Biopsy question

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Ajcire
Ajcire Member Posts: 14
edited December 2017 in Waiting for Test Results

I might be in the wrong forum but I'm set to have a surgical biopsy next week, the day before it the radioactive seed will Be placed. Is it the same as the stereotactic biopsy I had? I'm so unhappy repeating this procedure.

Also did they run standardbasic bloodwork on you before the surgical biopsy or is my surgeon possibly doing this because of my medical history of autoimmune disease?

Comments

  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited December 2017

    Hi there. I wish I could help but this is unfamiliar to me. I had two biopsies but that was because there was a second tumor.

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited November 2017

    I had a stereotactic biopsy for a cluster of calcifications which showed ADH (atypical cells) so they scheduled me for a surgical biopsy to be sure. I have it next week.

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited November 2017

    Aj, I can make aa suggestion, as I'm not familiar with what you are describing.

    1. call the ordering doc and ask for an explanation

    2. Call the place you are having the procedure and ask for an explanation.

    3. google

    Number two is probably going to get the quickest best answer.

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited November 2017

    Thanks... that is definitely logical advice :

  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited November 2017

    Maybe an excisional surgical biopsy? Where they take a larger amount of tissue, similar to a lumpectomy?

    Any surgery usually requires basic blood work for anesthesia clearance.


  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited November 2017

    The seed placement indeed does sound like a procedure similar to the stereotactic biopsy:

    https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-educatio...


  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited November 2017

    Thank you. I think I was trying to figure out if the soreness will be equal or less since it's just placing a seed versus removing samples. The whole thing just hasn't me anxious as I know does for anyone. I was Sore for weeks after the needle biopsy so the thought of surgery the day after it...

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited November 2017

    I actually had very little discomfort after my excisional biopsy, and they took a pretty good sized chunk. I had a prescription for pain meds, but only took one. I was sore for a few days, but nothing major. I WAS terribly black and blue for a long time.

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited November 2017

    thanks! I'm less afraid of the exisional biopsy then the seed being inserted. So dumb, I know. I guess because I'm fully aware of what's going on for the seed. Yes I bruised a lot even from the needle biopsy... finally almost gone just to start over again lol. The surgeon commented about my bruising at my consult. I assumed everyone bruised but she said no not everyone

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited November 2017

    I was actually sore and bruised on the opposite side of my breast from where the incision was - the surgeon said part of it is from the retractor used to hold the surgical site open.

    I thought the surgical biopsy was a lot easier than the stereotactic (mainly because of how uncomfortable the procedure table was), so not silly at all.

  • Jeezlouise
    Jeezlouise Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017

    Hi. I'm new here and also don't know if this is the correct forum for me. Any help re-directing me would be appreciated. I've completed a stereotactic biopsy two weeks ago. It showed some DCIS and some invasive cancer as well. The surgeon I spoke with about the results felt that it has been diagnosed early and is small (he thinks). However, two weeks out from the biopsy I'm still having breast soreness, especially my nipple. The doctor who performed the biopsy did say that a small blood vessel was "nicked" and I was to watch for a hematoma, similar to a goose egg on your forehead I was told. Well, that never developed but I'm still having discomfort. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm now booked for a lumpectomy and the suggestion that I will most likely have to have radiation after that.

  • Jeezlouise
    Jeezlouise Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017

    Hi. Omg... I'm two weeks post stereotactic biopsy and my breast still really sore. My nipple is so sore and sensitive that I can hardly stand wearing clothes, never mind a bra!! How long has it been for you?

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited November 2017


    I was still a little sore, tender, 2 weeks after mine, wasn't ready to sleep on my stomach but not as sore as you are describing. Could just have been a difference of location though I imagine. I did bruise a lot which the surgeon who I had a consult with after said was ok. If you are concerned you could call the dr and check in.

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited November 2017

    just wanted to update in case anyone else is wondering what the radioactive seed was like. It was much easier than the stereotactic biopsy. There is no incision. It's inserted with a needle while they are taking pictures to make sure location is accurate.

