemo's Reef.  Which was a splash pool for babies on the boat.  There where spouts of water that came out of the floor and mist from the ceiling and all sorts of squirty water things.  It was very cute.  Then there was a stingray slide.  I figured what the heck it is in the baby section of this I will put Maddie on my lap and go down with her.  I made sure I ducked I didnt want to hit my head.  There was this black rubber mat at the end of the slide.  On the way down Maddie loved it and yelled "WEEEEEEEEE" I made the quick decision to try and stop myself on the way down so I could stand up at the end and not land on my butt, I was worried about my tail bone.  The slide though small was fast and as I stood, my momentum was still going and I flew off to the left (about 10 feet) with Maddie on my arms.  All I could think of is, do not hurt her, so I held her up so she would not hit anything.  Jeff has the entire thing on video.  Emma and Timmy came running along with some cast members (they are not called crew) from Disney.  I was fine and kept saying it.  Jeff knew when I laughed and said I was okay that I was, we have been together long enough that he knows (though does not understand) that I am a KLUTZ.   I made sure Maddie was okay, who wanted to go down the almost killer stingray slide again.  We did not, however I decided not to press my luck, I did not go on any other slides the entire trip. 

Mr. Disney would a green veggie kill you??

Our flight to Fl was great, we even left and landed early.  We hit a small snag when getting the car but that was all straightened out.  We headed right to downtown Disney to meet up with Catherine her husband and her son.  It was so nice to catch up with them and not really talk about my cancer.  I wish we lived closer so we could get together more. After spending the afternoon together we headed to port Canaveral to meet up with my family for our cruise.

The hotel we stayed at was nice, but their port-o-crib was more like a cage.  Maddie hated it and hardly slept.  She was trying to escape the entire night.  We finally broke in and broke our own biggest rule and brought Maddie into the very small full sized bed we had.  She slept really well..  I got up very early because I didnt want to be late for breakfast, not that I was that hungry but I didnt want I thought everyone wanted to go that early.  I didnt realize when I bought or packed what I thought was saline but it was disinfectant.  I in my sleepy stupor I rinsed my contact and put it in my eye.  WOW the pain was crazy.  I could not get it out of my eye  quick enough all while trying to be quiet, I didnt want to wake Jeff or Maddie up.  I took a quick shower and headed to buy saline.  While at breakfast if I knew it was the last time I would see a green veggie I would have eaten more and given more to Maddie. 

Getting to the boat was easy, almost as easy as getting on.  Our luggage arrived pretty quickly and I unpacked.  The dinners on the boat where very good.  My only complaint would be there was a huge lack of veggies.  There was not an omelet station for breakfast or many non-carb options.  Lunch was okay too, we only made it to the buffet once because it was not open all the time.  They had a lot of fast food, pizza, chicken fingers, hotdogs things that I guess most kids eat.  I know it was hard for Jeff and I to stick to our diets.  The cruise was very nice and relaxing.  I felt our time on the boat was too short, we did not get to enjoy all it had to offer.  The shows at night where amazing and could easily be on Broadway.  Maddie loved them, she watched them with out a flinch for the hour that they where. 

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Deb to the rescuse

For those of you who have been at the edge of your seats wondering if my mountain of socks had been taken care of before we left on vacation I will keep you in suspense no more.   My cousin Debbie watched Maddie for me the Friday before we left so I could get a few things done.  While watching Maddie she decided to tackle the mountain.  Deb thought it was just a hill until she started to fold with Maddie in the same room.  First Maddie stole the remote and hit some buttons before tossing it, then when Deb left the laundry basket unattended while trying to figure out the tv, Maddie took to tossing the basket just for laughs.  Needless to say socks where all done.

I am almost done with all laundry from the trip so any takers on the socks from the cruise???

Friday, February 18, 2011

Should I change the title????

So here is the "game plan"  I am getting one new boob (the left one).. The right one will be a work in progress.  For right now it will remain the same.  But when I am done with radiation and all shrinking has taken place,  I will have a secondary surgery to exchange the expander for an implant.  The right one will be reduced and lifted to match. I said to the doc that my goal is to buy a blouse, he said most people say they just want to put a t-shirt on to go to the store.  Jeff laughed and said she will never not wear a bra,  which is true, I dont leave our bedroom with out one now.   On a great note, I bought some new jeans size 4!!!!!!!!!! They are from the gap so I am sure in real life they are really a 6 but who cares they say 4!!!

