microcalcification questions

cycle-path

gakster, a few weeks ago there was a long discussion here about how different docs deliver results. As Marie said, there's no consistency. Some always do it on the phone, some always do it in person.

Now that you've had a biopsy, the BIRADS score is no longer relevant so there's no reason to ask about that.

Let us know your results on Wednesday! 

Gakster

marie5890,

 Thank you.  I think I've reached the point where I am overreacting to everything and reading into everything too much.  Trying to remember that the news doesn't have to be bad news but also trying to prepare myself if it is.  

marie5890

Gakster

We all know where you are at and what it's like. But trust us when we say most biopsies really do come back B9.

Dont assume you have cancer. From what you posted, even if by the outside chance it is cancer it's in a very early early stage. And very treatable.  

kennelmom

I hope all turns out well for you..I dont have my biopsy till 2-13 and I have to wait until the 24th to get results...in person as well..You are in my prayers:)

Gakster

Thank you to all of you for your comments and kind concern.  This has been the best part of my very long and trying day.  It is so helpful to know that there are others out there who know exactly how I am feeling.    Will certainly let you know the results and will be thinking equally good thoughts and prayers for those who are still waiting.  Thanks again, everyone!

Gakster

Just curious if after stereotactic biopsy one should expect to feel quite tired?  I had one yesterday for two different spots and got some sleep but not great sleep last night.  I felt ok for the first part of the day today but then seemed to kind of "hit the wall" of exhaustion.  Just trying to make it through to the end of the work day.

leaf

I was pretty beat after my biopsies - but for me I thought it was because of all the stress I was feeling.   I think its a  good idea to be very, very kind to yourself during this time. 

mamglam

After my stereo biopsy, I felt very sore and tired.  I also was very bruised and had a hematoma and the needed to rest for a few days.

Dixiemine30

Take a deep breath and wait....it's really all you can do, unfortunately.

I hope we are all doing a Happy Dance when your results come back B9!!!! :-)

francksgirl

I was given the awful results at work........they didn't call me into the office......every office is different.

Gakster

Oh gosh.  It would be awful to have that phone call at work.  I am so sorry to hear that it happened for you that way.  There isn't much worse than doing this kind of waiting, I have to say.

Gakster

I am happy to report that I received the results of the stereotactic biopsy performed on Monday on two different areas of my right breast and all was found to be benign and I will not need to return for a mammogram for another year.  This experience has taught me so much about inner strength and has helped me to appreciate the strength found in communities like this one.  Thank you so much for all of the support!

1osugrl

Yay, that is great news Gakster!  Im having my stereotactic biopsy on a cluster of microcalcifications  tomorrow and im nervous .  Any words of advice for me?  Im hoping and praying for news as good as yours.  Take Care....

Gakster

1osugrl - Thanks!  I will pray that your news turns out the same way.  In all honestly the stereotactic biopsy was not too bad.  The only thing that caught me a little bit by surprise was that because they had to extract samples of the microcalcifications from two spots I had to be numbed twice.  And the numbing was actually the most painful part.  Just a pinch and some burning.  Nothing intolerable but just not a pleasant feeling either.  Once the areas were numbed though I felt absolutely nothing.  Wear comfortable clothing.  I had to go there straight from work and wasn't as comfortable as I would have liked to be.  You have to remain very still on the table.  I would wear a sports bra as that is most comfortable afterwards and I found that most handy to keep a little ice pack in place afterwards.  Do not hesitate to take some tylenol regularly afterwards.  The discomfort is not terrible but I did have some throbbing in the evening.  I have switched to some heat now to help with the bruising which also does not appear to be too bad so far.  I wish you all the best.  Please let me know how it goes.  I will be sending good thoughts.

cycle-path

Yay Gakster!

Worriedsickinpa

Hi everyone,

 New to this site and having a Mammotome breast biopsy in a few days for microcalcifications. I have read many horror stories and am sick with worry.  I had a biopsy of a different kind years ago and they used a local, lidocaine and epinephrine injection.  I had constant burning and pain and didn't seem to get any pain relief.  I have spoken about this with the nurse at the hospital where I am having the breast biopsy and she didn't seem to know why the prior problem with getting numb had happened. I am afraid I will not be numb after the injection and will feel everything!   Has anyone else ever had problem getting numb from lidocaine?  This facility does the biopsy while sitting up in a chair which is different that what I have read on this site.  Also, I was told that they may not even be able to do the biopsy due to where the calcs are located. Any information you have would be very much appreciated!

leaf

Some people have a OK or at least tolerable time with biopsies, and some women don't.  Whatever reaction you have is 100% valid.   I have had one tolerable time, and another time that was not.  I have a PTSD-like syndrome (from other issues besides), so that probably affected my experience too.  

