Biopsy gone worng

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ngc2011
ngc2011 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi,

I am 46 years old and I had an abnormal mammogram result and had to do biopsy couple days ago. Other than this one time abnormal result I don't have any family history and I am very healthy. The core needle biopsy that they explained as a seemingly simple less than an hour procedure went horribly wrong. During the third sampling the radiologist punctured the needle through my blood vessel and blood was streaming down my chest. They stopped the procedure and tried to stop the bleeding my hand compression but couldn't stop it so a surgeon had to come and stitched up the opening. They made me wait for 30 to 40 minutes to see if the stitch and breast wrap would stop it but it only build the blood to accumulate under my skin and I started to have a lot of pain. Finally in couple hours after the incident they decided to take me to OR to properly close and fix the vessel that was damaged and I finally got admitted in the OR and treated 4 to 5 hours later the incident happened. By that time I was in excruciating pain due to the pressure from the blood clot and I was begging for the pain killer. This ordeal isn't just impacting my daily life with family and my small children, and not to mention the extra scar on my body but I am extremely traumatized by this. The test came out negative but it wasn't enough sample to be conclusive or for some other reason they want to do another biopsy. I am speechless and numb to even think what to do next.

Has anyone had a experience like this during the biopsy? Is this normal to have biopsy without consulting the patient after mammogram. Is this invasive biopsy necessary and is there any other alternatives. I just entered the new chapter in my life to deal with this kind of women's health. No matter what happens after this, my physical and mental scar that caused by this experience will be permanent. At this point I am very skeptical about the mammogram and the whole procedure. Any advise on this topic would be appreciated.

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  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited June 2018

    My very first biopsy hit a nerve bundle and the pain was excruciating. I screamed and I think everyone within a block heard it. Anyway, the biopsy showed cancer and the tumor was wrapped up in the nerve bundle. I'm sorry that this happened to you but (IMO) it would be best to continue with the biopsy.

    Maybe you could get some psychological help to deal with the PTSD. Again, I'm so sorry this happened to you.

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited June 2018

    So sorry to hear of your experience. Are you saying they did the procedure on the same day of the mammo? I certainly would request a different radiologist perhaps even go to see a breast specialist/surgeon and ask questions. I'd think you would have to wait a bit and heal up. That area is going to have some trauma for a while. I have had a few biopsy done, no problem except the last one that I had that I bled a little more and had to be packed down, but nothing like you went through.

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  • buttonsmachine
    buttonsmachine Member Posts: 930
    edited June 2018

    Did a breast surgeon do your biopsy? I think they're better at biopsies. If you don't have one yet, find one to take over your preventive care. I'm so sorry that happened - how horrible!

    I've also had excisional biopsies and punch biopsies, and I thought those were okay. Maybe you could ask your breast surgeon if there's another biopsy procedure they can do that seems better for you. I agree with the previous person that you don't want to ignore it... if it is cancer, things will only get worse if you ignore it. Hope you can find a better person to do the biopsy, and maybe ask for some relaxing medicine. Best wishes to you.

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  • couragement
    couragement Member Posts: 114
    edited June 2018

    Dearest ncg,

    I am so sorry to hear of your traumatic experience, and that you had to go through this. It is just awful. I had a very similar thing happen two years prior to my diagnosis. It was my second breast biopsy and the doctor hit an area that caused a dramatic amount of blood. He actually said "this is the most blood I have ever seen." I was up on the high table and he called in two nurses who jumped up on the table and put pressure on me (they alternated since they had to press so hard... like people doing cpr). The pressure was so fierce in order to stop the bleeding that I was afraid a rib would crack. It didn't but the connective tissue separated between my ribs and I still have pain. I was a surfer and not able lie down on a board ever there after (now really no more after a double mastectomy). That biopsy came back negative. I had a huge, painful clot and my breast didn't clear up for months in terms of bruising. They could see the hardened clot in MRI's two years later.

    Skip forward two years and they said I needed another one. Same doctor, same place and I took valium. It helped a little but my back went into spasms which I know was due to the anxiety and fear of the pain and bleeding. They all knew what happened and put cool cloths on me and also massaged my neck and upper back and we kept me there long enough to do the biopsy. It took all I had to do the biopsy, but thank goodness I did. I almost didn't go get it out of fear and being angry that the situation had created so much pain. With that diagnosis I ended up needing 3 more biopsies. All were necessary. One of those didn't have enough tissue and therefore they had to do it again.

    Be sure to speak up. Let them know how traumatic this was and that you need help and extra care and time. Use an anxiolytic if you have to so that you can stay as calm as possible . I have had PTSD for many years from other experiences and the therapy I use is somatic based and it works well for this kind of medical trauma and one time event.

    May you be well and strong.

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

    Can you clarify what you mean by doing a biopsy without consulting the patient? Did they start working on you without saying they were going to biopsy or having you sign consent?

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  • ngc2011
    ngc2011 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2018

    My biopsy was done the day after my second mammogram. I did sign the consent but didn't see a doctor or didn't have any chance to ask questions about my issues or the mammogram result before the biopsy. I am sure they were following the protocol but I am wondering if this biopsy was necessary or if there were any other alternatives to approach this. They want me to wait another month to do mammogram and biopsy so I just have to wait with this dreadful feeling for a possible prognosis. I am just very down and depressed at this point.

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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited June 2018

    wow. I thought my biopsy was bad. So sorry you had to endure this type of pain, but unfortunately I do recommend you going through with the extra biopsy, just tobe safe.

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