Hello everyone.
I just feel I’m going crazy at the moment and fit to burst. I was called for a mamagram 2 weeks ago at a mobie screening as I’m 51. Five days later I recieved a letter from the hospital asking me to attend the breast assessment clinic a week later on 23rd Dec. I had another mamagram and was then told I needed a biopsy and they wanted to do it there and then as there was an area they was’nt sure about. I had no other xrays done before that they could compare it with. Due to problems I experience with aneasthetic and a number of other meds they have said they will discuss my case over the next few days and will phone me this comming Wed to let me know if it is really necessary for me to have the biopsy or have another mamagram in about 6 months to see if there’s any changes. I am also worried, does the biopsy make you bleed a lot as I have probems with this also. Sorry to go and best wishes to all.
Hello Duckess and welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums where I am sure you’ll get lots of good support from the many informed users of this site. Due to the Christmas holidays it may take a little longer than normal for users to come on and support you but do keep logging on here as I’m sure someone will be along before too long.
I would normally suggest that you phone our helpline where you can talk to one of the staff here who are either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues, but again due to the Christmas break the helpline is working on reduced hours. I have put for you below the helpline opening hours in case you want to give them a ring when they’re open again:
Monday 27 December – closed
Tuesday 28 December – closed
Wednesday 29 December – open normal working hours (9am - 5pm)
Thursday 30 December – open normal working hours (9am - 5pm)
Friday 31 December – open 9am – 2pm
Monday 03 January – closed
Our regular helpline hours are:
Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
Saturday, 9am - 2pm
Our helpline is a free and confidential service. Staffed by experienced nurses and specially trained workers with a personal or professional experience of breast cancer, we offer information and support on any aspect of breast cancer or breast health. The helpline team can also tell you about services inside and outside Breast Cancer Care and help you make informed choices.
I hope this has been of help to you. Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Thanks for the reply, much apprieciated
Dear Duckess, My experience was of a stereotactic core biopsy. It was a bit uncomfortable. They get you in the plates and numb the area of interest with a little injection. The biopsy gun sounds like a big stapler going off. It made me a bit sore and bruised, but only left a small mark on the skin. Take some deep breaths and you should be fine.
I’ll have my fingers crossed that they don’t find anything wrong afterall. Hope this helps.
Pxx
Hi Duckess
I had an a biopsy in July. It was a little uncomfortable but was over quickly. As Peachez says - it sounded like a staple gun. I was able to watch on the screen as it was going on.
I know how you are feeling with medication. I also suffer with all kinds of reactions to medication, drugs, and anaesetic.
I hope all goes well and you do not need any further treatment.
However, if you have any worries - please come back to the site - there are plenty of peple who can give you support.
Janette xxxx
[Disclaimer: I’m not medically trained and don’t know how your screening clinic operates or what else they may have told you.]
Depending on how your screening place works, it may be possible that what you have are cysts, which are very common. If they want to try to draw off fluid from cysts, they generally use a very fine needle which doesn’t even need a local anaesthetic, and it’s much less painful than a wasp sting.
The biopsy I had was done using ultrasound rather than having my bits squashed between plates. They give me a local anaesthetic rather than a general, and I did end up with some rather “interesting” bruises. When I had mine I was told that I did bleed more than most but I was fine and only needed two paracetamol afterwards when the local anaesthetic had worn off as my boob was rather ache-y. I was advised not to take aspirin, ibuprofen or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to reduce the chance of bleeding, and if you tend to bleed they might tell you not to take aspirin etc for three days beforehand as well, but of course you and your doctor know about your own personal medication. They also keep you sitting around for 20 mins or so after the biopsy to make sure you’re not bleeding, and for me they just put on a couple of steri-strips covered in a dressing. You can’t see the mark AT ALL. Some people do get a bit of a haematoma (a gathering of blood under the skin) but they can clear that up later if it happens by drawing off the spare blood using the same fine needle they use when aspirating cysts.
