Interventional Radiology Biopsy of Abdominal Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Biopsy day

Tuesday 2-26-14

In my ignorance, I thought, biopsy, a few days later diagnosis, then treatment starts and we keep moving until we are on the other end. 

Besides frustration, my ignorance kept me fueled and pushing for those around us to get things done.

I don't recall exactly, but I believe the biopsy was in the morning. Extra pain meds were ordered so Mathew could get through it. His level of pain was out of sight. As we learned what the cancer was doing inside of him, each problem it created, each organ it intruded on; each one, a source of great pain.

Mathew's Dad and I went down with him to IR (Interventional Radiology). The biopsy was going to be taken through his back, close to his liver. To do that Mathew had to be on his stomach which was excruciating for him.

Arpie and I were sent to a waiting room, we were the only ones there.

After a while, the door opened. A man in scrubs with his face mask pulled down strode into the room and glanced around. He looked like he was on a mission.

"Who are you here with?" he asked.

"Mathew Rodgers."

"Good," he pulled up a chair, sat down and said. "I am terrified for Mathew."

My heart sank.

In addition to what we already knew about the tumor growing between the organs and moving them around, Dr. E explained to us that it was also wrapped around Mathew's spine and more.

He said Mathew had done great through the procedure.

Dr. E had us come into the control room of sorts and showed us the scan.

It was a view from top to bottom as if we had a birds-eye view starting at Mathew's head and going towards his legs. The tumor was everywhere as we had been told, but the point he wanted to make was this:

The Doctor pointed out the vena cava. The large vein which travels through the center of the body. ****

"There's the vena cava, we move further down, there's the vena cava……then it's gone……we move further down and there it is again."

The tumor was wrapped around the vena cava and had displaced it. Moved it to the side.

I'm almost as stunned today, writing this, as I was then.

The Dr showed me the biopsy specimen before he sent it off to the lab. A large chunk of reddish material in a small container. I wish I had looked at it more closely. I know a few months later that would have been my reaction. At this point, I am in shock and gearing up, just beginning to realize what we were up against.

****The inferior vena cava is a vein. It carries deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the right atrium of the heart.