Oh gosh no! - Big Big Forums

buglebe · 09-12-2009, 08:12 PM

I came across this in the search about needle biopsies. I think maybe I'll just keep my lump or go jump off a bridge. Has anyone else experienced this? There were others who said it wasn't so bad. As I said previously the doctor said a wire inserted by mammagram if I have surgery and lying on a stomach with holes for my breast if needle biopsy. This is the comment I found in my search.

Mammograms......etc...etc.

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I am the youngest of 3 in my family. My oldest sister is 40, the middle 38 and I am 36. When my middle sister was 27 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy followed by chemo. The next year my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer which he succombed to within a year (I just recently learned that prostate,colon,and breast cancer in the family are all connected and all because of hormones.....I had no idea) My maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. Then a maternal aunt had breast cancer with a double mastectomy.....then, another maternal aunt, same story....double mastectomy. The last maternal aunt I have just had surgery for colon cancer and then my mother was diagnosed last year with breast cancer and, yes, again, a double mastectomy.........Everyone one in my mother's immediate family, with the exception of myself and my oldest sister, have been diagnosed with cancer and my father died from prostate cancer.
So....in May I found a small lump on my left breast. I called the middle sister (who has been cancer free for almost 10 yrs now) and with her help made an appt. to the ob-gyn who, of course, scheduled me for a mammogram and an ultrasound. They, in turn, recommended a surgical or needle biopsy. I went for (what I thought was going to be a consultation) today. She informed me she wanted to do the biopsy today and my sister reassured me that it wasn't really painful at all....... LOL. She soon realized things have changed in the past 10 years. I don't want to frighten anyone and to be honest my mammogram was absolutely painless, which I was surprised at as I had been told over and over again how painful they were. Perhaps it's newer technology in that dept. I dunno but it didn't hurt. HOWEVER, the biopsy was almost excruciating. They did an ultrasound biopsy and I was told the numbing medicine would burn when it was injected into my breast......I took deep breaths and got throught that ok and then the Dr. (And this center is said to be the best) started to make a small cut to insert the whatchamacallit to suck out the tissue for biopsy and I cried out in pain.... (I used to think I had a high pain tolerance) She then stuck in another needle to numb it more and it was ok until the 3rd "shove" (which is the only way I know how to describe it) and then I felt warm blood dripping down my side, immense pain when more tissue was suctioned out and then extreme burning......Then another needle to numb it again after I complained....My sister was grasping my foot so hard.....trying to be supportive (I'm not sure if at that point it was for me or her her face was absolutely white and had a shocked look....uh not the look you want to be getting...where's that reassuring smile and nod?) Then after the the 6th shove a metal marker was inserted to 'mark' where this lump was and then was immediately taken to get another mammogram. After the first 2 slides were taken and blood is dripping down the machine, the radiologist was finally able to take one that pinpointed where the metal marker was and wiped me down, sterile taped me up, bandaged me and sent me home with instructions to put an ice pack on it.
The good news is I was told I should hear something within the next 2 to 3 days. My sister was apologizing all over herself for telling me it was relatively painless and felt terrible about it......which, of course, there was no need for her to. I really appreciated her support.
I guess I just needed to get this off of my chest. I would never tell my sister how bad it really was since she was there for the procedure and told me hers wasn't nearly as bad as that. I dunno. I'm hoping for the best, though, and I'm sure everything is fine!

Has anyone else gone through this type of procedure? And if so, was it as painful? I almost think a surgical biopsy would've been better at this point.

speedygirl · 09-12-2009, 08:34 PM

We do them at the office all the time and it really isn't all that bad. That woman's story is not the norm by any means.
Most patients say that the local is worse then the procedure and that sting is for less then a minute. You feel pressure and movement but that's about it. I had one done in 1998. I have a small scar. If I listened to what everyone said I wouldn't have done it. We also do them at the surgi-center under conscious sedation so you remember little or nothing. That's done rarely though.
Don't pay attention to people's horror stories. You're a nurse, you know how that is.

gmyers · 09-12-2009, 08:53 PM

The internet is good to find out things but sometimes it can scare you. And then when you go its nothing like that. I'll pray it goes fast and you wont feel anything. Fear of the unknown for me is worse usally than what really happens. Let us know how it goes.

sunniekiss · 09-12-2009, 09:06 PM

I am going to "yell" at you a little bit. Stop reading these horror stories on the internet. All they are going to do is freak you out even more than you already are. Pretending it isn't there is silly. You have too many people depending on you.
Is it going to hurt like the dickens...YEP but dying from cancer is more painful & lasts until you die. This pain will be less than an hour.
Who told you that if you had a surgical biopsy you would be lying on your stomach? Anything invasive like this is going to hurt but you will be numbed. If it is still hurting TELL THEM! Don't be a hero, tell them it hurts & have them give you additional medication.
I am going to go through this again on October. I am just not going to make myself crazy over it.
Go make yourself a cup of tea & relax.. I know it is easier said than done but you will do just fine.
My offer stands, if you need a partner to go through you with this PM me.

buglebe · 09-12-2009, 09:07 PM

That came from our board. I found it under search. Yes the unknown is the worst. I've never seen one but I have heard about them many times and it was always with bad comments. I just wish I could get it over with.

iluvmybaby · 09-12-2009, 09:17 PM

If you have concerns I would recommend you discuss them with your Dr. The internet is very informative, but I believe websites like webMD has inspired self diagnosis and hysteria. Fear is out biggest enemy, I would contact your Drs office Monday and even if you can't speak to the Dr, you could talk to his/her nurse. I hope that if you are undergoing this procedure it goes fast and easy.

sandooch · 09-12-2009, 09:37 PM

I've had it done twice. The first one was just a twinge of pain and the second was not at all painful. I think I built it up to be worse than it was.

Good luck to you.

sunniekiss · 09-12-2009, 09:46 PM

Everyone's perception of pain is different. The more tense & nervous you are going is the harder it is going to be.

SLance68 · 09-13-2009, 09:48 AM

Please please stop looking these things up on the internet. My Ortho Dr. told me to quit looking stuff up and ask HIM that is why Dr.'s go to college for so long so they can answer the questions. The ONLY cases on the internet are the worst ones.

I have had a needle guided biopsy for my shoulder - Yes they use a harpoon but honestly I didn't feel anything. I don't know what drug they gave me but they could have hammered a railroad spike in my arm and I wouldn't have noticed. The only part I didn't like is they wouldn't let me watch it on the monitor. They had to do mine twice since the first time didn't get enough of the stuff they wanted. They let me watch it the second time on the monitor and it was kind of cool. So just be patient, yes it might hurt but the information they get will be vital. Sending you some prayers for a smooth procedure.

DBackFan · 09-13-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunniekiss

Who told you that if you had a surgical biopsy you would be lying on your stomach?

The procedure is done that way with a wire inserted in the breast and you laying face down with the breast hanging through the hole..My Sis just had it done.

Mini · 09-13-2009, 02:56 PM

If you believe something is going to hurt then it WILL plain and simple. If you go in there thinking its no big deal then it wont be. The mind is a powerful thing.