Itching after excisional biopsy

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Girly
Girly Member Posts: 8
edited January 2020 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I'm brand new here but am so glad I found this site.  I had a cluster of calcifications which were removed with a stereotactic biopsy.  Path results were ADH.  Had an excisional biopsy yesterday to remove anything leftover.  I'm tender and a little bruised, which seems normal, but I am itching like crazy!!!  I can't tell if it's the tape or the incision but it's really itchy.  I know that itching means that it's healing, but doesn't that kick in after a few days?  For those who've had an excisional biopsy, what were your experiences?

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  • 12954
    12954 Member Posts: 374
    edited January 2009

    It's been a year- so my memory is not as fresh as someone more recent, but I remeber itching after 2 or 3 days. More sore/tender the day after. Maybe the tape???

    Trish

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  • Mamie2
    Mamie2 Member Posts: 108
    edited January 2009

    i thought it was my pain meds that was making me itch. I have itching too. It's healing I think. But I had itching elsewhere and I think its my narcotic pain killer which I have decided not to take anymore. I had a second excisional lumpectomy Wednesday and I'm going to use ice and compression to manage the next few days, and maybe some ibuprofen. Vicoden or Hydracotone is too debilitating. Also, when I took my shirt off the night of surgery, I saw no dressing, and hardly any sign of stitches, and when I spoke to the dr he said he used surgical glue!! At the same time he excised a bigger margin around the cavity where he found more cancer, he also did a sentinel node biopsy, it was clean! Thank you lord!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    I remember the itchiness--it's just a normal part of the healing process. Praying you have nothing more than the ADH.

    Anne

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  • Lories
    Lories Member Posts: 351
    edited January 2009

    Hi Girly, if you are itching you are likely allergic to something they used.  I was allergic to some antibiotic soap that was used when I had surgery for something before my lumpectomy.  I also had a little rash and reddended skin. So on the lumpectomy the doc used different soap and I had no itching. 

    The other thing they normally use in biopsies are lidocaine (spelling?) to deaden things, they shot that in the hollow needle, so you could be allergic to that or the tape, or if they used any glue - they use that now to 'sew' you up.

    I ended up getting a cream from my dermatologist - I thought I was going to go insane it itched so bad - he gave me cloderm.  I would NOT dismiss it as healing.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2009

    DO NOT GO TO THE WEBSITE LISTED BY lina85.  IT IS SPAM. 

    We've had a number of newly registered members over the past few days who are sending women to these same spam websites.  The websites are useless - just a list of other websites - and the sole purpose is to get us there so that we can be sent cookies and so that "lina" (whoever he really is) gets paid for each "click" on the site. 

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  • anianiau
    anianiau Member Posts: 182
    edited January 2009

    I've had three excisional biopsies and itching was not part of any post-op reaction. The above suggestions that this might be due to an allergic rxn could be on target. If you think it's a possibility, then you might try using Benadryl 25 mg which is OTC. Another option is careful washing around the area with a mild, non-fragranced cleanser.

    Good luck.

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  • Wink333
    Wink333 Member Posts: 143
    edited January 2009

    Girly,

    I have twice had an excisional biopsy and the itching drove me crazy too! Benadryl cream over the counter helped but it just took time.  They must expect it as my Dr told me to be sure and not scratch. When I mentioned it later he and the nurse acted like they didn't know what I meant. LOL I really dreaded healing from my mastectomy because I expected to itch like that after it but I didn't. The next biopsy though brought it back. I think swelling has something to do with it too.

    Hang in there, it will fade. Try the benadryl cream.

    Good luck,

    Wink 

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited January 2009

    The itching sensation may also be due to nerves that have been cut or stretched.

    As others have said, it can also be due to adhesives, tape, or antiseptics used to decontaminate the skin before or after the incision is made.

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  • Girly
    Girly Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2009

    Thanks so much for all of your advice ladies.  I took a Benadryl last night.  Not sure if it worked, but it did help me sleep better Smile.  I'm pretty sure now that it's the tape (I have two criss-crossed) that's itching me.  I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow.  I also think i'm pretty swollen but that's normal right?  Will get some anti-itch cream too and put it on the areas without tape that still itch.

     It's so nice to have a place to go with such supportive people.  Thank you so much, all of you!

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  • Sock
    Sock Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2009

    I had one on Friday and am itching now.  I'm going to take a Benadryl and call the doctor tomorrow if it's still bothersome. I don't have any swelling, redness or discharge.  From what I've read online, it can sometimes be part of the healing process.

    I am allergic to tape and they put some sort of barrier between the steristrips and my skin, and used medipore tape to hold the gauze in place.  I've removed the tape and just have gauze laying on the incision in my bra.  

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  • ghety
    ghety Member Posts: 478
    edited January 2009

    I had alot of itching after my stereotactic biopsy. It wasn't until my follow-up with the surgeon that  i found out it was from the steri-strip used to cover it. She said "the incision looks great but the steri-strips really did a number on you". I had an allergic reaction to the adhesive and it formed a scab. She said to just use antibiotic ointment on it. When I had my SNB, I was glued instead, it was pretty cool. and much easier to deal with. Make sure you mention it in the future if it is an allergic reaction!

