Biopsy question

Anonymous

Biopsy question

tangandchris

I am waiting for an appointment on Tuesday with MO. I have my scan report that indicates strong suspicion for mets on my lungs and possibly my spine.

What is a biopsy like for either of these? Any experiences would be great. Also wonder if surgery is ever done to remove lung mets.

I guess I just need to know next steps.

Can I ask for xanax for my nerves? I'm struggling.

exbrnxgrl

My experience is with a biopsy to my upper femur so I’m no help there but as to nerve calming, the answer is yes! You can ask for something ahead of time but often some type of happy juice is the first thing to go into your IV. My favorite drug for these things is Versed. Biopsies are often done under conscious sedation and Versed is perfect for this. You remain awake but very relaxed and nothing bothers you. For example if the doctor informed me that he would be cutting off my head, I would have smiled and nodded in agreement. It also has some amnesiac properties so your memory of the procedure becomes a bit fuzzy. Best of luck with the biopsies

tangandchris

Exbrngrl-

Thank you for the response. I actually meant for daily use lol. I'm not sleeping since all of these things came up. My house has never been cleaner from trying to be busy and distracted.

I wonder if what the lung biopsy is like mostly. I goggled it and it looks like there are some done under general anesthesia. What decides that...anyone know?

nopink2019

I had breathing problems that were treated for bronchitis etc. Ended up in ER unable to breathe. Had thoracentisis and fluid showed cancer cells. Then scans showed tumors on lungs, liver and spine. So biopsy was taking fluid out and testing that. Maybe not typical.

---

exbrnxgrl

Before, during or after a biopsy get yourself some Ativan! I think it needs to be standard issue for mbc patients 😁

Anonymous

tangandchris - there is a lung mets specific thread where I am almost positive someone has had this procedure in the last six months. I seem to recall it sounds really scary, but was fairly straightforward. You may want to ask on that thread.

tangandchris

I will look for thread...any iseas on the name of it?

Anonymous

Met to Lung - its on the second page of threads.

sbelizabeth

Early on, when the news was bad and just kept getting worse, I felt like a snake was biting me every time the phone rang. My onc gave me a prescription for ativan, to be taken whenever I got "the shivers," as my hubs used to call it. I could feel the anxiety bubbling up sometimes and it was awful. Half a tablet usually did the trick. It's a controlled substance but it's not an opioid, so your physician can call it into your pharmacy. Get some. Today.

tangandchris

Update

We saw MO yesterday and he says in addition to the lung nodules and spine lesion there are swollen lymph nodes on my mediastinal chest. I'm probably saying that wrong btw.

I am going for a PET and another MRI on my thoracic spine. He wants to biopsy the lymph nodes in my chest for sure. He said this could be breast recurrence or possibly lymphoma.

I'm scared of course. My family knows except my 11 year old. Im devastated at the thought of telling her. Absolutely devastated.

Anonymous

Tangaandchris, I am sorry you are dealing with this. As you probably know this is really the most excruciating and devastating time, at least for me. I too had a breast cancer recurrence in my mediastinal lymph nodes. I also had them in my left superclavical lymph nodes and other chest lymph nodes (paracardial or something like that?). The superclavical was chosen to biopsy as it was easiest to reach. Hang in there, I have responded well to treatment so far which started in November of 2019 so about a year ago. Ativan or xanax would be good to have for right now while you are in this awful state of scanning/biopsies. My doctor thought it could be lymphoma as well but it was BC. There is always the possibility that it is not cancer but either way, you need to find out. Let us know how you are doing, we are here for you!

tangandchris

Thank you April. I forgot to ask at the appointment for anxiety meds. I sent the nurse an email last night about but have not heard back.

I have hope that once we have more info things will get easier. But yes right now it is just a terrible feeling.

((Hugs))

moth

Hi tangandchris, sorry you're in this position. These early days are exhausting and filled with so much anxiety.

if you do end up having a lung biopsy, I can tell you about mine. It was under CT guidance. I had an xray about 30 min before the biopsy. Then they started an IV and just saline locked it. They needed it as a 'just in case'. Then the IR talked to me, verified consent, and then I was wheeled to the CT suite. They positioned me on CT bed and draped me. I was lying face down. Lots of pillows, bolsters supports to make sure I was comfortable. Interventional radiologist + 1 RN in the room. Lidocaine injection - so small pinch and then nothing. It was about 15-20 minutes? I didn't feel anything except some minor pressure. Then I got placed on a stretcher & taken to recovery & had to sit up for a certain period of time. They kept me hooked up to the BP machine and it automatically inflated every 10 mins & the nurse swung by to check on me pretty regularly. I needed 3 xrays after the procedure, I can't remember how far apart they were...maybe 30-60 minutes? The porter just came and wheeled me into the xray suite, they propped me up in the stretcher into the proper position and then took me back to the recovery room. It's just that there is a small chance of a lung collapsing after a biopsy, hence the xray checks. Once a certain number of hours had passed with no sign of lung collapse, I was free to go home. Just a few bandaids on my back. I felt a bit bruised the next couple days but didn't need pain relievers. Overall easy procedure, just time consuming. Bring books/magazines/charged phone to keep yourself occupied cause it's boring. I had mine just before the hospitals locked down & stopped visitors so my dh was able to be with me. I was worried and anxious about it but it was really pretty anticlimactic.

hang in there. Hugs

tangandchris

Moth

Thank you for your detailed description of a lung biopsy. MO seems fixated on the lymph nodes in my chest and wants to biopsy those asap. He described possibly going down my throat or through the side. The extra scans will help determine which one is better.

I was able to pick up some meds for anxiety so hopefully I can calm down a little and talk to my daughter.

I'm going to look for others on the board with kids.