Stereostactic biopsy tomorrow. What should I expect?

MaryNY

I'm worried about a recurrence. Had a lumpectomy two years ago. Today I had a mammo and ultrasound. I thought I would be in and out in about an hour, but it was two and half hours. Technician called me back twice for more mammo images, so I knew something was looking suspicious. After the ultrasound, the doctor came in to talk to me. She said I had calcifications close to the lumpectomy site and because of my history they want to investigate it further. She said in someone without my history it would be a "wait and see."

So I'm scheduled for a stereotactic biopsy tomorrow. My previous biopsies were two needle core biopsies and two MRI-guided biopsies. Can someone tell me what to expect with the stereotactic biopsy? Will it be similar to an MRI-guided biopsy? I'd appreciate it if someone could describe what happens. Doc did tell me that I will be lying face down, presumbably with my boobs hanging through a couple of holes in the table. 

ElenaMarie62

Hi Mary,

I have had two stereotactic biopsies. Your doctor is correct, that you lie on the table with your boob/s through the hole. The radiology doctor numbed the area very well, and I did not feel anything but some pressure from pulling or moving the needle around, but no pain. She put in a titanium chip in two places where they suspected I had tumors (mine were also microcalcifications). But, all in all, it was not bad at all.

The procedure did not really take long at all. I just went home afterwards, and put some ice on the area, and rested.

Hope you do okay, and that this will just be a false alarm.

Take care!
 

MaryNY

Thanks Elena: how long did the whole thing take? Will they use the images they already have from today or will they take more mammo images as they go along?

I barely felt anything during the needle biopsies, but found the MRI-guided biopsies extremely painful. I'm afraid tomorrow's biopsy is going to be like the latter as it sound as though they go in just once and take a big cylinder of tissue.

MaryNY

Agh, I just realized that I mispelled stereotactic and can't fix it in the title. How I hate when I do that.

suzieq60

Mary - Bloody hell - you don't need this!!! I do hope the biopsy goes OK. I had the wires for my second lumpectomies put in sterotactically - which would be similar I guess - it was fine and was over very quickly. I do hope you don't end up with another positive diagnosis like I did. Lots of swearing going on here!!!! I hate BC!!!!!

((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))

Sue

gardenbird

Hi Mary,

 I also had the stereotactic biopsy after microcalcifications were found in the opposite breast, one year after lumpectomy, radiation and chemo.  I found it to be a lot less painful than the normal biopsy, actually not painful at all, as they had numbed it well.  The nurse kindly chatted to me as the doctor worked away underneath and I didn't notice anything really.  Thank god the result was benign.  Hope for you too.  I was only consoled by the knowledge that if it was anything it would have been caught very early.  Good luck

suzieq60

Good point Irisheyes - It's not nice to be diagnosed, but I am very thankful my 2 bc were very small. Here's hoping for B9!!!! for Mary

agada

Don't worry, all will be well.  Yes you get to have the fun of laying with your breasts through a hole and they should numb you up for the procedure.  My doc said if I feel anthing in regard to the biopy needle to  please ask for more numbing agent.  It is not that bad, just uncomfortable laying there for a bit.  I had a nurse hold my hand since I am a big coward when it comes to testing  with a needle even when I have my blood drawn, It is worth the effort! Ask if they take x rays of the tissue they biopsy to make sure they get the correct area. We will be thinging of you.

MaryNY

Thank you all. I could find little on this board about the stereotactic procedure, but found a lot of images in Google Images so I have an idea in my head of how I will be positioned. I'm concerned about how they staunch the bleeding afterward. When I had two MRI-guided biopsies in my good breast (and they did come back benign) I ended up with a massive hematoma which took months to dissolve and has left me with a lot of scar tissue that causes issues each time I have a mammo.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and going now ...

suzieq60

((((((((((((((((((MARY)))))))))))))))))))

MaryNY

Phew, that took a lot longer than I expected. I got there at 10AM and wasn't out of there until almost noon. The set-up took the longest. At one stage I started to feel the vacuum-assisted device and the doctor gave me more anesthetic.

The worst part was staying still in the prone position with my head twisted to the side. My right hand went numb. I've been putting icepacks on the wound area since I got home. Feeling very drowsy now.

I go back for the results tomorrow.

suzieq60

((((((((((((((((((MARY)))))))))))))))))))

I'll be thinking of you - please let us know. It's good they used the vacuum assisted device - I hear they are really good.

Sue

MaryNY

Thanks Susie. I thought they always used the vacuum-asisted device in this kind of biopsy. What else might they have used?

MaryNY

Susie: I've just been looking back over your old messages. You went through hell late last year when the found the three suspicious areas in your other breast. Thank goodness only one was malignant and they took that out. Was it hard going through rads a second time? I don't know if that would be an option for me as mine is in the left breast which was already radiated. Not sure if they can do it twice on the same side ... but I'm jumping ahead of myself as I haven't got the biopsy results yet.

suzieq60

Mary - You can't have rads on the same side again. The surgeon did remove the other 2 spots because they couldn't biopsy them. Going thruogh the wholething again was awful, but it's in the past now and I'm trying to move on.

I really hope you will get B9 results!!!! I'm sending cyber messages!!!

Sue

MaryNY

Hi Susie: I was really anxious this morning. Then the breast surgeon's office called to cancel my appt for Monday and reschedule to September. This upset me as if I got bad news, I would want to see her as soon as possible.

Then at 1PM I went to back my car out of the driveway, heard some scraping ... hopped out saw some bits of plastic on the ground, glanced at the front of the car and found the front bumper (American fender?) had almost competely fallen off. I thought this was a bad omen and went back inside to plan what I would do next and who I'd call to drive me to the appointment. I was a mess at this stage. Left a message for my brother, who called back and told me he'd bring me to the doctor. Next phone rings and I see it's the radiologist's office and I'm wondering what else can go wrong. I'm sweating. Doctor gets to the point quickly ... results came back sooner than expected and she was calling to tell me it's benign! ... some mention of scarring and fat necrosis, I wasn't really listening. 

I still had to go to appointment at 3PM but now a weight had lifted. My brother hadn't told me that he was having problems with his truck -- possibly the battery. It was touch and go all the way, it nearly died a couple of times, then the final stretch was downhill so we just rolled into a parking space and it puttered to a halt. He had to remove battery and go and get a replacement while I was in the doctor's office.

Doctor checks the incision site. The area around it is hot and red. She said she sees this sometimes in radiated breasts. She gave me an Rx for antibiotic (Cipro) so she must be concerned that there's an infection. 

I'm so happy this evening...but what a day that was!

suzieq60

YAHOOO!!!! I got goosebumps as I read your post (and happy tears)

THAT IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!

Sue