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  • dee1961
    dee1961 Member Posts: 1,672
    edited January 2009

    I agree that it could be allergic reaction.

    But I know that healing causes itching too.

    Hope you feel better soon!

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  • brant
    brant Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2009

    Has anyone tried OTC allergy medicine just in case it's from the pain medications? If I have anything stronger then an Advil I want to itch my skin  off...it's hellish! But I now take a few generic allergy tablets with any pain medication and it seems to stop the itching....I go for a biopsy/ lumpectomy in 6 days ..and will defiantly be poping them then when I get home ..just in case.

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  • LaurenK
    LaurenK Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2009

    I had a core biopsy on Wednesday and am itching too. I am allergic to the adhesive on bandages. I take a Benadryl and apply Aloe Vera gel/oil on the itchy area. If the itching is making me crazy, I grab an ice pack and place it on the area until it stops.

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  • Sock
    Sock Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2009

    I found some aloe vera wipes in the cabinet that I'd bought to use after being in the sun this summer. I used those to clean up the rest of the area where I'd had tape and it was great.  I didn't put them on the incision (which still itches every now and then) but they were great for the rest of my breast.

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  • Girly
    Girly Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2009

    Aloe vera wipes, huh.  I will give those a try.  Sounds like a good idea.  I'm not as itchy as before but still itchy.  I have some bruising showing up below my aereola (sp?) which is not the area they cut or even taped.  Anyone else have that type of bruising?  It looks yellow but does not hurt.  Maybe I spread some of the bruising around with all the scratching, as it does itch in that area too.

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  • Girly
    Girly Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2009

    I got my pathology report this morning. B9 baby!  They said that there was no ADH identified, so the stereo biopsy must have gotten everthing.  I am so relieved!  I want to wish the rest of you lots of B-9s, much luck and peace on your journeys.

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited January 2009

    Girly, great news on the b-9 with the excisional. Make sure that you follow your doctor's instructions on follow-up appointments. After my first dx of ADH in 2005, I was on a 6 month schedule of mammos followed up with appointment with surgeon. WHen I was dx with DCIS in 2007 with the stero biopsy, my final path report showed no additional DCIS in the tissue removed.

    Sheila

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  • Twinies721
    Twinies721 Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2010

    Hi, just found this site.  I had a breast biopsy almost three years ago and my breast is always itchy, every single day where the incision was made.  Is this normal???  

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  • praying-for-the-all-clear
    praying-for-the-all-clear Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2010

    I had a major duxt excision last week and I had my post surgical appointment yesterday.

    I asked my doc about the itching and she said that it was all part of the healing process....nerves are making new connections, and tissue is knitting back together.

    Good news too...BENIGN!!!!!Smile

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  • praying-for-the-all-clear
    praying-for-the-all-clear Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2010

    Twinies, I have a scar on my back from an injury I got as a child. It itches, at least part of the day, every day. I am always asking my husband to scratch my back there...I think it's pretty common for scars to itch.

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  • Twinies721
    Twinies721 Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2010

    praying-for...thanks so much for your reply.  I think it might be the marker that is causing the itch.  I have a mammo/sono scheduled in one week.  Will ask the radiologist just to be sure. 

    Glad to hear your good news! 

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  • Mantra
    Mantra Member Posts: 968
    edited April 2010

    I'm on a nerve blocker for the itchy, burning, stinging feeling I have on outside portion of both breasts (bi lateral mastectomy). My surgery was April 16th. I tried to go one day without the nerve block medication and couldn't stand it and went back on it. I'm seeing my surgeon on Friday and will discuss this with her. I hate being on meds but I hate the itchy, burning, stinging feeling even more.

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  • mobeal
    mobeal Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2014

    i have the same problem,   it's been a little over a year.   lots of itching and burning.  

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  • SMV
    SMV Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2015

    hey everyone! I had my core needle biopsy on Tuesday. And today I just started itching right where the incision was made. Holy moly it is so bad LOL can't tell if it's the incision area, or the tape. I guess I'll soon find out when the tape falls off right? 😉 hopefully it doesn't continue after that!!

    Congratulations on your benign results Girly!!

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  • fishfish
    fishfish Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2018

    I have excisional biospy in august 2018. It is now Sept. I find it sometimes it is still ichy. Is it normal. It is more than a month since the sugery

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  • greenfairy68
    greenfairy68 Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2020

    Itchy and bruised on the second day. Bleeding a little. Using ice packs now to help with the itching. Also just took an acetaminophen to see if that would help with the itching. Seems to work. Had to google this to find this site to see that others have the same symptoms and it's not just me. Post care instructions didn't mention anything about the itching.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2020

    Dear greenfairy68,

    Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that your symptoms brought you here but glad you found us and that you reached out with your own story. This is an older topic so it may not be as visible to members. Keep us posted on how things go for you and let us know if you need help finding your way around.

    The Mods

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