Core Biopsy Pain

Yes, there was pain involved.  More so with the MRI than the US.  With the US, the tumor was against the chest wall and he couldn't get the needle under it to numb that area, so yes, I felt that one.  The MRI.....I swear she didn't numb it all, but just squeezed it tight till it went numb!   Seriously though.  It did hurt and good thing I was in that vise, and the girl was leaning on my back, or I would have come off that table!

Did you get pain meds, or have you put ice on it?  It will feel better in the morning and each after.  Sorry you had to endure that   Hope though, that you have B9 results!

Ive had 2 and the first one I have to admit there was one spot , one time where I too almost went thru the roof ..felt like was being stabbed I just think she hit a spot that wasnt numb all the other area was fine..and the 2nd one felt no pain at all ...sorry u had to go thru that.

 I am sorry you had such pain. Each case is different. They should have offered you pain meds script. Don't forget you are interrupting your body with these procedures so you have to give in and rest but it is better to find out the truth then not to and take some pain meds. W7

I am so sad you have gone through this.



We all want to be ready for whatever is ahead of us on our path.



I think most women here have our brave days, and our fearful days, or our brave minutes and our scared minutes, like other people.



There are women here who were told by their doctor they were almost certain they had breast cancer, and they did not. Only the pathologist can diagnose you with breast cancer.



You are definitely not alone.



Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no obvious risk factor (besides being a woman.)



This is a wonderful site. Whatever the outcome, we will be here for you. Remember, the general statistics are that overall the majority of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer eventually die of some other cause.

Estepp/Laura, 

My IDC was diagnosed with a core biopsy in January '08.  I had never had a breast biopsy before, and I certainly wasn't expecting one that day.  All that was scheduled was a mammogram, to be followed by an ultrasound exam of a lump I had felt.  Within an hour, though, the radiologist was taking 5 sampes from the lump by US-guided core biopsy.  My dh was in the waiting room and had no idea what was going on.  I didn't have time to warn him.

The difference in my story is that I was not in any pain.  The radiologist and the tech carefully explained what they were going to do.  The radiologist told me about the snapping sound the biopsy instrument would make--he said it sounded like a staple gun, and told me not to be surprised by the sound.  He injected local anesthetic along the route the biopsy needle would take, and within the lump itself.  He waited for awhile, to allow the anesthetic to take effect; then he and the tech told me to tell them if I felt any pain at all.   He said there would be "pressure", and perhaps a tugging feeling as he pulled out each sample, but there should not be any pain.  If there was, I should tell them and they would stop immediately and inject more anesthetic.

At one point when he was pulling out a sample, I felt a little twinge and I winced.  He stopped immediately and asked if it hurt.  I said "just a little," and told him I would be OK.  He asked, "Are you sure?".   He was trying to be so very careful that the procedure did not hurt and that I was as comfortable as possible.

Afterward, the tech brought me a nifty little pouch full of crushed ice, and another empty pouch to be used at home.  She said to put the ice pack in a sports bra or other stretchy bra, to keep the swelling down.  There were other detailed instructions as well, including a number to call 24/7 if I had any problems or questions.

Estepp/Laura, I am so sorry to hear that you had such a terrible time.  I just wanted to write to let other women know that a breast biopsy does not have to be painful or horrible.  Yes, it is very scary, and it certainly isn't a comfortable experience; but it should not feel like someone is trying to kill you and doesn't even care.

I also wanted to comment on this statement:  "I feel so much heartache for everyone on this site as I am dying inside... how can you live with cancer.. you are all so brave!"

