Scheduled for core biospsies and have questions

Hi! I've recently had 3 core needle biopsies as well. 2 in one breast and 1 in the other. They took 4 samples from one spot and 3 from each of the others, so 10 samples together. I'm sure that could be different depending the suspicion and size of the area they are taking a biopsy of. My biopsies were done at 2 different times. The first was the 2 in my left breast and that was done on a Monday and results came back Thursday. The right breast was 1 biopsy and was taken Monday and came back Tuesday, but that one was benign. I think there's certain tests and stains they do on the samples that make it take a bit to come back if they have to do them. They told me on average it takes 3 or 4 days, but they say 5 to 7 because sometimes the lab is backed up too. Let me know if you have any other questions specific to the biopsy experience and I'd be happy to share mine. Good luck!!

Honestly, the biopsies weren't that bad. The lidocaine needle pinches a little and burns just a tiny bit and then you really only feel movement. It's a little uncomfortable when they push the ultrasound paddle on the other side of your breast while getting the samples, but all in all not bad. I took 1 or 2 Tylenol after the procedures and just kept the ice packs on/off for 8 to 10 hours after. A women radiologist did the first breast (with the 2 biopsy sites in it) and she was pretty gentle and the bruising was minimal and was fine within about a week. I had a man radiologist the second biopsy and he seemed a bit more rough. I do have heterogeneously dense breast tissue, so maybe it's harder to get the needle into that. I had it on 9/14 and I still have a yellow bruise, but it doesn't hurt and never really did. I slept with a bra on for 2 nights after each. You keep the steri strips on until they're almost falling off. If it helps, the thought of the procedure is way scarier than it really is...so try to not stress so much about the actual procedure.

I was a bi rads 4C.

The waiting is the worst part indeed. I don't overly have good advice for that except to just keep yourself busy while you're waiting. It helps to distract your mind for a little bit. I worked a lot and my hubby and I attacked our home projects list in the days I was in between waiting. It helped.

I was like you and I just wanted to know, whatever the outcome was. The not knowing was torture. Try your best to stay positive. But like you I was also prepared for not hearing something good. I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to just accept that could be the outcome before I heard it and maybe it wouldn't be so shocking. I was shocked to get the initial callback, since I had only had my 1st ever mammo. I didn't want to be caught off guard again. I hope you find some calming peace over these next couple of days before your biopsies and everything turns out well!

The reason why it takes so long to get the results back is because its an involved process to prepare the sample.

First, they have to dehydrate the samples. They have to do this because the sample has to be solid in order to make slices thin enough to see through. (Its much easier to cut meat if its frozen than if its at room temperature.) If there is water in the sample, it will break up the cells so they can't be seen. (When you freeze water, it expands, and when the water in a cell is frozen, it, too, expands, and breaks the cell up so they can't see how it looks.) They usually use increasing concentrations of something like ethanol (ethyl alcohol). So this can take at least a day or two.

Then they have to let the sample dry, then embed the sample so its hard, usually in something like paraffin or plastic. Then they have to let that dry.

Then they have to take a very sharp blade and cut the sample into a layer that is thin enough to see through in the microscope. The light microscope requires that the sample be thin enough to see through.

They have to stain it with different dyes, some of which can be hard-to-get. (I'm not sure at what point they do the staining, or if they do it at different points depending on what they find.)

Then they have to have a pathologist look at the slide under the microscope. The pathologist looks at the size, shape, pattern of the cells and membranes in the sample in order to make the diagnosis. People can be on vacation, or there can be shortages of supplies.

For almost all breast cancer, you can't get diagnosed without a pathologist looking at a piece of tissue under the microscope. (The exception is the uncommon inflammatory breast cancer, which sometimes/often (?) is diagnosed clinically.)

Hi leerose- I was a bi-rads 5. My biopsy wa on a Friday and I got the results on that following Wednesday. I went into it knowing that the 5 meant it was more than likely cancer. When my husband and I got the results we both oddly felt better. I think it's the unknown that makes it worse. Once you start getting a plan together you will move into let's kick cancers ass mode. I hope it comes back as nothing but if not, the people here are very supportive and will help you through this.

Hi Leerose, The waiting is hard as I’m back at the waiting game again after 8 years. I go Wednesday for my 5th biopsy on this breast. I turn 54 next month & was diagnosed 8 1/2 years ago at age 45 with breast cancer.

As for the cyst or whatever is on your ovary. If this ends up being breast cancer I would definitely say something to your Drs. I have a BRCA 2 gene variant & since your Mother also had BC. It would be good to have all things looked at or at least talked about. Any new Drs you might get won’t know everything that has been going on whether it’s concerning or not to another Dr.

I had this happen to me on some other medical issue that was being looked at & something else was seen during a test. Had I not spoke up to my Dr that prescribed the test when the results were given to him another cancer may not have been found in time. I don’t say this to say there is a problem. I say this to be proactive, ask questions it’s your right. Get a second opinion also.

It does help when you get the answers. Yes keeping busy helps. Hang in there these are a great bunch to help you get through this! Jule

Hope your biopsies went smoothly today, leerose!

That's good the biopsies are over and done with and went ok. They definitely aren't fun, but pretty quick recovery time. Did they mention 5-7 days for the results to come back? Hopefully they come quickly...waiting is really difficult, especially with a weekend in between I'll say a prayer for you as well, for a positive outcome and also peace while you're waiting!

Sorry you had pain, that really stinks. Keep those ice packs on! Sending good thoughts to you as you wait.

leerose, I know at my hospital network they do not load the radiology results to our patient portals for a week after they come out. I asked them about it and they said they had one time where the patient accidentally got the results in their portal before the doctor was able to communicate that cancer was found...and that's a terrible way to find out, so there's always a lag on those reports now. Not sure if your hospital is the same way or not. The waiting just plain old stinks I hope you're able to keep busy these next several days and try and keep it towards the way back, instead of the front of your mind.

I'm so sorry. With the description of the masses and the BIRADs 5, the diagnosis isn't surprising, but that doesn't make it any easier on you.

Move on over to the Just Diagnosed forum. Once you have the pathology information, you'll get a lot of information and support there.

Sending cyber ((Hugs)).

I'm sorry, leerose...big hugs!! You can get through this though! We're here to help you emotionally!!