The count down begins.......

We leave for Fl tomorrow morning.  I am feeling much more in control too.  Yesterday we headed to the city and met with another plastic surgeon who was great.  He is going to do my reconstruction surgery.  He understood my concerns and did not push the natural tissue on me like the other doc was.  This guy knew a 5+ day stay in the hospital was NOT what I was looking for.  I have too many things here, at home I want to be with.  I have a game plan for today with some room left in the day for unexpected things that may come up.  However I feel much better about being ready.  I packed most of Maddie and set that with Aunt Carol the other day. 

No one has still shown up to take care of my socks.  Jeff said not to worry he will do it, because when he start a project he finishes.  I took his jab in stride and plan to feed him so crow at some point today for lunch or dinner, which ever.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

A mountain of socks

I can see the end of my laundry! 5 more things to iron, some of Maddies clothes to hang up. But I have a mountain of socks to fold. Everyone asks what they can do. Well that is it show up match and fold our socks! I'm making steak for dinner.

FIOS

It is all installed!!!

Packing Packing and more packing...

Fios did show up today.  They came and are very nice but needed to get different wire so they left to get that.  I have confidence that they will do this today!!!!

On the home front:  Jack is doing really well.  It is almost like he knew, he gave Jessie a huge kiss as we left the house on Friday.  He has decided to eat out of her bowl which we are fine with.  I have not been able to pack her stuff away yet, her coat is still hanging by the door.  I think once we get a handle on what is going on with me we will get another greyhound.  Jeff and I have even started our wish list.  #1 is that the new dog must clean floors.  Jessie was such a food hound that usually food didnt even hit the ground, she was so great at cleaning up after Maddie and Jack.  

We are meeting with another he plastic surgeon tomorrow.  I think medically Dr Smith is fine, but he is a bit of a jerk.  I need to see him often over the next year so I dont know if he is the best fit for me.  I will make up my mind tomorrow.  I hope we do not have to push my surgery off,  I am ready to get this over with and start the rest of the treatments so we an have our life back.  A case worker from my insurance called to see if there is anything that I am worried about.  Honestly I may be nuts, but I do not want this to disrupt my house. o not want Jeff, Maddie or Jacks lives to be turned upside down.  Im not worried about pain, or the drains or chemo or even radiation.  I want this to be smooth for them. 

Enough procrastinating I need to iron....

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Am I that difficult???

Just paid someone to clean my house.... Now I have about two hours of cleaning to do.. I guess I can look at it as they saved me three hours but they still did not to a job that I would call complete.  Busy day yet again.. Off to re-srcub the bathrooms and my kitchen.. 

Monday, February 14, 2011

Surgery is set

I was hoping to make it a week later but that did not work for my doctors. March 2 is the day. So far the plan is to do a mastectomy on the left and put in a tissue expanded not sure if we will reduce the right one at that time or during a second surgery. At the time of the second surgery I will decide on implant or natural tissue.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Good Bye Miss Jessica

On Wednesday night when Jeff let the dogs out before we went to bed Jack stopped short walking down the stairs and Jessie ran into him.  Jeff said Oh no Jess is limping.  I looked all over her paw and leg looking for a cut or sign of pain.  Thursday morning she was still limping.  We went to the vet Thursday afternoon and our fear was confirmed she had bone cancer in her front left shoulder.  We had already exhausted all treatments possible.  We honestly thought we would get more time with her.  I called back and made the appointment for Friday morning.  Dr Solomons was not in but Dr Rocce was.  We could not have asked for a more compassionate person to help with with our decision. 

I still remember Jeff and I going to Hayhill Kennel on that Friday in September.  This shy introverted dog was brought out to us.  Jeff and I had NO clue what we were getting into.  Neither of us had owned a greyhound before.   We had picked up owning a retired racer for dumbies and read it cover to cover, it was our bible for a long time.  According to the book we should crate a grey at night.  So we did, the first night was okay after that she moved into our room and stayed there. 

That shy dog that we met at the kennel soon shed that along with her nasty track coat.  Jessie was outgoing and silly.  We soon go her involved with meet and greets. The meet and greets introduced Jeff and I to a lot of great people.  True Friends.  People that at the time we did not know we would need to rely on today.  With out Jessie we would not have met Catherine (Our quarterback, with this disease)  We would not have met so many good friends either.  Jessie truly opened our lives and hearts.

