Core Biopsy Pain

cestovatela,

Thanks so much for answering my questions.  (the dolly parton-sized uniboob thing totally made me laugh out loud )

I'm glad that you are doing okay, and that you have an understanding doctor.  Let us know how things go for you.

I will definitely express how I am feeling when I go in next week. 

Take care of yourself, and get some rest if you can

Donna

Donna,  I had my core biopsy last Tuesday and get my results this Monday.   You will be a bit achey after, to tell you the truth I think I was more achy because I tensed up my entire body during the procedure.  Ice packs, they gave me some little ones to stick in my bra.  Also make sure you have a snug sports bra to put on and not take off for days.  I didn't listen to this advice at first and a friend of mine yelled at me to go get one of my daughter's and PUT IT ON!  It helps as you don't jiggle around at all avoiding discomfort you might have.  Oh and tylenol doesn't hurt either and a good book that makes you laugh.   I let the PA, Radiologist and US Tech know I was so nervous and that helped a ton because they did everything to calm me down.  We talked during the entire procedure.

 Carol

Hi!  I hope everyone is doing well.  I am thankful to say my biopsy was benign.  In case it might be helpful to any of you, I wanted to write a few observations/things I have learned for those of you who are also fortunate enough to have a benign biopsy, which I hope is everyone..

The core needle biopsy site didn't hurt until 2 days after the biopsy (June 30).  A week later I have a lump at the biopsy site, within my breast, achy and slightly painful.  So far as i know this is not abnormal, and I do not seem to have an infection, but I called today to ask (of course you cannot speak to the radiologist, but you can speak to someone who will speak to the radiologist!) , and they will get back to me tomorrow.  I would be nice to have an information sheet at the end of the biopsy--it would be reassuring.

I've learned that it is very important to get a copy of your pathology report, which I hope to receive soon.  The breast center won't give it to you, but your personal physician will.  Then i plan to get an explanation of the types of histology found:  Some types of benign findings increase your cancer risk a lot, some raise it somewhat, some don't raise it much or not at all.  All are called benign, so it's important to know which you have.

It's important to have the original referring radiologist correlate the  biopsy findings with the mammogram and or ultrasound and the clinical finding (eg, palpable lump, no palpabe lump,  etc.)  To see if all make sense together.  This is the so called "triple test" and is much more accurate than the pathology report alone.

It's important to find out what the followup should be.  For example, many places believe that standard of care is to get a mammogram 6 mos after a benign finding (I think in part to get a new baseline mammogram that shows what the healed tissue looks like, in case problems arise later.)

I think the work was well done in my case, but the communication from the breast center has been not so good, a struggle.  I have to say that my gyn and PCP have been wonderful.  I think people at breast center are well intentioned, but busy, and they have not established a standard protocol for communication.  We women should fight for this, as lack of communication raises anxiety horribly (or, at least, it raised mine.)  Of course they don't get reimbursed for communicating.

Good luck, and thanks for comments. 

Estepp,

Hi there,

Well I survived the core biopsy   The staff could see that I was a little nervous and were just so warm and friendly.  I really lucked out and had the same radiologist that I had a month earlier for my mammogram.  She was awesome!  They were very efficient, and answered my many questions.  Heck, I even got to see the calcifications they removed from me in a jar. 

The needles to freeze did sting like bee stings, but I did not feel the big one go in at all.  The sound of the tissue removal was a little loud, but after that, all was done.  Then off to be mammogrammed once more and I was on my way.

I am glad for the technology. 

Now I am resting at home with (many) icepacks and extra strength tylenol.  7-10 days for the results, and I just found out my family doctor is away for the month of JULY!!  Hopefully I can find someone to talk to before August!!

Donna

Laura,

Thanks so much for your support through this....think I'm in for a long night....the tylenol is just taking the edge off, but the ice packs are a godsend.

