Lumpectomy Less Painful then My Biopsy

NSJ2

Now that I'm 15d post Lumpectomy surgery, I have to say that the Stereotactic biopsy I had (9 gauge probe with Seros vacuum) was much more invasive then the lumpectomy surgery.

I had many painful side effects from the biopsy that started 6/7d after and lasted for 4 weeks. It was not just unpleasant, it was painful. I cried myself to sleep a few nights because my breast felt like it was on fire. And my lymph nodes burned to where I couldn't even wear the slightest thinest lightest weight t shirt without feeling excessive burning on my left side.

Based on the biopsy painful SEs, my surgeon and I were fully prepared to manage the eminent pain I would experience from the surgery with drugs. But they haven't been needed after day 6 and it's now day 15.

So why was the biopsy so much more painful when they tout it to be minimally invasive???

Sure hope I haven't jinx'd myself by posting this where tomorrow morning I wake up with the dreaded pain.

proudtospin

have to asy that my lumpies were not at all painful and I never took more than one or two of the pain pills

the steotactic biopsy, was painful to me but really as my back was bothering me and getting up on the dang table and then staying still....nasty nasty 

BLinthedesert

My biopsy was very painful as well, although I recovered much more quickly than I did from my lumpectomy - and I did not need pain pills with my biops(ies) and did for my lumpectomy.

I think a lot depends on how much tissue they take with the lumpectomy, and  how close it is to the chest wall.  

I am very glad that your lumpectomy went well!! 

NSJ2

At my recommendation, they took wide margins - 3cm x 5cm, I was told. Also, my surgeon said she was very close to the chest wall. I don't have the final path yet, but soon.

Thank you for the well wishes, BL. You've been so great to me.

Summer2recover

That is interesting and must have been a very nice surprise.   I would say that I was surprised that my steriotactic biopsies and SNB were practically pain free and the tattoos hurt more intensely than the discomfort after the BMX (with the pain medications, of course!).

Summer2recover

That is interesting and must have been a very nice surprise.   I would say that I was surprised that my steriotactic biopsies and SNB were practically pain free and the tattoos hurt more intensely than the discomfort after the BMX (with the pain medications, of course!).

redsox

The biopsy I had was the single worst part of my whole diagnostic and treatment experience. It was US-guided and results came back as "benign, come back in a year for a routine mammo." Fortunately, my gyn did not accept that result because it did not explain my symptoms. The biopsy itself hurt a lot and seemed to go on forever. It took a long time for the bleeding to stop and, when it did, the first thing they did was squish the breast for a mammogram. Duh! Of course the bleeding started again and I had a really bad hematoma. If I need another one and they want a mammo to check for clip placement they will have to wait a long time and explain to me why they can't use US.

akinto

I had an awful time during and after my stereotactic biopsy. I called it "getting hole punched".

Except for the infections, my lumpectomies were nothing. Local anaesthesia, immediate recovery, no pain killers, not even a tylenol.

If they see something on my mammogram ever again, I hope I am going to the surgical floor directly and not coming back to the diagnostic unit for a stereotactic biopsy.

NSJ2

I have a theory "why" these Stereotactic biopsies are so painful with painful SEs. I think it's because they view the breast as something with no bones or organs to worry about, so they simply punch right into it with very little concern for what is actually in our breasts, or what it does to it. Their goal is to get the samples.

Whereas in surgery, the surgeon sees all and takes care to get the tissue they need along with lesions and tries to avoid cutting into things that will cause painful recovery. Its a "surgical" procedure, literally.

I know these biopsies are integral in saving lives, so I do value them. But I think they need to be more candid in their 'advertisments" and literature of them being minimally invasive. It would be good to cover those very painful side effects that some may and do experience.

As a patient/consumer, I want to know ALL so I can make informed decisions and be prepared.

NSJ2

Catherine

Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with the stereotactic biopsy.  I also had good luck with my lumpectomy.  Had the surgery on Friday (the 13th, of all things) and was back at work the following Monday.  No big deal.  

Janet456

Fingers crossed I hope I am done. The lumpectomy was a breeze compared to the biopsy x

BLinthedesert

I think that everyone is different.  My first biopsy was horrible.  The radiologist did not have a large enough bore needle and because the tissue was so dense it took her forever to get 5-6 samples -- they were "negative" but because the area was so large and I had another area that she couldn't get to, they sent me to a breast surgeon. I ran the day after the "radiologist" biopsy.  My BS had a fancier machine, and much larger bore needles - and although one broke off in my breast (I told him it was dense tissue  ) - it was not bad during the procedure, probably because I had taken a valium!!  He took well over 18 cores.  I was sore, and needed to take an extra day after the biopsy off from running.  

My lumpectomy?  worse, but not that bad.  I think in part it depends on the size of the lumpectomy, and how hard it is to get to ... I couldn't run for 7 days after my lumpectomy (and my surgeon wanted me to wait longer than that), and although I stopped taking pain meds about 4 days afterward, the first 3 days were pretty painful.  Much worse than the biopsy.

All that said, it is nothing compared to mastectomy - so I am grateful, and now that it has been 7 months, it doesn't seem that bad at all  I have a 4 inch scar, and am missing about 1/4 of my breast - but it is on the outside, and not noticeable at all unless I am naked.  I feel pretty lucky, healthy, and happy with the way everything turned out.

 My fingers are crossed for you too Janet!