hematoma after biopsy

KansasKay · September 2010

On the two year anniversary of the diagnosis of BC, I went in for a followup mammogram. They called me back for multiple images, and then came to tell me I needed an ultra sound. The radiologist then decided I needed a stereotactic biopsy because of a suspicious area. I had it on August 27. The heartless rad. tech acted like I was a big baby for saying I was in a LOT of pain. She called the doctor back in and he said that I had developed a hematoma and that was what was causing the pain. The tech was a little nicer after the doctor said I had some real. But she still seemed in a big hurry to get me out of there and slapped on the steri-strips and a compression bandaid. By the next day, it had doubled in size to about 4 X 4 inches. The only good news is that the biopsy was negative - fibrocystic changes. Now I am left with something that is painful and I feel like I now have a tumor, where before there was nothing actually wrong. I am a medical librarian and a review of literature makes it sound like a large hematoma will not always resolve on its own, can lead to infection, and could continue to be painful for several months. I do not find this acceptable! When the radiologist called with the results last week and I told him about the hematoma, he basically blew if off. I called back today and asked to be seen by one of the surgeons. I have an appointment on Thursday.

What has been your experience with a post-biopsy hematoma? Did you have it drained? What, if anything made it feel better? Do you feel that the doctor really addressed your issues? I keep thinking that I wonder if they would have put me through all of this if I hadn't have a previous diagnosis. When do we get into the area of "over treatment"? Will this cause scarring that will make future mammograms "suspicious" and lead to even more testing.

Faith316 · September 2010

I also had a pretty good hematoma after my stereotactic biopsy. It resolved itself over time with no further treatment.

CoolBreeze · September 2010

I had one after my biopsy too - I was upset, not because it hurt, but because I had cancer and hadn't taken any photos or anything. I thought I might want some before a mastectomy and the brusing was so bad I couldn't take any.

Turns out, it healed right up and I got my photos.

Looking at them now though, I'm pretty shocked. How could I have NOT realized that was a cancerous breast? Surprised It in no way looked like the normal cysts I was used to see and which I thought it was.

Anyway, just because you've read negative things doesn't mean it will happen to you. Most people heal just fine.

AsiaYM · September 2010

If it gives you discomfort, you can have your doctor do a needle aspiration, you will feel much better ( I did.) or wait for it to heal which will take some time.

Managing a hematoma ( I copied and pasted from BreastCancer.org )

If you notice a hematoma forming, tell your doctor. The blood that causes a hematoma is usually reabsorbed back into your body. In some cases, the blood may need to be surgically drained, usually by reopening the incision made during breast cancer surgery.

To reduce your risk of getting a hematoma after breast cancer surgery, you can:

Avoid massaging, bumping, or compressing the breast area where surgery was done.
Avoid anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicinessuch as aspirin and ibuprofen (one brand name: Advil). NSAIDs can thin your blood and prolong bleeding.
Use a heated compress on the affected area 2 to 3 times a day to help the blood reabsorb

LuvRVing · September 2010

I had two very large hematomas after my Mammotome biopsy in June. When I had surgery (lumpectomy) in July, my breast surgeon looked at them and thought about removing them. However, they had large blood vessels that were "supplying" them, and she decided it would be better to leave them alone. My entire breast was deep, deep purple at the time. I must say that they seem to be gone now, even though the BS said it might take up to a year. That particular radiology center will never see me again. The thought was that the radiologist did not apply enough pressure on the biopsy site. My biopsy was far more painful than my lumpectomy and SN biopsy.

Michelle

KansasKay · November 2010

LuvRVing - Amen - that Radiologist is in the "you are never touching me again" file! I also think the rush and not enough pressure is what caused the darn hematoma. The surgeon I saw would not drain it. I asked him about a prophylatic mastectomy because I don't want to go through this time after time. His suggestion was that I "quit dwelling on having breast cancer once." Well, I wouldn't be dwelling on it if you would ever let me forget about it for more than 6 months. They wanted to schedule another mammogram in 6 months to followup. No way. You're going to see the scar you created from this unnecessary procedure and make me go through it all again. I am praying that the vaccine they are working on at the Cleveland Clinic will go to clinical trials in humans. Two years of the worst medical treatment in my life has pushed me to my limit. I'm sick of it and am ready to say, "ENOUGH!"