We are not so brave--well, I'm not, anyway.  And, how do I "live with cancer"?  Well, to put it bluntly, living with cancer sure beats dying with it.  Like many of us here, I am hoping I no longer even have cancer.  That was the point of the surgery and chemotherapy, and the hormone blocker I'll be taking for the next 5 years.  This isn't "being brave."  It's just doing what we have to do, to make ourselves healthy again.

otter 

I had both a core needle biospy and excisional and for the core I had lidocaine and only felt a tiny pinch from the needle that had the lidocaine and then no pain at all...then when I had the excisional I was out completely feeling nothing at all and even the pain after wasnt bad I took one pain pill to try and sleep and other than that not even a tylenol ...I was even surprised that they numbed my hand before they put the IV in for the anesthesia so basically both were pain free...try not to worry and Im sure you will here alot of stories regarding having no pain or very minimal...keep us posted ..hope this helped...Beth

The first time with the rt breastI had to have a biopsy it was with a needle since the lump was 2cm it was very easy to find and hit.  The dr. numbed it very well and the only pain was the burning from the lidocane.  Two weeks ago I had a sterotactic biopsy which was a bit more scary.  For me the hardest part was lying down on the table with the left breast thru a hole.  Because of neck problems, I couldn't turn my head and had to lean on my chin the whole time.  The staff was very nice, but I think they were afraid I was going to move.  The doc was VERY good about explaining everything and making sure I was very numb.  There are people who do not react to lidocaine and must use another form of numbing med.  Once they numbed the outside, as they went deeper they kept injecting more meds.  I did feel the tugging and snapping but there was no pain to speak of.  Even the mammo afterward wasn't painful because she said she wasn't going to compress it was far.  They were wonderful.  However, I would not want to have to go thru it again which since I will be having another mastectomy, will put it out of the picture.

 We are the patients and should be able to have a say in the quality of our care.  We have a right to say "STOP".  I know it's hard because we feel so helpless within the situation.  As I write this I can count so many times when I didn't say anything because 'they' are the experts and know what 'they' are doing.  If I had my way, every person dealing with patients would spend 48 hrs being patients themselves.  Perhaps it would teach some of them to be a bit more compassionate.  Good luck my sisters.

 Sunkist in MI 

I had a stereo tactic biopsy done in April. I told the tech and doctor right up front that I had a very low pain threshold. Both were women and couldn't have been nicer. The whole set up was really weird - you're on a table with your breast hanging thru a hole. I kind of felt like a car as they raised the table to work underneath. I'm a 34B, very small, so they had me put my arm through the hole to add some weight to bring the breast down more through the hole. After injecting the lidocaine and giving it a little time to work, they inserted the needle. I did feel some pressure and told the doc. She immediately injected more lidocaine. I was a little uncomfortable having to stay perfectly still for about 1.5 hours, but it wasn't horrendous. Once the lidocaine wore off, ice packs and tylenol worked fine.

On 6/12, I had a wire loc lumpectomy. Believe me when I say that I was petrified of having the wire inserted. Again, I told them I was a wimp and had a very low pain threshold. The radiology doctor was great and said ok - I'll give you the whole syringe of lidocaine. I looked the other way the whole time. I was slightly uncomfortable when they took some more mammo shots after the wire was in. But it wasn't awful. I had asked the BS about valium before the procedure and was told no because I would be going to surgery after the wire insert and the anesthesiologist does not allow valium because he (anes) is not there in radiology to monitor.

My advice - be very vocal about your concerns, pain level. tell them right from the get go. if you feel any pain during the procedure, you have every right to tell them to stop, give you more lidocaine and make you more comfortable.

This site will give you lots of information and support from women all over the world.

Prayers heading your way - keep us posted.

Rafaela

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience.  I want to have a "say" in my treatment, which ever way it goes.  I know the biopsy will relieve my worries and I would rather have one done that took the entire lump out. 

A health professional's manner is SOOOO important to your security and comfort. It doesn't necessarily take more time.

I bet you would have felt a lot better if he said what he knows you are asking, and said something like, "It looks triangular to me, but we can't tell whether its cancerous or not until the pathology comes back.  I know this is very stressful, and I'm sorry you are going through this." 

