Biopsy completed, now more waiting.

jomako
jomako Member Posts: 20
edited May 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

My stereotactic core needle biopsy was completed today. The technologist said it was a bit challenging locating the calcifications and finding a clear path to them, but they took the necessary time to be sure they had good positioning. The numbing was the only part when I felt any discomfort - lidocaine stings. The initial numbing wasn't as bad because it was in one spot, but when they went deeper, I could feel little momentary burning stings in multiple locations. The stings were very brief, though - nothing intense or painful, just a bit of discomfort.

The rest was just kind of long and boring. I couldn't hear the doctors very well because my head was turned away from them and there was background noise, but I gathered that after they injected the lidocaine, the calcifications moved slightly, so they had to adjust their approach to get the samples. In the end, they got 6 samples, each about 1 cm long and somewhere between angel hair and regular spaghetti in thickness. After it was done, they took a couple of additional views on the mammogram to make sure the titanium marker was in the right spot, and I was free to go. In total, I was there for about 4 hours from arrival to departure.

I am definitely sore, but not terribly so. I wouldn't want to try to lift anything heavy or make any sudden movements on my left side, though. My husband ended up making me a few small thin ice packs that I can slip into my sports bra unobtrusively for work tomorrow since we weren't able to find anything suitable locally, and I figured holding a bag of frozen peas to my chest wouldn't really fly as I was trying to teach my elementary students.

Pathology is given a full week to get results, but are usually able to call in 3 to 5 days. So, hopefully, I will have some answers by the end of the week.

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Comments

  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited May 2016

    Hi Jomaku:

    Glad the biopsy went okay. Ice packs were very effective. Very cool your husband could fashion you mini-packs for work!

    Hoping for benign results for you!

    BarredOwl

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  • Mar730
    Mar730 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2016

    I am in a similar situation. I went to my gyno last week for a routine check up and she found a lump and sent me to get a mammogram. I went today and they did a biopsy right after. I truly hope these next 3-5 days go quickly. I am anxious. I will be hoping for the best for you.

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  • jomako
    jomako Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2016

    Thanks for the positive thoughts. I'm on a low dose of anxiety medication, but I don't think it is going to be as effective for the next couple of days. I am just thankful for the 3 - 4 hours of sleep I am able to get.

    I am expecting to hear results either today or tomorrow. It will be challenging because they will most likely call while I am teaching, so if the results aren't good, I am going to have to keep it together because of my students. No emotional reaction until I don't have students, so that puts a bit of extra pressure on me. I've tried to rehearse the possibility in my head a couple of times, but I really don't like letting my thoughts wander off in that direction, so end up finding a distraction rather than focusing on that.

    On the radio yesterday morning, I heard a quote that was new to me. It goes something like, "If you are feeling depressed, you are living in the past. If you are feeling fearful and anxious, you are living in the future. If you feel peaceful and centered, you are living in the present." I found it interesting and true - I am definitely focused on future possibilities right now and finding it very challenging to be present in the here and now at this time.

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  • jomako
    jomako Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2016

    No news today, although I received a letter in the mail from Moffitt. I was confused and a little elated when I first skimmed it because it said the results from my testing were normal. I couldn't believe they would send my biopsy results via a letter when they were very clear that they would call with the results. How could the letter arrive before the phone call?

    Then I looked at the date of the testing. It was for a mammogram I had done at my consultation on May 5th, not the biopsy on Monday. It was sort of odd to me that they sent the letter at all, as I received a copy of the report on the day that the mammogram was done. I am sure it is just their normal operating procedure - it is just that I am so anxious to hear the biopsy results!

    Hopefully, I will hear something Friday. Of course, my mind starts racing - is a longer wait for results significant? Does it make it more or less likely that I am dealing with a malignancy? Logically, I know it probably only means that pathology is a busy place and they either haven't completed all of the testing that they need to do or haven't finished the report and sent it up to the Breast Clinic so that they can share the results with me.

    I don't know how I am going to stay distracted this weekend if I have to wait until Monday for results. I need to focus on getting through one day at a time. I just really hate this part of the diagnostic process.

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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited May 2016

    Jomako: Hope you hear some good news today.

    Mar730: hoping for benign results for you as well. The waiting and worrying is very hard, and time feels like it is dragging.

    BarredOwl

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  • jomako
    jomako Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2016

    I realized as I was driving to work that waiting for biopsy results on Friday the 13th might not be a great omen.

