Refusing a biopsy

Hotwing - I don't remember where you are. You might try a second opinion with an NCI cancer center.

Do you have a psychiatrist who can talk to your other docs? Sometimes doc to doc works better.

You might also talk to someone about what used to be called "laughing gas" that dentists still use for wisdom teeth & some impacted removals. That would mean a mask over your face - as would some other anesthesias.

HeartShaped… and overcoming your fears is really inspirational. This headphones things i used to apply for my dentist visit where i would use my ipods with a audiobook to distract myself. It's no doubt a great idea.

My son had needle phobia as a kid. When he was a sixth-grader he crashed his mountain bike and had to get stitches. It was a big problem, actually--I finally said, "look, I know you're freaked out but there's no choice here and you're too big for me to hold you down. You're going to have to suck it up and get a grip." And he did.

He's now a radiologist.

I understand that the radiology department has denied you, but have you asked your breast surgeon about placing the wires while you are under anesthesia? Unlike a radiologist, he or she is accustomed to patients who are anesthetized. Failing that, I believe a psychiatrist or maybe even your primary care can write an order for sedation. Have you talked with either?

A quick note about sedation and location

Most of the outpatient facilities I have worked in were not allowed to administer IV sedation since there is no code team (rapid response team) available. Some do not even have nurses. The last location I practiced was attached to the hospital but since that part of the building was considered 'outpatient' we could only use local and have the patient bring oral meds if they wanted. If conscious sedation or other anesthetic method is used that requires an IV plus cardiopulmonary monitoring, it would have had to have been performed in the main xray dept in the hospital where RN's and others were available.

The only outpatient facilities where I have see IV opioids or propofol given, employed at least one anesthesiologist, something outpatient breast centers do not have.

Also ask your pharmacist when you should take it prior to the procedure. If it is a tablet the peak effect is about 2 hours after taking it and it last about 12 hours before decreasing in concentration. I think that is why some doctors say to take half the night before surgery and the other half in the morning prior to surgery to relax you. Hopefully you can get some help from your pharmacist about the dosage if your doctor didn't provide this information. Good Luck to you!!

calf - there are any number of variations of BC that need to have chemo BEFORE surgery. Without a biopsy, it would be impossible to plan or stage.

Yes, it's possible for a micromet to get loose and spread, but not likely in 6 weeks. If your sister's cancer had been critical, they would likely have done chemo immediately. Sorry for her Stage IV diagnosis and that you''re having to join us.

You don't say where you are located, but since you're concerned it's probably a good idea to go to an NCI certified hospital for a second opinion.

My sister's mets was not diagnosed for three years. From what I understand, a cancer cell can make it to the lymph node and into the blood within just a few days. The cells can lay dormant for any length of time before starting to grow. The post-biopsy seeding is just the start.

Meanwhile, I am proactively trying to boost my immune system and kill the cells while I WAIT for the biopsy results which are taking TOO LONG! This includes daily aspirin, using heat from the jacuzzi, shower, and heating pad as much as possible, taking immune system supplements I have read may help.

I feel like this whole battle will not just be with cancer, but also the medical machine.

Lisa

Here is a nice explanation of the above concepts from: https://oregon.providence.org/forms-and-information/a/ask-an-expert-breast-cancer-growth-rate/

Here is an excerpt from the above:

"Like a lot of cancers, breast cancer grows by simple cell division. It begins as one malignant cell, which then divides and becomes two bad cells, which divide again and become four bad cells, and so on. Breast cancer has to divide 30 times before it can be felt. Up to the 28th cell division, neither you nor your doctor can detect it by hand."

"With most breast cancers, each division takes one to two months, so by the time you can feel a cancerous lump, the cancer has been in your body for two to five years. It can certainly seem like a lump appeared out of nowhere – especially if you or your doctor have recently examined your breasts and not felt anything suspicious – but in reality, the cancer has simply doubled that one last time necessary to be noticeable. By the time you can feel it, a breast tumor is usually a little more than one-half inch in size – about a third the size of a golf ball. It has also been in your body long enough to have had a chance to spread"

That quote “you don’t have to be brave you just have to show up” helped me a year ago in fact I have it saved on my messageswhen I was diagnosed and my biggest fear was the being under general anesthesia. Here I am a year later and just had my first mammogram since surgery and all is well!!

Leawoodgal

calfam04 -- breast cancer is a much worse invasion to your tissues than biopsy, though I know the "needle" definitely feels more violating. It is absolutely normal to take multiple samples. I just had a biopsy today of a bump which I was concerned might be a recurrence. They took 3 samples. That meant going into my skin 4 times (they also put a clip in place). One sample is not enough of a confirmation. They could slightly miss the site or grab muscle tissue, or a part of your lesion/calcifications that doesn't show up as negative. Then you'd have to come in for another biopsy. I'm sorry your sister is Stage IV, that must really be a heavy influence on your worry for yourself as well. It is good to give your body tools to heal and have a strong immune system, and I do also think we need to scrutinze the healthcare system and make sure our doctors are on the ball. But I would not get paranoid about biopsy needle seeding.


To the OP - I had a biopsy today and while it can feel a little tedious of them trying to get to the proper location, it was surprisingly no pain, and hours later I feel no discomfort whatsoever. (I have had more uncomfortable ones though).. They now think it is just a complex or complicated cyst, but to me the peace of mind is worth it.

Leawoodgal, any chance that Leawood refers to the one in Kansas? That's where I am!

Lived in Leawood for two years. Kids went to Barstow.