Core Biopsy Pain
Comments
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Hi guys, wishing everyone well and now all I have left is to finish the fipple and fat grafting of my new girl which had to be put on hold. A little nervous about that, but gotta do it.
Again, my wishes of calmness, health, and peace to all.
Hugs to all my bffs, breast friends forever.
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Hi leaf: Are you talking about the wire insertion before surgery. That was compltely wild and something I cannot forget. Worse than the core biopsy.
Unfortunately, I am a member of this club. Have been since 10-9-09. My thoughts and prayers are with every girl on the bc site. Found out the hard way, that a few tranqulizers before core biopsy reallly helps. I guess I have even turned into the neighborhood junkie. (please don't take me seriously about being a junkie).
Hugs again,
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Yes, my wire insertion was before excision. I have previous several traumas (before the wire insertion), which made me more susceptible to my PTSD-like condition. I was told before my procedure that 'You must promise with all your heart that you will not move a muscle during the procedure.' Well, when the first needle went in, he did see my facial expression, and gave me a shot of local lidocaine, but that hurt as much as the wire and didn't do a thing. People have told me, "Well, I would have told the doctor about the pain during the procedure." That isn't helpful to me. My pain was at least a 8-9/10 pain score (I know it would have been worse if they ripped off my arm), and if I told him about the pain I would cry, and if I cried I would move, making the excision useless, so I was just following instructions. You don't tell people who lost relatives in the Oaklahoma City bombing because they let go of their relative's hand that they 'should have held on longer'. That isn't helpful. A friend of a collegue had the same procedure about the same time, and she called it 'barbaric'. I agree with that adjective. I did a survey here, and, while many people had only mild discomfort, I don't care if this degree of distress happens 1 in 1 million times, or if I certifiably insane, or whatever. No one should have to go through that experience. Another consequence- if a person has a bad experience with a procedure, people will stop getting screened, because they know if they 'find something', they are at risk for a repeat of this procedure.When I wrote my 2 letters to the radiologist, he replied that 'He'd have to inject some sodium bicarbonate each time.' Whatever that means. I know he's under immense pressure to handle as many patients as possible. But we also do not normally do surgery without anesthesia.
I'm embarrassed I didn't go back and read your history that you *are* a member of the club. You will be an excellent volunteer!
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My core biopsy was the worst and most painful procedure that I ever had. I would never consent to one again and would insist on a full surgical biopsy (which I have had under local anesthesia and which was not painful at all). Barbarian is the perfect term.
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Ladies - agree completely with all of you. I had surgery for excisional biopsy but they STILL do that wire-guided procedure! That was bad enough, but the injections for isotope for SNB just before mastectomy was absolutely the worst. The lidocaine patch I had worn 4 hours prior did zero for the pain. At least they waited until after I was under for the dye injections. If they find something in future in the other breast I would sooner opt for immediate mastectomy and skip the biopsies altogether.
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Leaf, like everyone else in the Club, we are heroes, to be able to guide others, and to help others.
The word "barbaric" is even too sedate to identify some of the procedures we must endure.
I thank goodness that the instructions from hospital said "take something" before procedure, which I did, again, I doped myself up pretty good. As second time around, I knew what to expect.
The first time I had to go through it as a novice, I took nothing, was alone, and suffered tremendously. I am certainly not a drug advocator, but if it take a little help to stop some pain, go for it. And yes, the wire insertion before surgery is worse than barbaric. I feel so bad for our newbies. I remember the words there as well "don't move".
JanetInVirginia, Yes, I had a mast. and all the bullsh t, was on the augmented breast (other one to match my newly reconstructed breast.
I just got my date for ffipple - Nov. 1. - finally. Nothing to do with this site, I developed a keloid which is under augmented breast and I am miserable. Dr. said he will remove it but cannot promise it will not return.
If you are not a member of this Club, you just don't get it. Cheers to all of us on BC.Org.
Love and hugs to all,
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I had a core biopsy in June. They took three separate core samples and I didn't feel a thing. They numbed me first and I felt nothing. It made a loud sound that made me blink a little but no pain at all. It is wasn't for the sound I wouldn't have known they did anything. I wonder what my surgeon did that some of your doctors didn't.
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My first core biopsy went well. The radiologist told me before the procedure to tell him if I was in pain, and he'd stop and give more anesthetic. I did and he did.