I am sad today when I see pictures, but I know she is no longer in pain and no longer hiding the pain from us. 

Hazing at 35??????????????

Yesterday was a rough day for us.  When I got up to shower, I just didnt feel like it, in the end I did.  I remembered an older lady that I worked with said the best cheap therapy you can do for your self is get a manicure or wear pretty underwear.  Since we had to be to the vet at 9 there was no way I could get a manicure...

After a crazy morning Jeff and I headed to the city to meet with Dr. Smith the plastic surgeon for Beth Israel.  After having my blood drawn for the genetic test I went to his office.  Upon entering the exam room, I notice my standard outfit they like me to wear, a gown open to the front.  I think it is easier to just wear my bathrobe to these appointments, Jeff think the people on metronorth will look at me oddly...  The nurse told me the normal line but added more, it was like I was going to see the ob/gyn, only difference was I could keep not only my socks but my underwear too.  I protested and left my jeans on.  The doc came in and he was lovely.  Remember the show on CBS With out a Trace?  The doc looked like Martin.  Anyway, he examines me.  Then the hazing began.. He asks me to drop my jeans.  Oh my goodness, I didnt shave my legs and I have pretty underwear on......  Then he starts pinching flub on me. My stomach, my butt, my thighs, my back.  H has me spinning while he thinks of what to do.  Dont worry it gets worse, he took pictures.  So my first risque pictures where taken by a plastic surgeon.  Here is the funny part the draw the curtain so Jeff doesnt see, goodness out of the group of people in there Jeff was the only one I was comfortable with seeing me that way.  I felt like an ABC after school special or one of those movies Aunt Carol watches on Life time, I was waiting for Meredith Baxter to come in the room too... This doctor prefers using natural tissue for reconstruction and not implants.  He likes this way because there is less skin damage if I have to under go radiation.  I am proud to say I do not have enough fat with out taking from all areas (which does not appeal to me) to make two new boobs.  So he suggested a tummy tuck to make one and reduce and lift the other one.  Im going speak with Dr Kirstein on Monday because I was really set on two new ones.  But we will see.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Don't ask Don't Tell.

This has been my families feelings long before the military adopted it.  Maybe who ever thought it up was some crazy Irish person who felt all things should be kept in and not talked about.  Other families tell you everything, "Oh I have a hang nail and it hurts, I think it might be infected".. not mine, they are like what are you a wimp...

My Promise to Maddie, Emma and Hannah is that you will be spared details of what is going on with me medically however you will know what I am dealing with and know when a doctor asks you if there is a family history of something that you can say with confidence YES.  Not shrug and say I dont know my family doesnt speak of that.  

This week has been crazy

I am so looking to our trip. However I am behind on that too, I have only packed Maddie. I still have Jeff and I to do.
Both my MRI and petscan are negative. That
Means the cancer is only in my left breast. I did find out I am trie negative, which is more aggressive. I was not ignoring it but kind of not looking into it until someone (I will not name names) alarmed me a bit more. He is not usually someone that is alarming so I freaked. Poor Jeff, he had to deal with a little freak out yesterday.
I go and babe my BRAC testing tomorrow and I am (we) are meeting with BI's Astor surgeon. I think my mind is 100% made up that my surgery will be at BI? I just feel better about that doc. Over the one at Sloan.
On a cool note, I left verion and went to AT&T and got an iPhone I Love It!
Ford those keeping track of Fios; they did show but could not do the work yesterday. We are on again foe next wednesday. Maybe I should blog about how and why it has taken me o Ed a month to try and leave time Warner.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Day two of running

Maddie decided that I was not going to sneak out of the house this morning with out giving her breakfast, so she got up at 3..... We left and headed to my PET scan.  It wasnt bad.  We have the results back from the wet read and GOOD News there was no evidence of cancer anywhere else.

Dr Tortoriello's office called to say 19eggs fertilized and 15 look great, 4 are lagging the others but being watched.  We will know more later this week.

I do not have the MRI results back yet.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Busy Busy Busy

This weekend was nice.  Saturday was just the three of us, we did nothing.  Sunday Christina came up (over) to visit.  It was so nice to catch up with her.


We left very early this morning to get to Dr. Tortoriello's office.  They retrieved 23 eggs from me.  That is alot but I do not know the size or quality yet.  We will know more in a few days.  Then the mad rush.  WE only had a half hour to get to Sloan and I was still pretty sedated. 

