Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy--Terrified and Second-guessing

Snosafred

Sorry to hear....no one wants to hear cancer.

My mom was diagnosed with DCIS last year in September. By the way my mom was 79 at the time. We were scared didn't know what it entailed. It was small and stage one. She opted to have the mastectomy. She didn't want to go through radiation treatments for 5 weeks? November 3rd of 2016 she had the mastectomy. She is doing better than expected. She sees her surgeon now once a year. And she sees her oncologist every 3 months. And she takes a pill once a day. I believe for 5 or 7 years. She's doing good.

Things will work out for you...

Liz1985

Hello!  I just had a follow up mammogram for th first time ever and have to go for a stereotactic biopsy on my right breast for highly suspicious calcification in lower right quadrant. I am so scared and anxious. I have read that it’s not painful and I am so worried that I’m going to experience pain during the procedure. Is it really true that I will only feel a slight prick from the numbing and after that won’t feel anything except for some pressure or tugging?  

rvgirl2016

Hi Liz1985!  Sorry you have to go through this, but it's really not bad at all.  Everyone is different I guess, but I believe a lot of it is mind over matter.  I felt the numbing shot but it wasn't terrible.  And yes you'll feel pressure,  but the worst thing for me was staying flat on my stomach for the procedure, I have a bad shoulder.  But when I mentioned that,  the 3 techs in the room with me were very good at making sure I was comfortable at all times.  Make sure and use the ice pack afterwards.  I only had a tiny bruise for about a week.  Good luck,  and wishing you benign results!

Liz1985

Thank you! I feel much better after hearing from someone that had it done. My biopsy is day after tomorrow (Thursday) and I was advised my results will be ready on Monday. Praying so hard that it will be benign! I'm getting ready for a total knee replacement in November so everything is so overwhelming for me right now. Thank you for providing strength to me and may God bless you!

bew66

Liz1985, just want to add my 2 cents. I was so afraid when they told me I needed a core needle biopsy.....I'm a really big baby when it comes to needles and pain, and one of my friends told her experience was terrible, so I was ready to skip it and go straight to the OR for a mastectomy!  Had a stereotactic CNB in Feb, and an US guided one in Sept., they were both truly a piece of cake.  A sting, followed by a little burning then the lidocaine kicks in and NO pain.  Hope your experience will be as easy as mine, and results b9!

rvgirl2016

You're very welcome Liz1985 !   In most cases I think the anticipation is  worse than anything   

momallthetime

Liz it's so doable. After the fact you will feel something, but i did not even take any meds. Let us know after the procedure, it a/t it does not bother you right after, but a few days later, and let's hope for good news, let us know k.

Liz1985

thank you and I will most definitely post when I get my results. Tomorrow is my biopsy day.....so anxious

Chi_Gal

I am also very scared and anxious, I went in for my first mammogram in last month( yay 40!?) and was told to come back for a diagnostic scan. Given a family history of breast cancer with my mom and her mom, along with the fact that this is my first mammogram and there is nothing to compare to, Dr's recommend a stereotactic biopsy to investigate the micro calcifications found. Needless to say I am terrified. I'm glad there is this forum to follow for support. I havevery small breasts and there is concern that there might not be enough tissue to compress. Anyone else have this same issue? Hopefully they are able to work with what I have and I avoid surgery. Any tips to stay calm and comfortable during the procedure? can i listen to music or do ineed to be totally aware? t

MTwoman

chi_gal, so very sorry that you're here worried about your breast health. You are right that with first mammos, and nothing to compare to, more women are referred for diagnostic imaging. When added to your family history I am glad that they are taking this seriously. I can't answer the question about what they do to improve compression in small breasted women, sorry, hopefully someone else will come along soon to tell you about that! I can tell you that listening to music really helped me to get through some diagnostic events. There will be times when you need to talk to the providers/nurses, but there will be times when you won't and keeping yourself calm helps tremendously. Good luck and please do ask if you have any other questions.

Chi_Gal

Thank you, MTwoman, this helps! The dr. also mentioned I would be able to return to work the same day? I am currently scheduled for the procedure first thing in the morning but have requested to work from home in the afternoon. Is that advisable?

MTwoman

I didn't personally have a stereotactic biopsy, I've had us guided core needle and fna. Here is a link to an image of what the stereotactic will look like: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-biopsy/multimedia/stereotactic-breast-biopsy/img-20008883

As far as returning to work, I think planning on working from home is a good idea. It is so hard to predict how we respond to procedures. I had no problem, could have worked no problem. I have heard others have had a bit more difficulty and this is typically based on the depth of the sampling area, is the area close to nerve endings (one of mine was close to the nipple and ouch!) as well as personal factors (pain tolerance etc). They do use a numbing agent, which can be the only "pain" that some women experience. So I would plan on being able to work (from home), but able to give yourself the extra time if you don't quite feel up to it. Mainly, ice packs and a few Tylenol will be your afternoon friends. I didn't even use Tylenol.

Best of luck!

momallthetime

MTwoman your experiences help so many ppl. Chi gal- you could ask maybe for ativan if you are anxious, they give Lidocaine to the area, it's a minimum prick and then you don't feel a/t, maybe a pressure here and there. Many ppl g to work the same day, you might actually feel more a few days later when the lidocaine wears off. I don't think you have to worry our breasts being very small. I know someone with very small breasts and she had it done. If you do feel, it won't really be pain, maybe more like pressure, you could take Tylenol then to take the edge off. It's a minimum scar. They might be able to take all the microcalcifications out at that biopsy. Did they tell you what type of microcalcifications they see? They should be able to tell you, it should be in the report. That could give more information. Usually after biopsy, and it's b9, they should have you come back in 6 mos. Did they do an US also? With your History, you should have been advised to come in even b4 40.

