needle loc-can someone describe?

momand2kids

Ladies,

can someone describe this type of biopsy for me ? I think I am going to have to have this in the next few weeks...how is this different from the lumpectomy?

thanks

BarbaraA

They will give you lidocaine first then with the help of a mammo machine, the radiologist will insert a wire into the breast to where the suspicious place is. This is to guide the surgeon to the right place. After the wire is in, they put like a styrofoam cup over it so you don't bump it then they will do the biopsy.

momand2kids

Thanks Barb.... once the wire is in, what do they do..... do they put another needle in to do the actual biopsy?  this sounds painful...is it?

BarbaraA

You don't feel a thing.

leaf

Mine was almost 5 years ago, so maybe things have changed.  I had 2 wires inserted.  I did not have lidocaine beforehand. I had my wires inserted by a radiologist, not by the surgeon.

I did a survey here in 2006, and this is what people reported.  There were 38 total votes. 1 = minimal pain, 10= worst imaginable pain.  These were the choices/categories.

1) I had injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was tolerable <=4/10 on a 1-10 scale.  19 people (50%).

2) I had injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was >4/10 on a 1-10 scale. 7 people (19%)

3) I did NOT have injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was tolerable <=4/10 on a scale of 1-10.   3 (8%)

4) I did NOT have injectable anesthesia before wire insertion and my pain was >4/10 on a 1-10 scale.  9 (24%)

At that time, one poster said she had her wire insertion at a world class institution, and did NOT have any injectable anesthesia before wire insertion.  I don't know if that situation has changed.  They did give me a lidocaine injection shortly after wire insertion, but it didn't do anything. I assume they hit the wrong place.

Since I was told I was not to move a muscle during wire insertion (mine was mammo-guided), I found it very difficult to communicate with the radiologist who inserted the wires.  If I personally have to do it over again, I will bring a bell or something, so I can communicate with the radiologist without talking to him/her.  Your psychology and preferences are probably very different than mine.

After the wires were inserted, it was several more hours before the actual surgery with the surgeon happened.  (My surgeon had a family emergency.)  

momand2kids

thanks leaf--what I don't understand is it a biopsy or a surgery--sounds like you had both?

last time I had a core needle biopsy--I am just trying to figure out how this is different.. and if it is meant to extract the mass or just biopsy it..... sigh--I so don't want to do this....

BarbaraA

YIKES, Leaf! Anesthesia that doesn't work is Barbaric! Maybe I got lucky but it was painless for me.