The wire insertion (bracketing) radiologist never asked if I was in pain. He never checked if his lidocaine injection worked. He went in and out the door at least a dozen times, and never announced who he was. The room opened on to the waiting room. Any family member of any patient could have walked in the door. I work there. I felt like I was 'on display'. About 15 pairs of feet came in, none of them identified themselves. I'm sure that if he would have asked if I was in pain that my pain score would have been lower.
My next core biopsy, about a year later, was much rougher than the first core biopsy, even though the radiologist was much more open to the possibility of pain. When they tried to inject the anesthetic, I pulled out of the mammo machine and had to be held in it for the rest of the procedure. My body learned that this was a dangerous situation, like a 2 year old learns that it can be painful to put your hand on top of a hot burner on the stove.
In my 2006 survey here about wire insertion,
Local
Number of people Injectable anesthesia before? Pain score % of total responders
19 Yes 1-4 50%
7 Yes 5-10 18%
3 No 1-4 8%
9 No 5-10 24%
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Ronna, that was nice, TY!
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I had three core biopsies last month that were fine. No pain other than the numbing shot. However, I had one stereotactic (I think that was it) biopsy and it was not as pleasant. Then, a couple days later I noticed a piece of plastic coming out of my breast. I was a little freaked out as they never told me the marker was inside a big white thingie. They pulled the marker out. That was three weeks ago tomorrow and I still have a wound there and it is still quite painful. I put pressure on it when going over a bumpie road.
Has anyone else had that happen?
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I have been lurking for a while. Thank you to everyone for sharing your brave stories. They were helpful to me 6 months ago as I was faced with the unkown. I had a suspicious annual mamogram that led to more tests and finally an ultrasound guided core (vacuum) biopsy. I went through hell leading up to my biopsy. The testing and no answers (diagnostic mamogram btw - painsful!) My doctor in my home town (really a NP) was so wonderful. She helped me to find a really good center in a larger city ( a long drive but worth it) so I didn't have to have the wire insertion and excisional biopsy - all the local radiologist would offer me. All we have where I live are general surgeons too,
My doc also gave me valium to help me through the procedure. They did an ultrasound guided biopsy. The valium was great - otherwise I think I would have shaken the whole time. They did lidocane, then the local, then made a small incision, then more lidocane deeper into the breast. I felt nothing - not even the clip . . . .and the mamo after, no pain. I usually have tremendous pain with mamograms and after being cut I dreaded it - nothing. I had ice for the long drive home. I was told everything that would happen, I was told as it was happening, and the nurses were the nicest, most supportive people. The radiologist was wonderful too. I also had my answer in less than 24 hours! The facility is a research center and it feels like a spa. It came back benign - yeah! I am now getting ready to go back for my 6 month re-check. I am a little nervous though. What if's keep running through my mind.
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I went in for a mammogram with a diagnostics and a breast ultra sound this morning. I went because of a concern of a lump on my left breast but to my surprise they found a mass on my right breast. I am told it is about an inch long and it is solid. When I was in the dressing room I could hear the technician speaking with the doctor about me, all I could really hear him say it "That's not good, that's not good" so the technician came back and took me for a few more mammogram screenings and went back to the doctor where I could still hear him, "That's really bad" so just that alone set my stress level high. They took me back to do the breast ultrasound and the technician said she had to go get the doctor, he came in and did further ultrasounds on my right breast. He showed me what the concern was and suggested an immediate core biopsy. I agreed that I would wait and get it done right away, while I was waiting I met with a patient advocate so I knew things were slightly serious with how everything was moving so fast. The doctor came back in and explained the procedure to me. I asked him if it would be painful and he said that it shouldn't be and that he would administer local anesthesia which he did. I understand that there are different ways to do this, I was on my back with a wedge under my right shoulder and he used the ultra sound for guidance. He made a small incision and inserted the needle, he told me I would hear a loud clicking sound when he was taking the sample. Well when he clicked it the first time it was the worst possible pain I had ever had in my life, I do have a high tolerance for pain but this was so intense. I instantly was crying and let out a small scream. He gave me some more local anesthesia and took a second sample, again it was the most intense pain I had ever had. The doctor was apologizing the entire time and I was telling him to please just finish and I would be as brave as possible. On the third sample he just took it without giving me any warning, I think he thought I would do better but it was just as bad. He then told me he had just one more to go, again he didn't tell me before he did it. The fourth one, the last one didn't hurt one bit, not at all!!! He told me mine most likely hurt because it was so deep in the breast, (I am big breasted) and that it was completely solid, he also said that the first three most likely hurt because he took it from the center of the mass and the last one he took from the edge. If I ever have to do that again, I will take some support with me and I will see if there is any thing else they can give me for the pain. I had never heard of a biopsy being so painful and I wasn't expecting it. The doctor also told me it didn't help that everything happened so fast, all I expected was a routine mammogram. Right now I am taking Tylenol for the pain and I have an ice pack on. I had a very hard time driving home, my car is a standard car. As I said, I have a high tolerance for pain, I have had three completely natural child births and was in a car accident resulting in a broken arm, none of that compares to what I went though today, I never want to do that again. I wanted to post this because I feel all alone with this (how bad it hurt). Since I came home I had been reading from other sites and the consensus is that it doens't hurt to get a biopsy. I will get my results next Tuesday and I am not scared or nervous at all, my sister was a breast cancer survivor so I am very optimistic that I will be too.