Hope to be able to share good results soon with you all

Have a good night,

Donna

I had my core biopsy July 10. I didnt feel a thing. Only felt the numbing for a nano-second. My surgeon said she does not want anyone to feel any pain and she was spot on.  I did the ice thing and took 1 ES Tylenol Rapid Release capsule every 4 hours for the pain. At 9pm that night I was aching something fierce so I took 3 capsules and slept until 530am. I used the Tylenol for the whole next day every 4 hours but didnt use any after that. I had tons of bruising and am still bruised with a lump that seems to be getting smaller each day. I still have my steristrips in place also. I am a stomach sleeper and I am happy to report that I have been able to lay on my stomach for about an hour at a time..

Sorry so long. I just want to say I was scared to death when I went in. The next day my muscles ached from my toes to my neck from being so tense. Just tell your doc about pain/anxiety issues and try to remain calm.

Hello 2pompom,

I am so glad that you didn't have any pain with your procedure.  I wasn't sure if the steristrip should have come off by now.  One has, the other hasn't.  I bruised too....one at the needle site and one where one of the needle froze me.  Felt pretty sore for a few days after, but no bump at the needle site and everything feels back to normal now. 

Praying that your results are benign.

Donna

Hi, I am new to this site, I am happy to have found it.  I had a core biopsy and it was a horrible

trumatizing experience...I had it done at one of the best hospitals and the doctor said it would not

be painful...It was the worst pain and they promised that there would be no pain.  I thought I would

fly off the table, I literally screamed and cried.  The second procedure was just as painful...I hope I never have to go through something like that again. I was shaking an trumatized when I left the hospital. Three months later, I am still in pain in the same area.  I felt I was being tortured. I would have preferred to be sedated. I pray that no other women have to go through that kind of pain.  And the doctor and nurse said that it was unusual to have that much pain.  Well, maybe they should read this message board.

I too had pain during my most recent core biopsy. I wasn't given enough lidocaine and I felt everything the dr. did to me. I said, "OW!!" and "OW!!" every time she drilled into me or snapped into me and still she didn't give me more lidocaine. I felt like I was being tortured so I couldn't help it and started to sob on the table, which of course made my body move up and down and that's not good. If this ever happens again, and it will, as I now have to have a wire guided surgical biopsy, I will ask for ALOT of lidocaine. I fainted the first time I had a wire guided biopsy when they inserted the wires.

Sorry to hear Corinnalynn...  it is very painful for some... I got numbing medicine... then I got three punches into my tumor. started crying after the second and begged for no more, he then procedded to say one, two, three then punch again... OMG... mine was malingnant but I am ok not, I have to say that the core biopsy was the wost part of the whole thing.  Sounds silly but I dont want to ever have to do that again......

Best wishes to you and I will be thinking of you on the 22nd... I am sure you can ask for  a setative...

HUGS

Kate

I would ask the same question as Anetnut.. Why are the results taking so long.. I had mine in less that 24 hours... wow... best of luck to all of you awating the outcome and here is too all B(..... HUGS!!!

I have 3 core biopsies tomorrow. As someone who has been afraid of needles since childhood, I will not be having this procedure performed. There has got to be some other way.

Hi Estepp, You are right. I asked for sedation for my second core biopsy scheduled for Oct. 6.

They said they do not do it. It will be one year to the day I had it last year. For any newbies on I won't go into detail what I went through last year. I am a complete basket case on getting this done, but so far, radiologist, breast surgeon and onc. are hopeful it is benign, and it is just from all the surgical work that was done during augmentation.

Yes, the worse part is waiting. All girls waiting, I please try to rest and have peace of mind. My thoughts are with all of you.

 Have a good evening. Hugs,

Woohoo Ronna!  What great news you don't HAVE to join our club that no one wants to join! You will be a great volunteer!

I know what its like to have a terrifying procedure (in my case, the first core biopsy was OK, but the wire insertion before excision threw me into a PTSD-like state.  So my 2nd core biopsy was Not Nice - I pulled out of the stereotactic mammo machine  (which of course hurt a lot) as he was trying to inject anesthetic, I'm sure with the smallest possible needle.  He asked 'Why did you do that?'  I told him, 'Because it hurt!'  They had to HOLD me in the machine, while I was silently crying.)  Your body LEARNS from past experience.