NSWTD · November 2010

I had a small hematoma after my stertactic biop. about the size of a golf ball. It resolved itself and was not overly painful.

leaf · November 2010

I've had hemotomas after all but one of my biopsies/excisions. (One biopsy I'm not sure because that was only 1 week after another breast biopsy, so its hard to tell.)

Some they had to compress me for almost 2 hours to control the bleeding. My breast turned black, and all sorts of beautiful autumnal colors. After about 6 months, the external stuff went away.

I do have lots of scarring, but I don't know where it was from. I had one excisional biopsy. A subsequent biopsy inches away said I had stuff consistent with scar tissue. One 2nd opinion, from a 'major institution' said I had too much scar tissue to do an MRI. (I have LCIS and nothing worse.)

Of course your frustration and anger are valid. I cannot stand to see people who don't have a heart. Maybe they can't do a darn thing about my complaints, but I want them to be able to at least listen!

leslew · April 2013

My biopsy punctured a blood vessel in my left breast causing a hematoma which bled into my chest cavity causing a blood bourne infection and my breast swelled up to the size if a cantaloupe. I kept calling the radiological facility over and over for two days stating my breast is swollen, black and blue and in great pain but they brushed me off stating it's common to bruise. They never put on ice, they never wrapped me for compression and treated me for pain or infection. I went into emergency at the hospital unable to feel my left arm and could not breath without chest pain two days later. I'm still in extreme chest pain , out if work on disability and my life is changed completely almost three months after. I returned to that radiological office and the head surgeon stated there's no connection between their biopsy and my condition or hospitalization...Really ??? I never had a health problem in my life but preventative medicine to ensure I'm healthy ironically was done with incompetence and today I do have health problems and daily pain with no signs of improving. How did this happen to me? I was the healthiest most active athletic person any of my friends ever met. I started a new job, new insurance, new doctor. This doctor read my family history with member who had cancer she rushed me based on their conditions and not my own. Lesson learned, only allow treatment for your existing conditons and not relatives health conditions.

shannondunlop · September 2015

Hello. I have had a hematoma for over two weeks now following a biopsy. My results came back cancer - IDC grade I, no more than 1 cm. I have to go for an MRI on Oct 5 and they said it could "light up" due to the hematoma and I may need another biopsy. This scares the life out of me. I have been applying hot compresses to it every day several times a day in hopes this will help it heal.

BarredOwl · September 2015

Hi shannon:

Sorry about your recent diagnosis. The diagnostic phase is very difficult, because of the all the waiting and worrying and the unknowns. I guess they are just warning you about a possible outcome with the MRI, which is very sensitive. Did they give you any idea of how frequently that occurs? Anyway, it is only my experience (sample size n = 1), but I got a hematoma from a core needle biopsy (two sites), and the hematoma did not affect the subsequent MRI results, which were wholly consistent on that side with the mammography results. Hoping for consistency in your case too.

BarredOwl

macmomma · June 2018

The last post on this is over 3 years old, but I just had to post. Vacuum stereotactic biopsy left breast resulting in a huge black and swollen breast. They never told me to bring someone to the biopsy, and I drove home and fainted twice while driving. By the time I got home, my breast was the size of a personal watermelon, and I was still passing out from the pain. Went to the ER and saw a tomato-sized hematoma by ultrasound. Now, it's 2.5 weeks later, and the breast is still huge. Still taking pain meds. We've had to postpone the MRI (Oh! BTW! The biopsy was positive for ILC!! Yay!!) because of the breast trauma which means we have to postpone the lumpectomy, etc.

A couple of things:

1. This breast biopsy procedure is barbaric! I mean having them work underneath you like they're changing your oil?!?! Also, not warning you that you might need someone to drive you home? Not providing some sort of premedication, even though they shoot a needle into your boob? It's incredibly anxiety provoking, humiliating, degrading, and just sort of rapey. I mean, I get why they have to do it the way they do it, but why not premedicate? Also, that table! I'm fairly flexible without any joint issues, but it was torture to hold my head in that position for 1.5 hours! No man would ever allow his penis to hang down and get shot while he was still awake, and yet all the women just say "women are strong" "glad they were able to find the cancer" etc. We should be demanding better treatment.

2. Maybe that's why so many women who are eligible for lumpectomy get BMX. I've seen many say they will never go through this again. Can we start something here? Please?

3. It should be done as an outpatient surgery with post-op recovery.

And, BTW--my biopsy was done by a specialized breast radiologist with great bedside manner and credentials. It wasn't a bad doctor, it's a bad system.

hematoma after biopsy

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