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Just had my first ever MRI biopsy on both breasts - MRI a week prior revealed 7mm medial "dirty margin" left over from lumpectomy performed in February, 2013 in left breast and 3 mm suspicious "dot" on right breast, no node involvement or any other areas of concern.
Having had my first, and only, stereotactic core needle biopsy three years ago (painless/benign) and a lumpectomy with local only with no general anesthesia and awake the whole time (yes, it can be done if you want it that way-my preference) in February, 2013, the MRI biopsy facility should have prepared me on how painful this MRI biopsy was going to be. It took 5 hours to complete (I was put on their schedule for 2 hrs.) performing multiple scans and multiple poking with device that sounded like my power drill and pinching with pain of the chart...worse then being awake during a lumpectomy. Childless, have never nursed a child, but felt like I had nursed a child with teeth of sharp knives or nursed "Jaws" out of a James Bond movie. Then to top it off, both breasts had to be put into mammogram device to confirm markers should any surgery be needed which I knew in advance.
Should I ever have one of these again, I will ask for pain & anxiety meds to be taken in advance. The gadolinium contrast dye, used for those 5 hrs. caused me to begin shaking (truly disturbing as I never shake) which could have been due to not eating enough prior to going in and weighing 118 at 5'7"...no other side effects from it. I was in bed the whole next day feeling weak, sick to stomach and in pain. The third day, a bit of energy in the AM, but soon found me back on the couch in the afternoon. I would advise eating a small meal of carbs balanced with some protein to get you through should it last longer than anticipated. This is my decision to have this as my Stage 0 DCIS was caught very early, removed almost in its entirety with surgery, I refused radiation, took Tamoxifen for 10 days and am allergic to it, so keeping am eye on these tiny areas.
I feel very fortunate compared to many to not have had any health problems other than this all my life (age 60, postmenopausal naturally). On January 31, 2013, I found a lump in the shower. On February 1, 2013 I had mammogram/ultrasound which revealed nothing suspicious or malignant. I contacted two surgeons who told me to come back in three months telling me "since it is painful and palpable, that is not a sign of cancer". My intuition told me different and found a surgeon to remove the lump, stage it and excise it until clear margins were obtained in her opinion. Bottom line: if you find something, do something fast. I did not wait...had I waited, it may have become invasive in a year or two I was told. My experience.
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Hi there, Just wanted to say how sorry I am that you had such an upsetting and painful experience with this biopsy but how happy I am that you agreed to get it all done so quickly. That is a positive on your side. I am an 18 year breast cancer survivor and had a core needle biopsy last year and I had nothing like you are describing. I am wondering if for some reason the freezing didn't work? My lump was deep also and the procedure was exactly the same but really felt nothing until afterwards but the Tylenol and ice packs helped. I hope things have improved and you are feeling better but just wanted to let you know there are many years of experience on this site and lots of support no matter what the outcome of the biopsy (((hugs)))) cindee
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I've had 2 needle biopsies--10 years apart (2003, 2013), 2 different hospitals, one was wire/mamm guided and the other was MRI guided. Both hurt A LOT and I have a very high pain threshold. Both times, the medical staff were kind and sensitive and gave lots of the lido ane, but it really hurt. If I ever need one again, I will really talk to them upfront so we can work out a game plan to minimize the pain. With my recent one, the dr asked, "do u want me to stop?" I appreciated her asking and chose to go on.
