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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / September 2005MAMMOGRAPHY.......Biopsy needed
I had my first mammogram...........may NOT be normal result.........questionable area on it Biopsy is scheduled for Thursday.............. Scared................ Bonnie > I had my first mammogram...........may NOT be normal > result.........questionable area on it [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Bonnie Welcome. Take it one day at a time. The result may not be malignant, and even if it is, your chances of success are likely to very high. The biopsy is not fun, but you have almost surely been through much worse. When you get the results of the biopsy back, try to have some questions written out and have someone with you to take notes. Others will probably have more specific suggestions. Best wishes, Sandy L What is biopsy procedure like? When I had mine, they numbed the area, then used a computer guide needle. I have had must worse dental appointments.....and most are not cancer! Waiting is the pits. > What is biopsy procedure like? > What is biopsy procedure like? There are several different sorts of biopsy, depending on where and how large the lump in question is. Most involve sticking some sort of needle or probe into it to take a tiny sample of the tissue. The simplest is a "fine needle aspiration", which is rather like an injection, and the sample is taken of fluid and cells adhering to the outside of the needle. Primarily for draining fluid-filled cysts, it also allows the lump to be checked for cancer. The next one up is perhaps the commonest, a core biopsy which involves what is essentially a larger needle, perhaps 1mm diameter, which is hollow and takes a solid sample of tissue a centimetre or so long, by one of several ingenious systems involving a thin tube which slides or turns inside the needle, sometimes aided by suction. This is done under local anaesthetic, takes a few seconds, and causes a small bruise where the needle is inserted, which heals quickly. Where the lump is deep and/or small and difficult to locate, they may use a technique (wire guidance) where a thin wire is inserted to the lump while watching on an x-ray or ultrasound image. The biopsy is then taken using the wire as a guide to ensure the right tissue is sampled. This is said to be more uncomfortable than painful, and involves a lot of lying around while people prod at you. In a few cases that are really inaccessible, there is also a "surgical biopsy" which is essentially the same procedure as a lumpectomy, but in an exploratory mode. But that isn't what you are having if they just say "biopsy". If no-one has said otherwise you will probably get a simple core biopsy. Tim Jackson Bonnie, Most of us here remember quite clearly the moment that we were told we had to have a biopsy. Yup, to say that it's scary is an understatement. Just remember that something like 80-90% of these things are benign. As someone else mentioned, waiting is the pits. I'll be thinking of you Thursday and praying for a good result. Please let us know how it goes. Take care. ...lisa > What is biopsy procedure like? I had core biopsy..the doctor said it was like a staple gun that grabbed a small amount of the tissue....they took 3 samples and it did hurt a bit...but have had worse dental treatments. I know what you're going through and my thoughts are with you, even if it is cancer it's not an automatic death sentence....I've had op. chemo and rads....and am back to work in a fortnight...yearly maograms and all fingers crossed...(and toes!) GOOD LUCK Pam xx > What is biopsy procedure like? I've had multiples (3? 4?) of the fine-needle type. Topical anaesthetic was applied, then a fine needle inserted one or more times. It didn't particularly hurt (can't remember if it stung slightly, but that gives you a hint how memorable it happily *wasn't*), but there was some bruising after. But I bruise easily. I had the wire location thing before I surgical biopsy. I didn't find the wire location procedures bothersome. It's kind of weird, but the discomfort factor mostly involves the mammography to get the wire in the right spot -- no biggie. As others have said, the majority of lumps turn out to be benign, so it's too soon to panic. Even in the unlikely event it is malignant, treatment -- while a rotten hobby <grin> -- is pretty do-able, and most often has good results. Let us know how things turn out, OK? Hoping for good news, Ann T. Remove "dontsendspam" from address to reply by email Hi Bonnie, I'm sorry you are having to experience this, but glad you found this group. Lots of kind and knowledgeable people here. I had BC almost 22 years ago, which was diagnosed with an excisional biopsy. This summer I had a stereotactic biopsy done---computer guided core type. It really wasn't difficult at all. The mental part is the worst....waiting for pathology. In my case, that took only