Who Knew a Breast Could Bleed That Much

So Tuesday May 10 was the biopsy.  After changing into the standard cotton gown with an unattractive pattern (who picks these fabrics anyway?) I lay down and wait for the ultrasound tech to find the spot we are going to shoot for. (literally - the biopsy needle shoots into the spot they take the sample from).  Since the ultrasound tech and the radiologist are men there is another tech that has come in with me and is getting me set up.  She tells me she is the "woman" in the room.  Which is handy when my feet are cold and I ask if she might have a blanket to put over me and she doesn't even ask why I might be cold.
The tech takes several minutes to find the spot we are looking for.  Radiologist comes in and they concur they are in the right spot.  He shows me the loud click the needle will make each time they take a sample.  He also tell me how they will numb everything up first.....with a needle.  Even though I was warned I still startle at the first sample taking.  After sample two he must have struck oil because I start to bleed.  Apologies for the impending hematoma I will most likely proud owner of later.  After sample three they decide that will do it and then one more needle poke to put in a titanium marker for mammography and such to see later.  At this time the tech is holding a shortstack of gauze pads on my breast with enough pressure that he feels the need to apologize as well.  I look down at my breast for the first time since they started with all the needles only to see the amount of bleeding exacerbated by the ultrasound gel.  I say "oh my" until I realize it looks worse than it is because of the gel.  At which point I realize more people have seen or touched my breasts in the last few weeks that in many years previous.
In the days the top half of my breast has turned multiple shades of colors.  Each day seems to let one color in particular have the spotlight.  Yellow, blue and green have been pretty popular but a deep purple has now taken center stage.
I then get to step down the hall to have another mammogram taken to assure they poked a hole in the right tissue.  I get to change from gown back to supergirl cape for this procedure. (do they really need the rooms this chilly?)  Mammo confirms my marker (which I am assured will not set off metal detectors) is indeed in the right spot.
Now I wait for the next appointment in a week.