She recommended a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis, additional blood tests, and an urgent appointment with a gynecological specialist.
“Could this be cancer?” Michael asked.
“It is one possibility, but it is not the only one. We should not assume the worst before completing the assessment.”
I swallowed.
“Could it be a baby?”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Michael turned toward me.
Dr. Harris did not laugh.
“No, Mrs. Eleanor. The imaging does not show a pregnancy. The mass is a separate medical problem, and we need to determine exactly what it is.”
I felt relief first.
Then shame.
Then fear.
I lowered my eyes.
“I understand.”
Dr. Harris softened her voice.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about. You noticed a change in your body, and you came to us. That is what matters now.”
But as she turned toward the computer to arrange my further investigations, something caught her attention.