a couple of days and was benign. I'm hoping you have an easy time of it and get good results as quickly as possible. Best of luck tomorrow. Barb Hi Barb I have to tell you this, when I read some of your posts and you mention your BC was nearly 22 years ago, you make me feel so much better. Marni > Hi Bonnie, > I'm sorry you are having to experience this, but glad you found this [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Barb Hi Marni, I remember how much I wanted to hear about long term survivors back in 1983. It's really why I participate in the group....'cause surgery and treatment is so much different now, that I don't really have much to contribute about those aspects. It was nice to find your note this morning...Hope you continue to do well too. Barb > I have to tell you this, when I read some of your posts and you mention > your BC was nearly 22 years ago, you make me feel so much better. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> >> Barb Surgeon says he feels something behind the right nipple Scheduled biopsy for 9-16-05 Bonnie Bonnie, I am 51 yrs old. In Dec. 2004 I had my yearly mamogram.....it came back showing abnormalities in my left breast. I CRIED!!! I was scared to death! On my 51st birthday(Jan.27th) I also HAD to have a biopsy. It was VERY uncomfortable for me....even with numbing the area. And I bruised too....but I bruise VERY easily. My husband,step-sister and I sat and talked to my surgeon for a hour in a half....asking tons of questions and I ALSO took my note-pad full of questions. I asked him, IF I were his wife, would HE want me to have surgery? Would he want me to take the 32 radiation treatments? Would he want me to take Tamoxifen for 5 years? He answered YES to ALL 3 of my questions..... My husband & I cried AND PRAYED together.....I had my entire families support. Thank God, I had stage 0 Breast Cancer ....and it was NOT in my nodes. I had my surgery Feb. 9th, 2005 ,came home the same day with my entire left breast bandaged.....and swollen. (looked like Dolly Parton <giggles> I rested for a week (I babysit 3 of my 7 grands ...16 month old boy/girl twins and a 4 in a half yr old girl) while my breast healed. I had a"high noon" incision......directly above the areola area. I started Tamoxifen on May 15th, ONE week AFTER my last radiation treatment. So far, the ONLY thing I have to complain about is: I break out in horrible sweats when I least expect it....I get soaking wet!! Something I have to live with..... BUMMER YES.......but it could have been worse! I could have been diagnosed with stage 4 or 5 and possibly NOT make it. God will be right there with you. And I'll add you to my prayer list........KEEP us ALL updated! Good Luck Friday. Someone who's been there.....and CARES...a lot! Kathy Powell in Indiana My surgeon was a general surgeon.....young, 37, VERY handsome, loving, compassionate family man..... When he did my biopsy he KNEW it looked like pre-cancer cells.........BUT.......he wanted a 2nd opinion, so he sent my biopsy to Indianapolis Cancer center and they determined it DID need to be removed!!! So, my left breast is smaller than the right one.........LOL (but it always was......now it's a "B" instead of a "C") He removed 1/4 of my left breast. I have "CANCER" in my family.....mom died at the age of 49 of lung cancer..and buried on my 22nd birthday...daddy died at 73 of lung cancer and emphysema. HIS sister died of Lukemia. I was ALSO told by ALL 4 of my doctors (oncologist, cancer doctor, surgeon, and primary M.D.) that once you have one cancer, you ARE AT HIGH RISK to develop ANOTHER!!! THIS SCARES THE HELL out of me too! Many thoughts & Prayers, Kathy Powell ~ EAST CENTRAL, INDIANA > > I was ALSO told by ALL 4 of my doctors > (oncologist, cancer doctor, surgeon, and primary M.D.) that once you > have one cancer, you ARE AT HIGH RISK to develop ANOTHER!!! > THIS SCARES THE HELL out of me too! It might be a bit less scaring if they said *higher* risk rather than high risk. The lifetime risk is something like twice as high as for the general population. If you look at it, the statement is not of itself anything to be scared of, it it the spin you put on it that frightens you. It doesn't say anything about your life expectancy: after all if a general cure for say cardiovascular disease were suddenly discovered, that would significantly increase your lifetime risk of getting cancer too, simply because it would increase your life expectancy, and the longer you live the higher your risk of any cancer. Or conversely, shutting your eyes while crossing the road dramatically reduces your lifetime risk of getting cancer. And before you ask, no, I don't know what the effect of a previous cancer on life expectancy is. I expect there is some reduction, but I'm sure it is not as bad as it looks at first sight because a lot of second cancers come in old age and progress slowly. Tim Jackson |
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