    However, the nurse called and said the results were good! No details, just a relax and enjoy your weekend.

    She did mention that they want me in for a 3 month follow up mammogram, but right now I can't think of anything that they can say which will convince me that is a good idea. I originally planned on following the recommendations of the Preventive Services Task Force and starting mammograms at age 50 due to my concerns regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Instead, I took my doctor's recommendation and had one at age 45, and found myself experiencing exactly what I hoped to avoid by delaying. I can't put into words the impact of the stress and anxiety my family and I endured going through another cancer scare - it is not an experience I'd like to ever repeat.

    Unless that biopsy shows something hinky that they aren't sharing with me yet, my plan for now is to celebrate the good news, relax, and follow up in about 5 years.

    I am so thankful for the support and information provided by this community during this worrisome time. I have been educated and inspired by the members, and I am very glad to know about this resource.

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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited May 2016

    Hi Jomako:

    Very good news!

    I assume they will discuss the basis for the recommended follow-up with you and what they would be looking for, and you can decide then.

    It is a good idea to request a complete copies of the written reports of the radiologist from all recent imaging. These will include descriptions of the findings and probably a Bi-Rads score (not a form letter). You can check those reports for information about density as well (heterogeneously dense and extremely dense tissue impedes mammography). Also, be sure to request a complete copy of the pathology report from the biopsy, so you can review the findings first-hand and be sure you understand it.

    Congratulations!

    BarredOwl

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  • jomako
    jomako Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2016

    Yes, that is something I learned during the diagnostic process for my sarcoidosis. I actually have a cute expanding file carrier that I bring with me to all appointments. I keep all of my medical records related or potentially related to my sarcoidosis in there. Reports, imaging CDs, blood work results, office visit notes, informational pamphlets, etc. - all of it is neatly organized in one place.

    Since my plan if my sarcoidosis really flares up is to travel out of state to go to the Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence at the Cleveland Clinic, it is important to have these records ready to fax and bring with me.

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  • jomako
    jomako Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2016

    I spent some time yesterday looking into imaging recommendations after a benign biopsy and encountered some interesting information. The first study I clicked on found that imaging more often provided no benefit compared to resuming a patient's normal schedule. However, I was a little surprised to see that the study was from Moffitt, which mentioned me returning for more imaging in 3 months.

    Further into the study, I learned that the recommendation did not extend to patients whose biopsies showed atypia (including ADH and ALH). That would make the recommendation for increased frequency of imaging make more sense to me, as either of those diagnoses move the patient into a higher (though not necessarily high depending on other factors, from what I understand) risk category for developing breast cancer.

    So, sadly, my dream of avoiding any more boob smooshing and the accompanying anxiety for five years may not come to fruition. And it was a happy, happy thought, as the things they've found so far have both been deep against the chest wall and way in the outer quadrant near my armpit, which apparently requires extra squishing to capture on imaging, making me wish for either detachable breasts or a removable head. But if atypical cells have been found, I see the wisdom in monitoring the situation closely. I am hoping I'll be able to learn the full results of the biopsy soon so that I have real information to work with, rather than trying to piece together the little bits I know into a possibility that seems consistent with the only recommendation of which I've been informed.

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  • Djabi53
    Djabi53 Member Posts: 184
    edited May 2016

    Hi jomako - I'm happy that you received good news on your biopsy! I am struggling with understanding and managing the anxiety around my follow up protocol after a benign biopsy. I have bilateral faint calcifications - birads 3. I had a biopsy done on one breast that came back completely benign - fibrocystic changes only - no atypical or abnormal cells. Calcifications in the other breast look the same. I'm told they are not very worrisome. I'm told that it is their protocol to follow all calcifications every 6 months for 2 years. I am even being monitored every 6 months for 2 years on the breast that had the completely benign biopsy. I find myself living my life in 6 month increments - around 6 month imaging appts. I am being seen at a breast imaging center for excellence. The way this plays out for me in real life is that we won't know if you have cancer for 2 years. I hope you will soon have a full picture of your situation. I hope you will let us know what you find out. Best wishes

    Frankie

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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited May 2016

    Hi jomako:

    LOL re the removable head. The machines were clearly built for taller people than me. I learned to wear clogs so I would be a tad taller and would not have my face mushed against some odd machine part.

    I agree you need more information, but one consideration in recommending some monitoring may be if this was your first mammogram and they have no prior imaging for comparison of whether things are / have been evolving or not.

    BarredOwl

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