Endometrial Biopsy

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Raili
Raili Member Posts: 435
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I'm over 2 years post-diagnosis, and have been on Tamoxifen for about a year and a half.  Due to irregular bleeding/heavy bleeding, I just had a pelvic/transvaginal ultrasound.  My uterine lining, a few days after my period, was 1.25 CENTIMETERS.  8 mm is the upper end of normal, I've been told.  Now I have to have an endometrial biopsy and I'm really scared.  I'm scared not only of the pain/discomfort (it sounds absolutely horrible), but of the fact that I've never had a benign biopsy.  I've had two biopsies in my short 33 years of life - one of my breast, one of a mole - and one was breast cancer, and the other was skin cancer/melanoma.  So biopsies scare me.

I absolutely hate it that half of the standard cancer treatments are carcinogens themselves.  Please reassure me... it IS possible to have 1.25 cm endometrium be benign, right?? 

And would they let me have the biopsy while sedated somehow??  I want to vomit when I think about feeling something shoved up through my cervix.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2012

    Railii - I had an endometrial biopsy last fall. My lining was abnormal but they didn't tell me a measurement. I have a lot of scarring from a previous endometrial ablation, so it was hard to get samples but doc did it wo any kind of med. It was painful, but over quickly with no lasting effects. Def not fun but doable. Biopsy was B9 for me, so I was glad to check that off the worry list. Best of luck to you!

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited February 2012

    Raili I have had cervical biopsies before and it was mildly painful. I dont know how it will compare but I took a ativan prior to the procedure and they were probably glad I did.

    Good luck to you!! Remember that edometrial cancer is a very rare side effect to Tamoxifen. I think the lining can thicken (sounds gross just writing that) without there being a malignancy. i think cause you dont get your period regularly. I think sometimes they may do a D&C to reduce it.

    Hang in there...here's hoping for a painless procedure and benign results

    Diane

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  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited February 2012

    I've had a couple endometrial biopsies.  There's some impressive cramping.  They told me to take an advil about a half hour before the procedure to mitiigate the pain.

    Here's hoping for a  benign result.

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  • besa
    besa Member Posts: 1,088
    edited February 2012

    I had an endometrial biopsy after bleeding and endometiral thickening while taking tamoxifen- I think I was about 1.6 cm.  (It  was a while ago so I don't remember the exact number).  I took advil about an hour or two before  and the biopsy was very doable.  I would not rate this as horrible pain, but some very manageable cramping.  Turned out I had a benign endometrial polyp.  I am sure your doctors would not mind if you took a sedative before the biopsy- you will just need someone with you to do the driving.

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  • ALittleBitBritish
    ALittleBitBritish Member Posts: 627
    edited February 2012

    I had no sedative and no pain killers prior to mine. I didn't realize I would be having one there and then at the appointment for my 2 cysts and a polyp. It wasn't bad, doable infact. No pain after, just spotting. I felt the pippette a little which was un-nerving. The silent female assistant in the corner at the end offered me a pad for possible spotting. I should have said no thanks when I saw it was the thickeness of my mattress! lol Results benign, now D&C next..vroom, vroom...on to the next lap..

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  • SeasideMemories
    SeasideMemories Member Posts: 3,194
    edited February 2012

    Raili,



    I will add my voice to the reassurance arena! MOST of these turn out to be nothing.... Even though 1.25 centimeters sounds so much larger than 8 mm but it really is equal to 12.5 mm... Just a mere 4 mm over the cut off....



    I went through all of this last year (my measurement was 12 mm) and all came back OK! My doc opted for a D&C rather than the biopsy...



    There is a thread that discusses many people going through this (and where I posted my experience) that may be helpful to you... The forum section is in the Hormonal Treatment - Before, During and After.... Thread title Tamoxifen and Endometrial Cancer... I will try to find it and bump it for you.....



    Hope all goes well....

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited February 2012

    The endo. bx. felt no worse than a strong period cramp for me. 

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  • SeasideMemories
    SeasideMemories Member Posts: 3,194
    edited February 2012

    OK... Now that I went back and looked at the original post, it may not have been the best place to refer you to.... BUT if you can look past the original post, there is lots of good discussion as to many people discussing the actual procedure and having this turn out to nothing...



    I hope I did not inadvertantly add to your anxiety... Wishing you the best!

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited February 2012

    I had an endometrial biopsy for thickening which turned out to be nothing more than that-- hyperplasia, but no atypia.  I will say, however, (not to scare you), that in my case I was not prepared for how painful the procedure was (I was given no drugs nor any kind of anesthesia), and if I ever had to go through this again, I would definitely ask for something to mitigate the pain.  I nearly jumped off the table.  It does seem, however, from the comments here, that I am in the minority.

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited February 2012

    Thanks for the info and reassurance, everyone!

    Sea, yes, I had been avoiding that thread because of the "Endometrial Cancer" title!!!  But I will check it out.

    I'm glad to hear that for so many of you, the pain wasn't that bad.  But momoschki, I'm sorry the pain WAS so bad for you... and this is exactly what scares me.  Googling "endometrial biopsy sedation" brings up many, many horror stories from women who had severe pain from this.  Even if only a small percentage of women experience severe pain, who's to say where I (or any one of us who hasn't had the procedure) falls on the spectrum?  My feeling is that if there's even a CHANCE it's going to hurt like crazy, I don't want to risk doing it without sedation; I've been through too much already. 

    Anyway, I'm waiting to talk with my doctor about it... we'll see.  I appreciate all of your perspectives!!

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited February 2012

    My gyn told me to expect a biopsy at some point in my Tamoxifen career.  Good times.  The internet yields horror stories, my friends haven't even commented unless I asked--it was uneventful.  I have to admit, the whole thing makes me queasy, so I'll be packin' my Xanax if I get scheduled!

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  • Chicago1958
    Chicago1958 Member Posts: 90
    edited February 2012

    I had an endometrial biopsy last week because of post-menopausal bleeding. I'm doing radiation now and have not yet started hormonal therapy, so it isn't related to that. Probably just a menopausal thing, but it has to be checked (and I'll be really glad to get the results).

    Anyway, the ob/gyn warned me that it gets more painful with age, and she was right -- I've had  endometrial biopsies in my younger years and this one was noticeably different. So at 33, you shouldn't be too bad. Still, I'm in favor of getting someone to drive you and taking a sedative before the procedure--why not?

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited February 2012

    Raili, didn't mean to freak you out-- really.  I have heard that some doctors use lidocaine, which numbs you, but for some reason, mine did not and I didn't know enough to request it at the time.  I have also read that it can be more painful if you have never had a vaginal birth (I had a C-section.)

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  • Leanne1981
    Leanne1981 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2012

    Just wanted to see if anyone else had this and found this site.

    I have had an endometrial biopsy this morning, I have a womb lining which was 16mm thick when I had a us sat 3rd feb. I have been bleeding constantly since 31/12/11. Have been prescribed norethisterone to so bleeding which it hadn't. I have constant abdominal pain and look washed out, permanently. I have lost 1 stone 6lb since december, I am at slimming world but know hand on heart I don't follow it. My blood results for hormones are normal, im not pcos or endometriosis, I feel I'm not being taken seriously could it be I have cancer???? I'm overweight and have never been pregnant.

    Thanks in advance

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited March 2012

    Maybe this whole topic is why Gyn has recommended an Ooph if not a total Hyster.

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