Rib biopsy

Jennmadd

my moms oncologist wants a rib biopsy but the hospital called today saying that only one dr. Is comfortable doing it and is out of the country. When we asked why the other dr.s are not comfortable doing it she said because of the location. Is this a risky procedure? Are they worried they will puncture her lung? We are in the process of being approved for a second opinion in Seattle. Maybe we should get the biopsy done there? Has anyone on here had a rib biopsy?

Before we found out my moms cancer spread she had started treatment for "early breast cancer" she did one AC treatment. Almost all her hair is gone. It is very thin and her scalp is sore and burns. Will shaving her head help with this? She was going to shave it today but I told her it was still pretty full in the back and to wait. Maybe it will stop falling out? It sucks that she had to go through that since it seems it wasn't necessary.

I would love to hear from others that have had a rib biopsy. Thank you!

I Love all you ladies. I pray daily for everyone battling this horrible disease.

Emily2008

I'm sorry about your mom! You sound like a wonderful and loving daughter.

I don't know about the rib biopsy, but I wanted to tell you that AC chemo is used when metastasis is suspected or already known, so your mom certainly didn't go through one round for nothing. All the more necessary is they suspect bone mets!

Midwest_Laura

Hello, Jennmadd.  So sorry that you have to be here, but you have come to the right place.  I had DD (dose dense) AC + Taxol chemo.  My hair started to fall out right at the start of my second AC treatment.  There's no going back.  Shaving the head makes things a bit easier in the shower.  Less clogging.  It's easier to deal with a lot of short hair than watching the mess of long hair.  What worked for me was to shave it down to ~1 inch.  A true, "close to the skin" shave can irritate the skin.  My skin burned a little bit for several weeks even after I shaved.  After that, my scalp was just a bit dry and needed a bit of TLC.  Good luck to you and your mom. 

NancyHB

Hi Jenn, so sorry to hear about your mom. I was recently diagnosed with rib mets via bone scan and CT. Rib mets are tricky; the only way to biopsy (so I'm told from two very reputable and respected MOs) is a rib resection, because a needle biopsy risks puncturing the lung. The resection itself comes with the possibility of complications (like lung collapse). I was told I would be sent home with a chest tube for a couple of days to prevent this (not a drain - a *chest tube*). This may be why your mom's doctor is waiting on the one surgeon who can/will do this.

I have two rib mets, one on each side. My second opinion (and new MO) likened a rib resection to taking a "sledgehammer to a hangnail" in my case - lots of risk for not enough reward. Instead we're going to scan again in a couple of weeks and look for progression; she won't order s biopsy until mets appear in a place that is easier to biopsy (in my case they're trying to determine hormone receptor status since I've had both ER+ and TNBC).

I encourage your mom to wait to decide on biopsy until she gets that second opinion. There's time for that. Good luck to hrr