Some medical professionals are so caring, and some are not.  I suspect some are beyond hope, but I think it would be valuable for ALL medical professionals to spend a few days being a patient.  That wouldn't actually give them the scare we have, because they would know they don't have the signs or symptoms we do. But it might help some.

Laura,  I'm glad to see this thread.  However...I am SO SORRY you had to go through that.  There is no excuse for any of us women to experience pain when they have so many drugs to numb these areas. 

When I had my core biospy it was SUPPOSE to be US guided.  (Thats what the paper work said.)  But when I went in my surgeon had me lay on my back on the table and he explained what a core needle biospy involved and what I should expect.  He said 5 samples would be taken and he stressed I would NOT feel any pain other then a pinch when he injected me to numb  the area.

But oh my Gosh!!!  I screamed...it hurt like he$%!   The very first stab at the lump I yelled at him, and the nurse in the room looked REALLY concerned.  He immediately stopped after the first core he took and said "Did that really hurt that bad".  (No...I'm JUST MAKING IT UP you idiot!)  I told him YES...and I CAN tolerate alot of pain.  I was bleeding like a stuck pig and he had to put pressure on it for a good 15 minutes or more to get it to quit bleeding.  I asked him WHY it hurt so bad after he said it wouldn't?  He said he has never ever had this happen but he didn't want to hurt me anymore and the one core was going to be enough to send to the path dept.  He said he must of hit a vessel or nerve.  (Do you think...he hit more then that!)  What happened to all the lidocaine he injected into me!

 I can't tell you how bad this hurt. The pain was off the charts.  I to this day don't know what he did wrong.  One thing I know since being DX 2 yrs ago is that i see most women have a sterotatic or US guided biopsy to make sure they hit the right spot.  Mine was SUPPOSE to be but he just palpated the lump and tried to stab it.  That's why I think he MISSED it.  Even the path report came back saying it was a POOR sample with poor artifacts.  I was so pissed off at him.  I deserve better then that..he promised no pain.

So you are not alone on this Laura.  Plus I see a few others here had a BAD experience with their bisopys.  I was so angry I wanted my surgeon to let me do that to him.  Sounds only fair to me. :)Anyway...it was just the beginning of a nightmare for me.  I'm so sorry for all the women that have had to suffer this pain.

chelee

Just wanted to let other ladies know that I had a core needle biopsy today and it was not painful in the least.  I was a little scared after reading this post because I do frequently have trouble getting numb at the dentist, but the procedure was fine.  The lidocaine injection stung very badly, but after that, I did not even feel the pressure of the needle going in.  This was after the doctor was concerned that she wouldn't be able to fully numb me because the lump is large.

One piece of advice:  if you are nervous or scared, tell people!  I think a lot of doctors and nurses fall into the trap of "just another day at the job" and because these procedures are routine for them, they forget that they are NOT routine for us.  The doctor and nurse were both a bit robotic at first, but when I told them that I was anxious about both the procedure and the test results, they were kind, friendly and reassuring.  It is frustrating that you have to remind them of your humanity, but don't assume that you won't get help/kindness if you ask for it.

Donna,

 Of course I don't mind your asking!  I posted this to help people

 I'd describe what I feel as discomfort rather than pain.  My whole breast is sort of ache-y, but not nearly as bad as what I got when I started taking birth control pills.  I get stronger twinges when I raise my arm over my head or lie on my side and I am taking extra strength Tylenol religiously.  I can definitely tell when it starts to wear off.  As per doctor recommendation, I am also keeping ice packs on it until bedtime.  This means no going out in public as I look like I have a weird Dolly Parton-sized uniboob, but it definitely helps.

 I get my results back tomorrow.  The radiologist agreed to call me with the pathologist's findings even though it is a holiday.  She was kind of blase about the whole thing at first, but when she saw that I was worried about waiting, she immediately offered to call me tomorrow.  That is what I mean about getting kindness when you ask for it!