stressing- stereo biopsy next week

Mamateacher

This community is so helpful! I am 41, and had my first mammo last Monday 7/16. Got the call on Wednesday that I needed to come back in for another look, did so Friday, for calcifications on my right breast near the nipple. Now I need to have stereotatic biopsy on Aug 1. I am in shock more than anything- I have no family history of cancer. It was just totally unexpected and now I'm so anxious. I'm going out of town tomorrow for a week (dropping my older kids at sleepaway camp and then going with my husband and youngest on a long weekend) and they couldn't get me in today or tomorrow morning so I have to wait until I get back. Which is probably for the best with the recovery and travel but now I am spending so much time thinking about the what if's. Also my MIL is currently in treatment for BC so it would be a blow if I am also diagnosed with something.

If I have the biopsy and am then diagnosed, do I then just call my preferred specialist? I have already found 2 names that I would like to consult with, one is at a large breast center (NCI) and the other is at my local hospital (though both are local to me). Do I just call them up and ask for an appointment? Is there a long wait if you've just been diagnosed? I'm a teacher and so stressed about the impact this may have on my job security as I am not full-time so do not qualify for FMLA and carry my family's health insurance.

I'm also stressed about the biopsy. I am not terribly squeamish/needle averse, have had 2 kids without pain meds and no problem giving blood or getting shots. I have never taken xanax or anything so I said it wasn't needed. I will likely need to drive myself to/from the biopsy and they said it was fine to do so because my husband will be home with my younger child.

Just nervous/anxious/worried, and trying to keep it together.

Ingerp

I'm getting all of my BC medical care through one hospital, so chose a BS from the practice that was affiliated with it (and back when I first met with him nine years ago, I just took the first available appt). If you have a person/place in mind, they just need to have access to the biopsy report (you do too). There are not typically long waits but that depends somewhat on where you're being treated. I would think you could get in within a week or two after getting the biopsy results. My least favorite part of a biopsy is the loud noise the machine makes (which they will warn you about). The one time I had noticeable pain from a biopsy was when it was on the exact underside of my breast--I think the weight of everything on the small incision caused it, and as soon as I got off my feet it felt better. Those little freezer things to slip in your bra do feel nice, though! I've always driven myself. You'll be fine.

Mrsbaker

I just had a stereotactic biopsy last week for calcifications. Results were benign! So please remember that there are benign causes to calcifications!

As for the biopsy, the freezing needle was uncomfortable. I didn't feel any "pain" afterwards. Just a mild pinching/burning sensation for each of the six samples. I would feel that burn, hear a beep, then hear it rotate for the next sample. So it was basically burn/beep/noise, burn/beep/noise....six times. And by burn, by no means do I mean like a painful burn, more just a subtle cutting/burning sensation. For a millisecond. The actual biopsy itself (not the mammos/adjustments/freezing/marker/more mammos, etc), just the biopsy itself took less than a minute. You'll be fine, I promise. They really do freeze you up pretty good. 

I'm also a teacher. Try to enjoy your summer plans. I consciously kept busy and stuck to the plans I had for the summer (even when I didn't feel like it). I mean what's the alternative? Sit and worry? Keep busy. Know that there are benign causes to calcifications (mine were actually pleomorphic micro-calcifications…a more "worrisome" type, and mine were benign). 

Let us know how it goes.