I had major problems with my wire insertion (before excision), and then with another stereotactic biopsy that happened a year after my excision. For my wire insertion, I did not tell them about my pain during the procedure because they told me I could not move a muscle, and I knew if I told them I would cry; thus my breast would shake.   I did NOT have major problems with my first stereotactic biopsy (before the wire excision.)

  I am sure my experience with my wire insertion affected my experience with the subsequent stereotactic biopsy.  At my 2nd stereotactic biopsy, when they tried to inject the lidocaine (I'm sure with a very small needle such as a tuberculin test needle), I not only instinctively shrunk away, I literally pulled myself out of the stereotactic machine.  The radiologist asked why I did that; I replied 'because it hurt!'  They had to hold me there the entire time in the machine (while I was crying silently.)  

The first time I had the biopsy, the radiologist said to tell him if I was having pain, and he would inject more lidocaine.  The 2nd time, not so much.

If it makes any difference at all, this is the survey I did about wire insertions (in 2006).  Its not a biopsy, but may be relevant.

38 people responded to my survey.  People were able to choose only one of the 4 following responses.
1) I had injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was tolerable (<=4/10 on a scale of 1-10)   19 people, 50%
2) I had injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was NOT tolerable (>4/10 on a scale of 1-10)  7 people, 18%
3) I did NOT have injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was tolerable (<=4/10 on a scale of 1-10)  3 people , 8%
4) I did NOT have injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was NOT tolerable (>4/10 on a scale of 1-10.) 9 people, 24%.
 

**For myself**, if I have to have another biopsy or wire insertion, I will tell them before the procedure that I want to have plenty of lidocaine. If need be, I will bring something nonverbal like a bell, to tell them I'm in pain.    I will warn them that if they don't correct the pain, then I will pull myself out of the machine and tell them I'm cancelling the biopsy until they can get their act together and provide adequate pain relief. It doesn't matter if I was only 1 in 1 million people that has severe pain (which apparently is NOT the case) or if my pain is 'all in my head' or if I'm 'mentally ill'.  As my nurse friend used to say, "There should be no painful procedures." 

Yes, I'm still angry about it, even though the wire insertion was 6 years ago, and the 2nd biopsy 5 years ago.  Yes, I have a PTSD-like syndrome, which helps you 'not forget'.  They should not only give you adequate pain relief, they should also ask if whatever they did to relieve the pain worked.  If they can't manage to control the pain, they're fired.

You do not have to be a victim in this circumstance.

Worriedsickinpa

Thanks Leaf!

 I think that there are more people like myself who don't get adequate pain relief BUT are afraid of informing health professionals for fear of not being believed! My daughter has the same problem in the dentist chair. From what I have been reading some people do have a resistance to local anesthetics and don't get adequate relief.  Well we will see how my biopsy goes but I will be sure to let them know that if I'm not getting adequate pain relief then the proceedure is over! 

1osugrl

Hey Gakster, im taking a break from the Super Bowl.  The stereotactic went well and was just as you had described.  It was fairly quick.  Like maybe 20-25 min on the table and the next ten minutes getting a mamogram and bandaged.  The hard part is the waiting for the pathology results.  I have to wait 5 days according to the Radiologist.  Im having trouble sleeping and eating due to the anxiety.  im praying for B9 results.  Thanks again for the support!  I will let u know what happens.

GreenMonkey

Hello Everyone, 

I've been absent here do to the death of my father.  I am such a daddy's girl.  the superbowl is on and this is the first superbowl we're not together in 10 or 15 years.  my heart is broken. wine is not helping.  

He died last sunday at 9:50 pm.  In this past week, I planned a funeral, wrote and delivered his eulogy, went to two doctors appointments and finally chose my cancer doctor.  I haven't been writing.

 I can't remember what I told you.  If I'm repeating myself I'm sorry. 

I got a call from my radiologist with the results of my left breast biopsy last friday.  I have ADH in the left breast.  And as previously diagnosed, DCIS, high grade (solid, grade 3) on the right.  

I went for 3 opinions.  First opinion too soft - my local hospital - they diagnosed my left breast as being "no suspicious findings".  Second opinion too rough - Sloan Kettering, great faciliity but my dr. is totally against me haveing a mastectomy. Third doctor - Dr. Ashikari, JUUUUUST RIGHT.  Compassionate.  He spent 1 1/2 hours talking to my husband and I.  I felt so much better when I left.  I'm not thrilled with the look of the facility, it looks old and run down, but hey, I'm spoiled.  I live in a very polished community.  Anyway, he's my man.  I'm certain of it.