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I had a core biopsy on Wednesday, I wasn't aware of the procedure and should have done my research before going in for the investigation as the panic sent me into a terribly emotional state, Friday today and I'm still sore although beginning to feel the pain ease. The doctor told me the procedure names but I had to ask twice for her to explain exactly what was going to happen. They took a needle and inserted it first finding that it wasn't fluid filled then did the core biopsy, where they took 4 samples. The machine is very loud and I stupidly looked round when she clicked to demonstrate. I was in a terrible state and did feel pain, my mum was able to come in and I'm grateful for that as I was in too much shock to ask questions or understand the next stages/timescales. In hindsight it could have been worse, but I'm grateful for this site for making me feel like I wasn't alone in what I felt. Needs must and if I had to do it again I would although would likely be as worked up.
They didnt use any radiology equipment to guide and I have been warned that sometimes (although they took 4 samples) they may not have actually got the lump. They suspect the lump is benign especially due to my age 25, and say its common in young women so fingers crossed although I'm not nervos to get the results, just would like to put a line under it now!
Good luck and keep healthy, i really do appreciate finding this forum!
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I too have dense breasts but I was not expecting that pain. I was fine for the first three extractions with the core needle then it was like OMG I will never forget that pain. It was like he was stabbing me with a knife for the last two plugs he pulled out. He said he was sorry. I have I guess phantom pains weeks after the biopsy was done. I asked my RO about it he said they must have hit a nerve. I asked will it go away and he said he hoped so but if they damaged a nerve it may stay there for weeks, months or longer. I asked to be sedated after the forth sample was pulled but he said there is only one more lets just get it done and that one was the worst. I got up got my gown closed and walked out crying. They tried to get me back to sign papers that those were my samples. I signed the papers and left.
This Thursday I have the radiation seed implant I pray it is nothing like the biopsy. I still get those knife stabbing pains and they take my breath away. I hate to think what the one is for lymphnodes and the mapping. I get those tomorrow.
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Ok, THIS thread. This is why I'm cancelling the damn biopsy I had scheduled for Friday. And this time I'm not rescheduling. I could go in for a freakin DENTAL procedure & get conscious sedation. But they won't give me sedation for a biopsy? Some guy is going to ram a GINORMOUS needle into me & dig around & I have to lie there PERFECTLY STILL for upwards of an hour? Gee, thanks but no thanks. The dr. only prescribed 4 lousy valium pills & it'd take a whole lot more than that to convince me to go through with this. So maybe I'll die of breast cancer. So what. I'll die of SOMETHING sooner or later.
To all of you who are battling this disease, I admire you & hope you win your battle. But I'm not joining you. If the medical industry ever comes up with less cruel ways of diagnosing & treating cancer maybe I'll reconsider. But I'm not gonna hold my breath
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Hi Bunnyhuggr:
Please don't cancel a recommended biopsy. I can't say they are fun, but they usually proceed without complication.
I have had a stereotactic core needle biopsy guided by mammography (two areas sampled). I did not have any sedation and I was okay. When they position you, make sure you are comfortable and inform them if you are not. For example, I am slim, and the table was hard, so I asked for some padding under my ribs.
The area is numbed. The mammogram compression was slightly uncomfortable (involves more than the numbed area), so I informed them and they backed off. With a stereotactic device, there was no digging around. They used mammography to localize the specific area and "place" a positioning device, under local anesthetic. The positioning piece directed the sampling part of the device.
The radiologist told me what she was doing throughout the procedure ("We are discussing how to access the second site", "We are looking under the microscope to confirm that we got calcifications, etc.") You do need to generally be still, but only very still when the sample is taken (seconds). There is a noise ("rat-a-tat-tat") when a sample is taken, but I was warned when it would come, so I would not be startled and I could not feel it.
There was a team of nurses, and one very kind nurse stood at my shoulder during the entire procedure, distracting me by chatting with me, and helping me stay relaxed.
I wore a sports bra, and they gave me little ice packs, which I used the first day. The ice packs were better than tylenol.
I had no palpable lump either. Unfortunately, my suspicious calcifications turned out to be DCIS, and upon surgery, a small area of invasive cancer (1.5 mm) was found.
BarredOwl
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I mentioned in another thread that I'm a drama queen. As you can see from my post on Oct 20 I was not kidding
. But I decided to quit being such a big baby & had the biopsy today. It was not anywhere close to being as bad as I feared. I did take 2 extra strength Tylenol & a Valium 1 hour before. And this is gonna sound weird but I also took a Dramamine. That's supposed to be for motion sickness, but I discovered years ago it helps with nausea caused by any other reason. I was feeling a little queasy from nerves. Dramamine also has a sedating effect.