  • DagnyT
    DagnyT Member Posts: 135
    edited December 2017

    hi Ajcire. Did you have to ask for this option versus the wire? Also, where was your cancer located? Mine is just behind my R nipple, close to the surface, and in an extremely sensitive and painful area.. they had a hard time doing the stereo biopsy because of the location...so I am really anxious about what things are ahead of me for surgery.

    Thanks for your info

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2017

    I didn't have to ask for the seed instead of wire. It's how my surgeon said they do it now. She said it makes it so it can be done the day before rather than the day of surgery and that it's more accurate because the wire can move but the seed doesn't move. My area of concern is close to my chest wall I believe is what they told me I had the seed done Wednesday, the surgical biopsy Thursday and now im waiting for results.

    I should add... the location of mine made it a challenge for them to get the mammogram picture they needed while doing the stereotactic biopsy as well as the seed insertion. It was what too kind the longest time.

  • DagnyT
    DagnyT Member Posts: 135
    edited December 2017

    thanks for the info. It sounds like we have the opposite kind of locations. Mine was so close to the surface that the needle kept coming out the other side of my nipple, which was awful. But I truly hope that the seed is more common now that the wire....I don’t know how I could manage to go through that trauma to my nipple again

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2017

    aww that sounds awful. It was a similar procedure for the seed placement as the stereotactic biopsy in using the mammogram to find the location except I was sitting and it was just the needle, there was no incision. They still did the numbing needle first. I hope any future procedures are less traumatic for you

  • Lorrainenj
    Lorrainenj Member Posts: 39
    edited December 2017

    hi dagny!! I have a recommendation. Before you go for seed placement, tell your hs you have a very low pain tolerance. Explain that the biopsy was very uncomfortable and is there a way you could get general anesthesia or at least be given something ahead of time to relax you and minimize the discomfort - especially seeing as the dcis is in such a sensitive area. It’s your right to ask. Good luck

  • DagnyT
    DagnyT Member Posts: 135
    edited December 2017

    thanks lorrainenj. I’ll be thinking about you on Tuesday

  • granna19
    granna19 Member Posts: 13
    edited December 2017

    I am so angry. I felt a lump last May. I was diagnosed with cancer in June and had surgery in July. The Dr told us it wasn't cancer it was an abscess and he didn't see any reason to do a biopsy. He left the incision open and we had to keep it packed and change the dressing every other day. When I went back to see him again for my 4 week follow up I asked him when would the lump go away? He told me give it some time it shouldn't be more than a month or two. The lump never when away. Now it is 3X as big and I have to go back into surgery and have it removed. In July I had BC/BS insurance, $100,000.00 life insurance,& a cancer policy. My husband change jobs in October so we could spend more time together after our scare. In November the new company down sized. Last in -first out. Now I can't afford BC/BS, can't get $100,000.00 life insurance policy or cancer policy. Now after a new mammogram and ultrasound it has been rated a birad 5. I was hoping to wait until after Christmas to go back to the Dr but I accidentally let my husband find it. So of course we ended up back at the surgeon's. Now they are going to do the wire and lumpectomy this time. We've decided to not tell anyone until at least after the new year.

  • DagnyT
    DagnyT Member Posts: 135
    edited December 2017

    hi all. Just updating. I have decided that I am going with Dr. Barrio at MSK. She does the seed placement the day before surgery. She said I can ore-medicate as much as I want, but will have to be awake. And she acknowledged that it will be painful due to the location, but that it will be quick and the numbing will be the worst part. I’ve gone through the numbing shots three times now, so I know how bad they are...but I have gotten through it. And honestly after the numbing took hold, it wasn’t bad at all.

    She is also going to inject the radioactive mapping dye for the SNB the day before...but she says it will be at the same time, so no extra pain....here’s hoping that’s right! She does the blue dye once I’m under for the actual surgery

    Thanks for all your support and suggestions

  • Ajcire
    Ajcire Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2017

    I'm so glad you have a plan. I think the seed placement over the wire is a much better choice. I can't speak about the location of it but I know my seed placement was much easier than the stereotactic biopsy I had.

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