Needle Biopsy - results post 65

[disneychrista]

So back in October they found a "spot" on my annual mammogram. I went for a diagnostic mammogram & ultrasound and was told it appeared to be either a lymph node or a fibroadenoma and to come back in 6 months for a follow-up ultrasound just to be sure. Well, now 9 months later I had my follow-up ultrasound and the "spot" has gotten slightly larger, nothing crazy but still something to be concerned about. So now I need to have a needle biopsy.

So those who have a needle biopsy what can you tell me about the experience? How long did it take to "recover" & get back to your normal routine? Is a full day enough of a recovery period before going back to work (desk job)? Anything you wished you had known before hand?

 

[low-key]

I had a couple, I was back to work same day. I am sure its nothing although both mine came back positive , the way I looked it it just gave me the opportunity to put in my resume " kick cancers *** in his spare time"

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I can't offer any insight because I've never had a needle biopsy-just wanted to say I'm sending you all good vibes, Christa.

 

[Micca]

Christa hey...hope it goes well

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Keeping you in prayer, Christa!

 

[disneychrista]

I had a couple, I was back to work same day. I am sure its nothing although both mine came back positive , the way I looked it it just gave me the opportunity to put in my resume " kick cancers *** in his spare time"

Were you in any pain afterword? Having a needle poking my boob and then having it squished in a mammogram machine doesn't sound painless to me. I know I won't go back to work the day of the biopsy but trying to decide if I should take the day off after. I have plenty of sick leave so no worries there but also thinking is it better to be busy at work vs sitting at home worrying about the results.

I like your outlook but I'd rather not have that on my resume.

 

[low-key]

I like your outlook but I'd rather not have that on my resume.

lol, me too, but ya gotta make the bes tout of your situation, yep if ya want take some time, it was just a little bit sore , I just rubbed some dirt on it and went back to work, but pain doesnt bother me, now if you see a mice, Im running like a 11 year old girl

 

[georgina]

Sending positive thoughts your way. I am unfamiliar with biopsies using mammography, I knew someone who had one using an ultrasound wand. She was definitely sore from the biopsy but able to go back to work the next day (she had an office job). Don't know if your procedure will be worse recovering from though. I was curious so I looked around on the Mayo Clinic website, there are a lot of different ways they do biopsies!

 

[TLSnell1981]

It's not a pleasant experience. I had mine late in the day so I went home and took it easy. I had a nice bruise and was sore for a few days.

 

[disneychrista]

Sending positive thoughts your way. I am unfamiliar with biopsies using mammography, I knew someone who had one using an ultrasound wand.

Yes to actually do the biopsy they will using an ultrasound to locate the mass and do the needle biopsy. After they are done with the biopsy they will do a mammogram though I am not completely clear on why other than to check the location of the titanium clip locator they inserted at the biopsy site.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So back in October they found a "spot" on my annual mammogram. I went for a diagnostic mammogram & ultrasound and was told it appeared to be either a lymph node or a fibroadenoma and to come back in 6 months for a follow-up ultrasound just to be sure. Well, now 9 months later I had my follow-up ultrasound and the "spot" has gotten slightly larger, nothing crazy but still something to be concerned about. So now I need to have a needle biopsy.

So those who have a needle biopsy what can you tell me about the experience? How long did it take to "recover" & get back to your normal routine? Is a full day enough of a recovery period before going back to work (desk job)? Anything you wished you had known before hand?

I had one a few years ago. I had to go to the ultrasound lab. They use the ultrasound to help guide where to put the "needle". Quotes because it was a big, huge needle. After using a local anesthetic, they started. When they got the needle placed correctly, they said "OK, you're going to hear something like a cap gun going off. Don't move." That's when the needle had a punch sort of thing on it that would dive in and take a small piece of the mass out. They took like 3 samples.

Then they put a big pressure bandage on it and told me to keep it in place for 24 hours. And to wear a supportive bra for at least 3 days. Had a little bruising, and a bit sore, Tylenol worked for that . There wasn't any "Don't go to work" instruction that I can recall.

 

[HadesFan]

You'll still be numb when they do that mammogram, so it's not as bad as a regular one. I went back to work with an ice pack under my shirt, was sore for a few days. The waiting is the hardest part. Sending you positive thoughts, try not to worry too much!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Yes to actually do the biopsy they will using an ultrasound to locate the mass and do the needle biopsy. After they are done with the biopsy they will do a mammogram though I am not completely clear on why other than to check the location of the titanium clip locator they inserted at the biopsy site.

The mammogram is done to confirm the correct placement of the marker. I was also able to get my results while I was there. Thankfully it was good news.

Sending thoughts, prayers, pixie dust and well wishes for a good outcome.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've had the needle and a core biopsy. Be glad you're having the needle biopsy. It's obviously not great, but also not as bad as you're expecting. The worst part is the worry.

Positive thoughts coming your way for a good outcome.

 

[lifesavacation]

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Do you get to bring a support person with you for the appointment or is that not permitted due to COVID?

 

[VandVsmama]

Mine hurt like a mother trucker, but I'm the sort of person who usually needs a little more anesthesia than the average patient. I had to lay on this mammogram "table" thing and had my breast squished in the mammogram machine for a good 20-30 minutes. They gave me this ice pack thing to put in my bra afterwards and had to wear a bra 24x7 for a couple of days afterwards. I was so sore afterwards, there's no way I could have focused on working after that. I took the day off and I'm glad I did. The soreness disappeared after about 4 days.

The radiologist dr will tell you that you'll feel a little pinch when they put in the local anesthetic. That was fine. What hurt was when they insert the big needle thingy and then had to put more anesthetic in halfway to the biopsy location. Then they got everything positioned correctly and said "Stay really still for a sec and hold your breath." That's when there was this sound and it felt like somebody punched me deep inside my chest. I felt it the entire way in and all the way out. They didn't give me enough anesthetic, but I didn't know that. I dropped a whole heck of a lot of F bombs.

2 weeks later, I had to do it all over again for a different location on the same breast. And they went in through kind of the same route (near my arm pit), so that wasn't very much fun.

It wasn't very much fun and I was a nervous wreck. Waiting for the results afterwards was hell. However, I'm really glad that I went through it because it was totally worth it.

In the room during the procedure, there was a mammogram technician, an RN, and the radiologist Dr who had extra radiology training in breast procedures...so that Dr had done literally hundreds of these same procedures (I asked because I didn't want somebody right out of med school who didn't know what the heck they were doing).

 

[VandVsmama]

By the way, the VAST majority of biopsies come back normal.

 

[Kittyblue]

No advice but just wanted to say I hope everything goes well for you.

 

[disneychrista]

Quotes because it was a big, huge needle.

Big as in long or big as thick? The person I spoke with said it was a very thin needle I am hoping that's the case because I am not a fan of needles.

You'll still be numb when they do that mammogram, so it's not as bad as a regular one.

That was my thought too. I am more concerned about how much it's going to hurt after the numbness wears off.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Big as in long or big as thick? The person I spoke with said it was a very thin needle I am hoping that's the case because I am not a fan of needles.


That was my thought too. I am more concerned about how much it's going to hurt after the numbness wears off.

Long (about 2-2 1/2 inches) and thick. Maybe as thick as a toothpick.

The pain, for me, was much like I got punched in the boob. It sort of ached and was tender. But only for a couple of days.

Of course, pain is subjective.