We got to Sloan and was sent to their finance department.  Then upstairs to the waiting room, where we sat for an hour and a half.  We got to see the Doctor and his fellow and they where both okay.  I did not get that warm friendly feeling from them.  From his office we went to a plastic surgeons office.  They again seemed nice but kept us waiting for ever.  We got the info we needed and left, they did not even know we left.  They did call about 10 mins later to see if I would be back.  I said only if I choose to have my surgery done at Sloan.

So back to BI tomorrow for more tests, I hope they are as nice as the first time we met.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Princess Jessica

Happy 11th Birthday to our first baby.  6 months ago we did not know if we would be celebrating today.  I can only hope to fight my cancer as strongly and bravely as you have.  I would also like to not loose my hair or have any ill effects of chemo. :o)

All Systems GO

Yesterdays appointment was more positive with Dr Tortoriello.  We will do the trigger shot tonight at 10pm and do the retrieval on Monday at 9:30.  In true me fashion we will be running to MSKCC and making that appointment by the skin of our teeth...

Thursday, February 3, 2011

4th Grade CCD comes back to bite me, again.

I am not patient.  I even explained on a fourth grade church school test why I did not feel patients was a virtue.  Many years later after failing a test, I still do not understand being patient.  I saw Dr. Tortoriello today and my eggs are just not maturing quickly, so I will go back again tomorrow for a check.  He is now guessing retrieval will be Monday or Tuesday, here is my dilemma..  I got to Sloan on Monday and have my Petscan and MRI on Tuesday so I need my eggs to cooperate and understand we have a busy week next week and either mature so we can get this done over the weekend or slow down so we can do this Wednesday.  Maybe this cycle isn't a good one, maybe it is showing me that these eggs are type B personalities and that we should just try again, and hope for more aggressive ones.  Ones that fit are more "us"... non-lollygaggers..

This entire process is a test of patients...  Find something, wait for time to do a biopsy, wait for results, wait for further testing, wait to see docs.  WAIT WAIT WAIT.....  I am not good at that.
Oh well,  Mrs Connors should know I still remember her class. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Mother Nature.

Well, mother nature won.. I rescheduled my pet scan and MRI for next Tuesday.  So the only appointments left this week will be with Dr TorToriello.

So next week is as follows: Monday is at Sloan, I plan to go prepped as if they want to do more testing.  Maybe if I tell the doc I didnt eat he will have pity for me and test away.
Tuesday is now my Pet and Mri
Wednesday FIOS (maybe, Im still not sure if they will show, but I will be here from 8-12, unless I have a doctors app)
 Friday we are meeting with the plastic surgeon who is at Beth Israel.

Things to look forward to!!!

I have never liked the boobs I have. I have always been was upfront that after having kids I would like to have them reduced.  I have always felt they are too big for my stature.  I have issues buying bras, bathing suits and I have never owned a blouse, I have constant back and shoulder pain from them.  I am meeting with the plastic surgeon on the 11th to talk about new ones. 

We are still going to Fl.  I am excited to get away from the snow for a bit.  I am excited to see Catherine and Mark and meet Nathaniel.  I feel I owe her so much for helping me with all of this.  I feel like I need to bring Cricket a special treat or send something to Greyhound Friends for adopting to us both and allowing us to meet. 

Tuesday... 2/1

I think mother nature wants us to move to FL.......  I know Jack would be on board.  I am scheduled for a petscan and an MRI tomorrow, however I have no clue if we will make it.  I will be radioactive for 5hrs after the petscan so packing Maddie up and heading to the city today is out of the question.  Plus I have no clue what we would do with J and J... I have left a message for everyone at Beth Israel to see what happens and when I can get it set up again if I can not make tomorrow.  However tomorrows scans need to be done before I go to Sloan.  AHhhhhhhhh........  Plus for my own sanity I need to know what else is going on in my body.   I feel great, so it bothers me that I have this thing growing me and other than feeling it and being told about it, I would
never know....

Monday 1/31

I had to go back to Dr. Tortoriello's office yesterday for a check and to start some new meds, well shots.  I now get a shot in the morning and a shot at night, in my stomach.  Good thing Jeff is okay with this, because I hate needles. I go back again on Thurday.  Jeff told me when we met at the office that our treatment would be fully covered by our insurance and that they re-worded the policy and are back dating it to 1/1/11 so no one else will have to hear what we heard.

