Mammogram scheduled immediately after biopsy?

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kitegarden
kitegarden Member Posts: 3
edited May 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

I have a biopsy scheduled for Tuesday 5/29. I also see that they have scheduled me for a mammogram the same afternoon? Is this ok? I have read how some people have had quite painful biopsy experiences and I cannot imagine going through the mammogram experience immediately after a biopsy! I think the biopsy is a needle biopsy...it is a small lump BIRAD 4 (from the ultrasound) and a red mark on the skin.

I will call the office before going in but thought I could get some insight from this community in the meantime.

Thank you so much.

Comments

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited May 2018

    I can't remember having a mamogram after the biopsy, but I remember seeing the marker they insert on slide.

  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited May 2018

    A mammo after is normal. When they do the biopsy they will leave a small metal clip. This is so that if it is cancer, it will direct the surgen dirctly to the lump. If it's not cancer...they will know going forward that it has been checked and not be concerned going forward. I have had 6 biopsies....the clip saved me from another biopsy when they were able to see it was one they had already done.

    Honestly....if the biopsy is painful you need to tell them so they stop and numb you up more. When they do the mammo...you are still numb. Also its just a couple of picutres, not a "full" mammo. Trust me, its not a big deal. You will be just fine. :)

    Hoping the best for you.


  • kitegarden
    kitegarden Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2018

    Thank you so much for your quick reply! I can sleep more peacefully tonight!

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2018

    Yup normal and you won't feel it. If only we could get lidocaine for ALL mammograms....ah, a girl can dream right?!

  • Recap
    Recap Member Posts: 120
    edited May 2018

    The post-biopsy mammogram has several reasons. One is indeed to identify the marker, another is to see if the microcalcifications of concern were all removed from you, and lastly, they also image the removed samples afterwards to be sure they see the removed microcalcifications within the samples, before they completely disconnect you. 

    It didn't happen to me, probably because they removed 12 samples, but they could conceivably go back and remove more samples if the post-biopsy imaging showed they left some behind-they referenced counting in my report so apparently they can count those calcium deposits. (I wish I could have had more removed since my focus was/is out out out-I wanted mastectomy!)

    My microcalcifications all sat on the absolute edge of the samples. Made me wonder if I should be concerned that they weren't smack dab in the middle of the samples, which to me equates with better margins.

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2018

    Recap is correct. The following mammogram is to make sure the target area was biopsied

  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited May 2018

    It was a much more gentle mammogram afterwards for me. They were able to confirm the area biopsied and see the marker. That was all they needed to know.


  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited May 2018

    It must have been gentle because I only remember looking at the images with radiologist.

  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited May 2018

    My mammo after biopsy was not painful, either.

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2018

    One thing though about the post biopsy mammogram - wear old pants. When the smooshed me it made my little slit incision bleed a little and it dribbled down my belly onto my waistband.

  • kmartin3243
    kmartin3243 Member Posts: 108
    edited May 2018

    Very normal and not painful.

  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited May 2018

    The mammo right after the biopsy is painless, you're numb from the biopsy itself. The mammo is to see that the marker left behind is visible and placed correctly - that's what I was told.

  • Recap
    Recap Member Posts: 120
    edited May 2018

    MelissaDallas is correct about not wearing your best outfit-they tucked small thin flat absorbent sheets inside my jeans waistband to catch drips-I probably had more of a trickle lol since I didn't think to stop taking my daily baby aspirin that week. I told the dr to let it trickle for a while (at my age I believe in the health benefits of blood letting) which he did and then the trickle eventually stopped on its own. (I wonder with women who develop large bruises afterwards whether they were bandaged too soon.)

  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited May 2018

    Wow...I had 3 at once and never bled like that nor got bruses after driving home 8 hours. Maybe some just have more of a tendency of bleeding.

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2018

    Funny story when that happened. I tend to be a fainter over blood draws, etc. I was still numb and didn't realize I had a cold pack in my bra. I looked down and saw the blood and at the same time felt the cold damp of the pack with the inside of my arm. My mind went to "soaked through with blood & bleeding all over" bandages. It was really just the cold pack. I told them I was going to faint and sat down. They finally had to get a wheelchair to take me to the suite for my other ultrasound biopsy because I just couldn't stand up without getting dizzy again.

  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited May 2018

    lol you got a great story out of it! lol

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2018

    I agree about wearing old clothes. They had trouble stopping my bleeding after my MRI biopsy. Got blood all over my waist band, but they were old black yoga pants so not a big deal. I am normally not a bleeder like that, but the doctor said it was because of how vascular the particular biopsy site was (the needle had to go right under the nipple). That one ended up being a hematoma and then was benign.

  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited May 2018

    After biopsy its quite common as the op"s have said. They check to make sure the clip is in the right spot.

  • kitegarden
    kitegarden Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2018

    Thanks everyone! All went well with the biopsy and post biopsy mammogram. Very little pain, no blood, no drama!

  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited May 2018

    Great to hear!

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