I'd tell you to go to a place that all they do is Mamos/US/MRI of the breast, if you can - not a place that does all kinds of radiography stuff. They would have more experience. What was the Bi rads they graded at?

Liz1985

I received my biopsy results this morning. Biopsy went fine....really had no pain. Just a little tugging and pinches. Didn’t even feel the numbing shot. The phone call results this morning wasn’t what I was hoping for. Ductal carcinoma in right breast ducts. Having An MRI on Wednesday on both breasts to determine if there is anything else. Possibly an ultrasound. Will have to have surgery. Right now my head is swimming. This seems like I’m in a bad dream and it’s not really happening. I’ll have more results when I meet with my Dr a week from today I’m scared but I’m strong I hope to hear from others going thru same experience Thank you all out there and may God bless y

MTwoman

So sorry Liz! When you say ductal carcinoma in ducts, do you mean ductal carcinoma in situ? (as opposed to invasive ductal carcinoma?) This time is the scariest, knowing "bc" but not really knowing the details. If you can get a copy of your pathology, it will let you read through the forums here that best apply to your bc and ask questions to get ready for your next week apt. Sorry again, and please do let us know how we can help. ((hugs))

Liz1985

hi. Yes the breast surgeon did advise me that it’s ductal carcinoma in situ. She also advised she wanted to do a MRI scheduled for tomorrow to determine if other calcifications that are in the right breast show anything and also looking at breast tissue. Also wants to do MRI on left breast as well. My appt with her is for next Monday where she will have the rest of the results and see where we are at. I know surgery will have to be done as my nurse navigator called and mentioned it but onceagain they want to wait until all results are in. Today is a new day and I know I can do this and what needs to be done to get rid of this Cancer. I will get my pathology report tomorrow and read thru that. Thank you for responding. This is all new for me personally so I’m still having anxiety but I also have faith in my God

MTwoman

Liz, I know waiting is tough, but I will encourage you to get as much info as possible, including mri, before making your final surgical decision. I had my lx first, and then an mri later, which revealed more areas of dcis in other quadrants. I ended up with mx. Had I known before I made my surgical decision, I could have avoided at least one additional surgery, maybe more (I got a hematoma after my lx, so they did my mx separate from my TE placement). Do read your path report and ask any questions! You can do this.

momallthetime

Liz so sorry you are going through this. But you are doing all you can. re: the calcifications in my experience they could tell you what type they are when they look at it. And you could do some homework. But an MRI is a great idea. Then you will have the discussion about tamoxifen or even something else, these days a lot of doctors will tell you to have these treatments. Thank you for letting us know. It's not what you expected, but glad that you are being thorough. Take good care.

AngelaJL

Hi Liz. I had the same result. Biopsy showed DCIS on right side and atypical cells on left. I had lumpectomies on both side on 9/13. I'll start radiation next week Monday.

You'll get through this, and these boards are such a great support!

Liz1985

hi! Thank you for that info. This is all new to me. Can you please tell me what does LX, MX. and TE placement mean? I don’t know what those initials stand for? Thank you and take car

AngelaJL

LX = lumpectomy

MX = mastectomy

TE = tissue expander, I believe

I think there's a list of abbreviations and definitions somewhere in the left side menu, but I'm on mobile and can't easily find it.

Edit: I found it!

Chi_Gal

Procedure went as well as hoped...thanks to the great nurse who wiped my tears and calmed me down and all of you for your kind ears/eyes. Listening to music on my headphones helped tremendously! The only real pain was the lidocaine shot and then when the doctor pushed the needle even deeper. I was (barely) able to get my small breast through the hole and into the compression plates. The nurse removed all the padding so that I was straight flush against the table. My face was pressed in and uncomfortable but I will gladly take a few minutes of that over the alternative of a surgical biopsy. Now the wait...

momallthetime

Chi gal good for you. We'll keep checking in.

Liz so good that you are preparing yourself.

momallthetime

Chi gal good for you. We'll keep checking in.

Liz so good that you are preparing yourself.

Liz1985

Hi! So glad you are all doing ok regardless of what we have to go thru! WE CAN DO THIS!!!! I had my breast mammogram on Wednesday and when I got up after the hour of laying still I was lightheaded and felt exhausted. I asked if it was the contrast they put in the IV but she said no...she thought it might be all the anxiety since pre biopsy. Has anyone else felt lightheaded after having the breast contrast MRI? It lasted the rest of the day and I went home and slept. Next day I was fine

Liz1985

We may be knocked down for a bit but we are not knocked out. Something in our DNA tells us to get back up! Joy is the strength that gets us through difficult circumstances and during this waiting period for more tests to determine any further Cancer, I am so happy for all the blessings in my life. I have my down days but when I’m talking with all of you, my days are lifted. May God bless you all

Liz1985

thank you! Take care

momallthetime

Lis1985 i think it's perfectly possible to be dizzy from the contrast. Of course adding anxiety to the mix is always fun. Did they tell you a/t re: results? What's your next step?

igotthis123

Liz, I was absolutely dizzy and lightheaded after my MRI with contrast. I was fine a few hours later.

Liz1985

I just received a call re: my MRI and they tell me the cancer is contained in the biopsy spot. Left breast is A-OK! That is a big relief. I meet with the breast surgeon and nurse navigator on Monday morning to discuss the details of the results and the plan for surgery. Someone told me recently that before they had their lumpectomy they had 4 shots to the breast prior to being put under anesthesia. They said that the shots were very near the nipple and they were extremely painful and was not even told that this was going to happen. They were told they had to be awake for these shots and then were taken to the OR for the surgery afterwards. Does anyone know what these shots are; what are they for and why do you need to be awake? Are they extremely painful as I was told? Thank you!