I meet with a plastic surgeon on Tuesday.  Lucky for me my ADH warrants a bilateral mastectomy.  Now I'm focused on type of implants - silicone or saline, and type of flap - pig skin or dead human skin. 

And then again, there is my Dad dying, and my husbands unemployment and our lack of insurance, and whether or not I should stay married to my husband....

 I'm sorry to keep moaning about me. I am ready to focus on all of us.  So tell me...how is everyone else doing ???????    

Bogie

I had the steriotactic biopsy for the 8 microcacifications they found during routine mammo. It's not bad cause you lay on your tummy, no real pain.



Later after an MRI I had the core biopsy on suspicious mass, I thought that one hurt a bit more. Neither is horrible, you get through it.

GreenMonkey

1osulgrl, I had two stereotactic biopsies from 2 different facilities, within two weeks of each other.  

it was like two completely different procedures!  

my first biopsy was at my super soft and sweet, local hospital.  Lots of hand holding but I was not allowed to take a valium or any sort of relaxer before because I needed to be "clear minded" to sign the concent forms.  

I did not feel any pain, I did not bruise but I did bleed. The results were received in 48 hours.

The second biopsy was at Sloan Kettering.  No fluff, lots of pain during the procedure. Didn't bleed at all but a HUGE bruise. Still there.  It took 4 days to get the results.  

Sloan also changed my right breast biopsy results (given by my local hospital) from high grade to medium to high grade.

this reminds me that medicine is NOT an exact science. we must listen to our heart and mind.  

GreenMonkey

Leaf, you are so thorough with your info... thank you

GreenMonkey

" **For myself**, if I have to have another biopsy or wire insertion, I will tell them before the procedure that I want to have plenty of lidocaine. "  word to the wise!!!! 

sorry that happened to you leaf.  thank you for sharing ... 

1osugrl

GreenMonkey,

Sorry to hear about your dad.  I was a Daddy's Girl too, and he died of cancer 15 yrs ago at the very young age of 58.  I want to scream F### you cancer .....

You're in my thoughts and prayers!

Gakster

1osugrl,

 I have thought about you this past week and wondered how everything went.  Continuing to pray for good results for you.  The waiting is just excruciating, I know.  I felt like I was carrying an extra 25 pound weight around with me for days.  When I was on my way to get the results (their policy was to deliver them in person no matter what the outcome) I felt like I was either going to throw up from anxiety or hyperventilate.  I am still  sore around the two areas they biopsied - more bruised in one place than the other.  Did they give you a specific day on which you would receive the results?  or was it "around 5 days"?  Let me know.  Thinking good thoughts for you and really hoping for those b9 results!!  Keep in touch, ok?

1osugrl

Hi Gakster,

I got my results today.  No cancers in the biopsy.  However, i do have some Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia .  Dr. says she will refer me to a surgeon as these cells can possibly become cancerous.  Thats okay with me though, i prefer to have them out of my body.  Im so happy today.  My Breast Specialist is great!  She gave me a prescription for something to help me sleep tonight.  Thanks for all your support.  Gosh, i feel like we're friends now...Private message me and i can give you my personal email address.  Hey, lets celebrate life today and everyday !  Take care.

Gakster

1osugrl - Hello again!  What GREAT news!  Sounds like they caught what they did just about as early as they can catch it and you have a wonderful prognosis.  I'm so happy for you.  I completely understand how you are feeling about just wanting it out of your body.  I had talked myself through that as well in case the biopsy results were going to require more surgery.  I have had MUCH better sleep over the past few days and I'm glad you can get some tonight.  It's been great to find you here and to share such a similar timeline.  We are definitely celebrating life each day with a new perspective!  Sending you a private message now with my email contact info.  It's funny how life leads you to new friends!

Worriedsickinpa

Hi everyone,

 Had biopsy today which went very well. Dr did a great job with the anesthesia keeping me comfortable.  I sat in a chair to have my biospy with the mammatone system. Still having some bleeding though. After doing some research I have found that most drs advise  not  taking asprin but also NOT to take ibuprofen which I was told was ok and take on a routine basis for other pain. Now just have to wait until Friday or possibly Monday to get my results. Wish that everyone had the positive experience with thier biospy as I did.  Please say a prayer that my results come back B9, as I will be praying for each of you for whatever you are dealing with.

Worriedsickinpa

Hello everyone,

 Well the results are in and I have DCIS. I have appointments to meet with a surgeon and 2 cancer drs.  The radiologist felt they would recomend a lumpectomy and wasn't sure about any further treatment after. I guess I will find out more after talking to the cancer drs and after the lumpectomy results come back. So far they don't think it has spread so I guess I am lucky they caught it early and I am trying to keep positive thoughts.