The dr. & 2 nurses could not have been any nicer. They explained everything they were doing & made sure I was comfortable. We chatted about our pets.
The breast compression didn't hurt a bit. I barely noticed the lidocaine injection. The dr. took 3 tissue samples which hurt just a tiny bit. Just quick little twinges. It turned out he didn't get any of the calcifications because they'd gotten moved by the lidocaine injection. So he gave me more lidocaine & took 3 more samples. Those hurt a little more. The dr. offered to stop & give me more lidocaine but I told him no, I'm fine. The pain was maybe at the most a 4 on a scale of 1-10. Nowhere close to being unbearable. This time he got a bunch of calcifications.
Then he inserted the tiny metal clip. I didn't even feel that. And it was done. They took a couple mammograms which was not the slightest bit painful. And home I went with an ice pack on my breast.
About an hour after,the lidocaine wore off & I started having some soreness. But certainly nothing intolerable. I haven't even felt the need for more Tylenol. Not yet anyway. Maybe tomorrow there'll be more soreness. But for now the ice pack is fine.
Tomorrow I get the results. I'm really not nervous right now. Mostly I'm just so relieved to have the biopsy done. Also there's probably still some Valium in my system
To all the ladies here who had horrible experiences with your biopsies, I'm so sorry for what you went through. Years ago I had an endometrial biopsy that was excruciating beyond words. So I have some idea of the pain you're talking about. I'm extremely grateful that this biopsy was nothing like that.
And Barred Owl, thank you for your post. I read it a couple times & it did help me feel less afraid.
Here's hoping for good news tomorrow
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Hi Bunnyhuggr:
Glad you went ahead with the biopsy, and they took good care of you.
Hoping for benign results for you!
BarredOwl
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Bunny
So happy that part is over. Sending you good wishes for good news!
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BarredOwl & Ddw79, thank you so much!!
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I don't know if I should tell anyone my biopsy horror story, but --SPOILER ALERT-- it could put you off them for life!
I found a lump last December, and mamo & u/s showed possible malignancy, so I had to wait all though Christmas to meet a surgeon in early January. What fun that was!
I arrived at the outpatient clinic and was put in a gown. Then I was moved to another room and told to lie on the bed. Then this man walked in and his opening line was "Well I've seen your scans and I'm 98% certain you have cancer, but I have to do this biopsy just to prove it." No good morning, no introductions, no warning. He then proceeded to fiddle about with the ultrasound machine and threw a tantrum at the nurses because he couldn't get it to work. He stormed out of the room a couple of times, then had another play with the machine and gave up on it. (I'm not sure he really needed it as my lump was big, hard and visible on the outside).
I got one shot of local anesthetic and then he started. I found out afterwards he had made a small incision and stuck the core biopsy needle in through that, but I never felt it. My husband was right with me holding my hand - a bit nervously, as he had made the mistake of holding my hand during childbirth (I nearly broke his hand!)
With the first shot, I heard the gun go off, immediately followed by unbelievable pain which went on for about 30 seconds. He had missed altogether as the lump was very hard, and the needle had bent and skimmed off the surface of the lump. He then had 2 more attempts with the same result. The fourth shot at least got a reasonable sample.
He then stormed off again and came back with a new gun.He asked if I wanted him to stop and try again next week. He asked me if I was crying because of the pain, or something else - as if it didn't occur to him that he had just told me I have cancer! My boob was on fire and bleeding, I was still screaming inside from the offhand diagnosis of cancer, but I said let's get this over with so then I'll know for sure.
Thankfully he put in more local, and with the new gun and new needles, 4 more shots, not as bad this time, and finally got enough tissue for the lab. Then he just left, without a word. He had a registrar with him, who looked almost as traumatised as me, and kept apologising after he had left. The bleeding finally stopped, and I was given a couple of paracetamol for the pain, and sent on my way.
My boob was black from the bruising, and still looked bad at the mastectomy a couple of weeks later.
Sadly, the test was positive as predicted, with the results you see below.
This was the same man who did my mastectomy and lymph node removal - I still have issues with the scar and nerve damage.
Not surprisingly, I now have it on my record that I never want to see that man again!
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