Core biopsy on July 16...gonna be a looong 4 weeks! Advice?

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KR75
KR75 Member Posts: 22
edited July 2019 in Waiting for Test Results

How do you all cope with the nerves and stress? Now it's causing my psoriasis to flare up too, trying to get it all under control! Doctor gave me Xanax for night so I could sleep, but finding that keeps me groggy till around noon the next day.

Also, any advice for day of the biopsy? My instructions say they will send you home in a compression bandage, but lots of folks on here mention sports bras? I have a large chest, DD, most sports bras are not comfortable at all and just make me sweaty, but I imagine hanging loose is not good either. Would a soft leisure bra suffice?

Is it a pretty quick recovery? I'm a CFO at a construction firm, so mostly sitting and typing, but a lot of brainpower and focus is required. Is the discomfort enough to keep one from concentrating? Would you recomend taking a day ot two after to recouperate?

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited June 2019

    You cope by telling yourself that most biopsies are benign-80% or so. Even more common to need to be checked out after a first mammogram, since there are no old films to compare to. They are ruling out cancer, not ruling it in. Anything that appears to have even a 3% chance of being cancer is biopsied. Seriously, this is not worth making yourself sick over for a month for something that will likely turn out to be nothing. Besides, all the stewing in the world won’t change what is, even if it should turn out to be cancer

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited June 2019

    Good advice from Melissa. Assuming your imaging was rated a BIRADs4, it means that the reason for the biopsy is to rule out cancer, not because cancer is suspected.

    For the day of the biopsy, I'd say any comfy bra will do. And you should probably plan to take the rest of the day off work, but you should be fine to work the next day. If I recall, I think I took one extra strength Tylenol a few hours after my most recent core biopsy, and maybe another one when I went to bed (not even sure if I took that one) and that was all I needed. Of course we are all different and each procedure is different, and there are some women who do experience more pain, but I think that's the exception and not the norm

    If you are having an ultrasound guided core biopsy, it's really a pretty easy procedure. Just be ready for the sound of the needle - it's quite loud and it sounds like a staple gun.

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  • KR75
    KR75 Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2019

    Thank you both. I thought I was doing ok stress wise, but my psoriasis says otherwise. During the day I keep busy and ir's out of mind, it's the quiet nights when my mind wanders and it gets the best of me. It was just SO unexpected. I've had a bunch of other tests done because my doctor said the fatigue I have been experiencing lately is not normal, and I am by no means depressed, but all those came back fine. The one routine test comes back abnormal, go figure!

    Melissa, very reassuring that even a 3% chance will result in a biopsy! The doctor at the lab did not offer any real info, nor did I get a report. She just said I need to get it biopsied, and they plan to watch a mass in the other breast. I didn't even know before that there was a report, or a scoring system of any sort. Do plan to get a copy this week!

    Beesie, thank you for your advice, good to know that they are loud! I hate needles, probably contributing to my nerves. I tolerate having my blood drawn by closing my eyes and looking away. If I see the needle I have to keep myself from throwing up and running away. As long as I don't see it I am ok. Weird, I know.

    Grateful for this group. It really helps to talk it out!

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  • Mymomsgirl
    Mymomsgirl Member Posts: 174
    edited June 2019

    KR75 the waiting is the worst. My doctor gave me Ambien to help me sleep and it definitely helped with the anxiety. I took it every couple of nights and didn't have any issues functioning at work. So that might be another option to try. Good luck.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited June 2019

    Go have some fun! Do you want to look back a year from now and realize you wasted a whole month just worrying? And for after the biopsy - my breast center gave me a little disc-shaped ice pack that fit comfortably inside a bra. After I had a lumpectomy, I switched to sports bras, and the brand I used (I think Danskin) had a handy little pocket to slip it into. The removable padding in those pockets came in handy as a boob-protector since I have a dog with pointy feet who likes to jump on me in bed.

    Oh, the day after my biopsy, I went to a rockin' concert. I barely remember the biopsy, but the concert was awesome.

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  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited June 2019

    Beesie (as usual!) is right, if you're having the ultrasound guided core needle biopsy--it's definitely loud! My radiologist warned me so I didn't leap off the table. But it's almost pneumatic in sound.

    Afterwards, they'll probably give you small ice packs to tuck in your bra. If you're like me, you'll be thinking that sounds terrible. But it really felt good.

    I'm a 30DD, so I wear running bras that clasp in the back, not the pull on kind. I found my running bras the best post-biopsy because they kept things nice and still.

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  • KR75
    KR75 Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2019

    A huge thank you to all of you! Feeling much more confident and relaxed about everything!

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  • Eigna
    Eigna Member Posts: 438
    edited July 2019

    KR75 Good luck tomorrow with your biopsy. Wishing you benign results. My biopsy is scheduled for beginning of August. Had vacation plans that I couldn’t postpone so couldn’t do the biopsy before.Let us know how it went.

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  • KR75
    KR75 Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2019

    Thank you Eigna ❤ I think I am actually less nervous now... doing the biopsy tomorrow at least feels more like something being done, and knowing that I will have more answers in the next week is relieving. My report put me at Birads 4c...which upped my nerves a bit last week when I saw that. But it is what it is! My vacation in two weeks is going to be either a big celebreation or a final hoorah before whatever comes next. Your vacation should be a wonderful break, enjoy it to the fullest!!!! I'll post results as soon as I get them :)

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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited July 2019

    Good luck with the biopsy! It won't be bad and hopefully you'll get great news (quickly) and be able to relax!

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  • KR75
    KR75 Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2019

    Biopsy done and back home. Biopsy itself not terrible, though the numbing wears off fast. I was told they would take 3 to 4 samples, they took 12! Don't know if that's good or bad...She said she will try to have results this Thursday, Friday latest...fingers crossed!

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  • KR75
    KR75 Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2019

    Biopsy done and back home. Biopsy itself not terrible, though the numbing wears off fast. I was told they would take 3 to 4 samples, they took 12! Don't know if that's good or bad...She said she will try to have results this Thursday, Friday latest...fingers crossed!

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