Friday and the weekend

Except for a few phone calls my day was pretty normal.  I went to Sams with Aunt Carol and did stuff around  the house.

Saturday, Dan came over for dinner and it was a nice night of course I feel asleep on the couch.

Thurs 1/27

Jeff and I went to the city to meet with Dr Tortoriello.  Who was just as kind as before.  He assured us that all would be fine and not to worry.  We talked about a plan of action and we started meds that night. 

Wednesday the 26th

What a busy day.  We were in for snow again and I had so many calls and appointments to make and lots and lots of reading to do. 

I called Memorial Sloan Kettering and I have an appointment with them on 2/7 (for those keeping track of appoinments)


I called the fertility doc that they (Beth Israel) suggested.  When I was done making the appointment I called our insurance to let them know.  I was told I would be denied since I was not deemed infertile, even though I would be at the end of treatments.  When speaking to the rep I said to her what if I have documents from a fertility doc we saw in the past stating we had issues.  She said that would be great, to have them sent over.  I reached out to Dr. Tortoriello at the Sher Institute of reproductive medicine, I also mentioned to him what day I was in my cycle.  He said not to worry about the insurance that they where in the works of rolling out a program for cancer patients to have almost no cost to us, if we could not get our insurance to cover it.  I also made an appointment to see him the next day (Thursday).  In the mean time Jeff had gotten an email from his company saying how they had just won an award for their fertility and adoption benefits.  He thought about it and wrote to a few people in his company to tell them what we had just found out, they may have won an award but the wording of the policy would deny someone who was facing chemo. 

Diagnosis

Last Monday 1/23/11... What an odd day.  It started by a man from verizon showing up to inspect work, that I had been stood up for.  He assured me that we could get fios even with the snow outside, that I just needed to call again and tell them that our house was a candidate for above ground wires.
As Maddie ate lunch I was on hold with verizon when I got a beep, it was the radiologist from MKMG.   He has a part of the pathology back.  He said one needle aspiration was reactive and the other came back with abnormal cells. He suggested I give a breast surgeon a call.  I called Jeff and together we had so many questions.  The radiologist has the day off, so I decided to reach out to Lederman.  I should have known better, in true form he said to me, "what part of breast cancer are you not understanding?" " Did the other doc not give a breast surgeon name?"

I then reached out to a friend that I have who by chance happens to be a breast surgeon.  I told Catherine all that I had been told and she asked that I have all reports sent to her.  Well at 5:06pm, it was confirmed.  I was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer.  Catherine had reached out to a doctor that she knew and trusted at Beth Israel and they could see me the very next day.  Jeff ran around to get all films and reports so we could go to Dr Kirstein armed with everything.  I felt so comfortable speaking with her and her nurse.  We spoke about further testing and surgery.  Because it is invasive I would need to have full mastectomy I was not a candidate for a lumpectomy.  We also talked about getting a clearer picture of what was going on in my entire body as well as the right one.  We spoke doing both depending on some genetic testing.  We spoke about having other children, and was encouraged to see a fertility doc.  I had a busy Wed a head of me....

Catching everyone up....

Most of you have almost the entire story but just incase I will say it one more time.  I found a lump in my left breast (people keep asking which one, not sure why it matters) over a year ago, however I had a few, the doc at the time said it was from nursing.  I continued to nurse Maddie until just after her first birthday.  Most of the lumps went away but this one did not, I kind of thought it would.  Well it didnt. 

2010 was coming to and end and we where gearring up for 2011.   We spent New Years eve with some great friends and had a very nice dinner, but left when Maddie decided she did not want to see the new year in awake.  Jeff and I where okay with that since we had a party to host the next day.  It was a success and Tracy was surprised to have a 40th Birthday party!! Now that the party was over I could really get into gear for our  trip.  I decided to have that lump checked out it was beginning to annoy me.  So on 1/6/11 I went to MKMG after an exam Dr Lederman sent me over to the radiology to have an ultrasound.  After the ultrasound I went back to Lederman who said he now wanted to do a mammogram and a full ultrasound of both breasts.  They did the mammogram that day but I had to go back on the 7th for the ultrasound.  They found two cysts on the ultrasound so they decided to do three biopsy's. I had to wait two weeks for an appointment long enough to do all three.  I had two needle aspirations and one core biopsy.