scheduling a biopsy- scared and confused.

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mommygraves
mommygraves Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

hi everyone-my name is valerie and i am new here. i am 32 years old, a wife and a mom to 3 children, all aged under 3 years old (2, 1 and 8 months). i found a suspicious lump while performing a breast exam at home. i schedulled an appt with my doctor in town (who performed an exam and felt the same thing- he said it was "probably benign". i had a digital mammogram the following week (2 weeks ago) and an ultrasound of my left breast. i met the general surgeon at the hospital a week later (dr barnes at mccready hospital in crisfield, MD), and he tells me that there is a lump in there, around 3/4 of an inch, and showed me the film. luckily my breasts are not dense. he says to me that it doesnt look like a big deal, as it was rounded in some way. so, he gives me these options: run away screaming and never come back (haha), have a mammogram again in 6-8 months to see if it grows or changes shape, or have a biopsy. he reccomended a repeat mamm. in 6 months because of my age, etc.  at first i agreed, and a mammogram was scheduled for may 2012. a few days later it began to bother me and i decided i dont want to have this in the back of my head for 6 months.so the doc tells me that since he cant really feel it, but can see it on this film, he recommends a sterotactic biopsy. i agreed, not knowing what was involved. i have a very low pain tolerance, i am a big chicken when it comes to pressure (all 3 kids were delivered via c-section), and i am just freaking out. i have fibromyalgia and sleep apnea (just got this god-awful cpap machine last week) as well, and have a hard time breathing, and am large chested (like 44DDD). i cant lie on my stomach on a table for an hour. valium does not work.so what should i do? opt for the open surgery? that is how i would feel most comfortable, but it seems my doctor is trying to push me away from doing that...and i dont want to bother him changing my mind yet a THIRD time.  i am sorry this is so long.....and i hope someone can give me some insight.  nice to meet all of you!

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited November 2011

    Hi Mommygraves and welcome to BCO.  I understand your feeling re knowing that there is a lump there and needing to find out exactly what it is.  For me, I would want it out even if it turned out to be nothing.  If you have a whole lot of trouble having a stereotactic biopsy because of the size of your breast I would choose to have the lump removed completely.........at least then there would be no more doubts and second guessing and your mind would be at ease.

    Yes you are young but even so, BC doesn't look at age when it decides to visit.  Be your own advocate and push for what you fell is right for you.

    Wishing you good luck and please let us know how you get on.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • mommygraves
    mommygraves Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2011

    hi chrissy thank you so much for responding. i was about to go to sleep, it's after midnight now....

    the main parts i am having a hard time with on the sterotactic biopsy is that many say how no matter how much they numb you, it hurts after the first sampl,e or how they didnt do it right and have to do it again, so i am thinking to just go ahead and do the open surgery. the doc seemed to think the other option would be better for me, because it is "barely there" he says. hmm.

    i am gonna make an appt to see him on tuesday, i hope he doesnt refuse to do the open surgery because he doesnt agree with the method. this is all so confusing.

    thanks for welcoming me! I am glad i finally stopped being too scared to talk about it.

    sometimes i feel like i shouldnt be posting in these forums, because compared to so many others here, i am barely going thru anything right now, when so many are in pain physically and emotionally.

    thank you for reaching out with advice and kind words, and i hope to talk to you again soon.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited November 2011

    Val, please don't think your worries are any less than any others here, we are all dealing with the same disease.  I had a fine needle biopsy so can't comment on the pain of a sterotactic.  A few years ago my eldest DD (daughter) had a scare and had the lump removed by surgery she was 32.  Luckily it was B9 but she chose to go that way purely for peace of mind.

    Talking to others who truly do understand where you are coming from is always a help as it seems to put things into perspective.  Hope you sleep well.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited November 2011

    Hi, I am 27 with breast cancer and a 16month old.  Its not out of the realm of possibilities for it to be BC, so PUSH to get it checked out.  I had an ultrasound guided biospy and it was more creepy than painful.  I didn't watch them but I watched the ultrasound. 

    They topically numbed the area.

    then did a shallow injection of local numbing

    then cut the little tiny tiny hole

    then did deep injection of numbing twice

    THEN did the biopsy.  really no pain or pressure.  I don't know if the other kind of biopsy is much different.  It didn't take to long either, Maybe like 20min TOTAL.  The hardest part was not being able to lift my son for 24 hour (no stiches but steristrips). 

    Your lump is really small, it shouldn't be an issue to take out. you might have a little dimple, but the piece of mind to have it gone would be invaluable :)  Goodluck with your choice and Drs!

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited November 2011

    The stereotactic biopsy isn't bad at all..after it is over you will feel foolish, like I did, for worrying so much; however, if you feel you can't lie on your stomach that long, you could ask your doctor to do an ultrasound guided biopsy.  The only reason I didn't have that was because my suspicious area could not be found with the ultrasound.

    I think it would be better to get the biopsy right away and know rather than wait six months and worry the entire time.

    Wishing you a positive outcome! 

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