Good luck, we all sympathise with the worry you must be having. If it’s any help my GP said a couple of days or weeks won’t make a difference to whatever I had, so take what time you need to reach a decision.
Thanks a for your replies, it’s a comfort to know I’m not the only one to go through this though wish none of us had too, you can feel like the only one on earth sometimes. Feel a bit lighter to-day, keeping busy to try stop sinking into gloom. Best wishes to you and I’ll keep you up to date. x
Hello, well the breast care nurse phoned me yesterday afternoon. They had their meeting and have made me an appointment for Tues with the consultant to discuss what other options there are to do with biopsy being as I have trouble with meds ect. There are no lumps but an area of calcification they want to check out. Since last week I had been googling for info but think better just wait and see whats said at app. all the info on google can send you round the bend so staying well clear of it now.( Anyone got a crane I can borrow to lift this elephant I have sitting on my cheast )!!!
Love and best wishes to all Yvonne.
Hello all.
Went to see the consultant yesterday to discuss my options. They say they cannot tell one way or the other about the area of calcification hence needing to do a biopsy. I was given the option of leaving it and having another mamagram in 6 months but like they said the area would still need a biopsy done to determine what it is. They said that I could have a spray to freeze the outer surface of my boob and before- hand a session with a hypnotist to calm and try help being as I would not be totally frozen during the biopsy. At first I said I would just leave it and see in 6 months, but they said to consider it and let them know. Whichever I choose to do they will understand. The b.c nurse said for me to phone her or she would phone me next week to see what I have decided to do. Having thought about it and talked it over with my husband I have phoned the b.c nurse and told her I will go ahead with it . The biopsy is the type done in plates and she said that they would only go for one sample instead of the usual 4 to 5 and if I can’t stand it they would stop immedietly. ( Hope I’m not waffling too much here ). So now they are sorting things out and it will be done proberbly in the next week or two. Has anyone else had a biopsy without local anaesthetic? I feel like just saying sod the consequences give me the local and if I’m ill afterwards so be it . I feel trapped between a rock and a hard place ). Thanks for reading my groan Yvonne x
Well done duckess, I am sure it was a tough decision… No doubts you are still scared but try and give yourself a pat on the back for deciding to have it!
Good news. Hard decision, but like oscarbailey said give yourself a pat on the back. I had calcifications too. Better you have it done and get it over and done with. I didn’t have the one they do in plates but the stereotactic biopsy. Am sure someone will be along soon who did and can give you more info. Good luck, I am sure you won’t have to wait long for your appointment xx
Yes well done Duckess. I had a core biopsy (no plates) which as others have said was like a staple gun. My experience was exactly like Peachez, I was a bit sore after, but on the plus side the biopsy itself was over in an instant. It’s not a long drawn out thing - it took even less time than a normal injection.
I am sure you have done the right thing.
Best wishes
Sarah
Hi Duckess,
I don’t want to alarm you, but my bc was discovered as I too had calcification and no lump.
I would push for some answers sooner rather than later, if only to put your mind at rest.
Sarah X
Hi Duckess
You have made a wise decision. It best to know now as it may not be anything nasty - than to worry about it for the next 6 months.
Best wishes
Janvis xxx
Thanks for a your replies. The b.c nurse called this morning to arrange a sesssion with hypnotist next wed to see if I can be hypnotised. If I can then the biopsy will be the following wed after having a session of hypno( just hope he don’t get me dancing on tables ah! ) Best wishes to you all Yvonne x
Hi Yvonne, I will second or even third earlier comments about not stewing for the next 6 months & it’s best to find out sooner rather than later. However, you only touch on the problems you have with meds/anesthetics etc so I can’t fully appreciate what sort of battle you must be having with yourself over this. I had the staple-gun type biopsy - minute sting with initial jab but, either from ‘no- sense-no-feeling’ or just a fantabulous surgeon, I didn’t feel another thing. I heard the dull click of the contraption but that was it! No painkillers required afterwards and no bruising. I hope the hypnotism works for you and you can get this ball rolling - hopefully to put your mind at rest. All the best - Chris