I'm having a needle localization and a breast biopsy done on Monday. I'm very nervous. Can anyone share their story with me? I have a very very small lump in my right breast that my Doctor thinks is benign but he still wants to take it out due to my family history. I'm having the needle localization done before the surgery. Please share your stories...

Hi Sl

I haven't had the needle localization done, but I have had several biopsies done. My girlfriend had the needle one done. They take a Mammogram, and thread in a thin wire, secure it, and then it's off to surgery. I have had 2 breast biopsies, and a lymph node removed from my armpit. I was awake for the lymph node, and one biopsy. I know that it can be scary, but try not to worry too much. I know that's easy for me to say, because it's you going through it. But really try not to worry. My last biopsy, I had the Dr. laughing so hard, that he had to stop several times. Hang in there!!!!!

Sid

Thanks for responding Sid. I'm going to be asleep when the Dr. takes it out after the needle localization. It's all very scary. I really appreciate you sharing your story with me. It helps.

I just had one yesterday but to my nipple. I'm really impressed with how well I handled it. I'll be honest, I was scared to death. The local was the worst thing of the entire process. It stung throughout my breast but nothing at all that I couldn't handle and breathe through. After that was over the only thing I felt was a little uncomfortable pressure. The longest part of the entire process was applying pressure to stop the bleeding. They gave me a bunch of gauze and an ice pack and sent me on my way. NOW, I will tell you I was uncomfortable once the numbness wore off. I don't know if it was because my biopsy was done directly to my nipple or what but I could not move without some discomfort. This morning when I woke up I felt great!! I'm still bleeding a little bit but there is NO discomfort at all! I wish you the very best of luck and hope I didn't scare you at all. Just know the local is the worst part (much like a cavity being filled) but not horrible. It just is so weird for them to be putting a shot into your breast period. I really hope I helped. Good luck.

Thank you so much for responding. I'm terrified to say the least. I am being put to sleep for the biopsy after my needle localization. I have the option of being awake and having the "twilight drug" (spelling) but I think I might be better off fully asleep. I'm glad that your needle localization went well for you. I hope you are OK. You didnt find the biopsy to be bad? Whatever it is, it is very very small and I'm having the whole thing taken out of my breast. My doctor said it's more than likely benign, he just doesnt want to leave it in there. I'm very nervous. I really appreciate you sharing your story with me. and you did not scare me.

I had a biopsy on my breast Tuesday. The bark is much bigger than the bite. The only thing that is a little painful is the needle for the local anathesia, And that doesnt even hurt that bad. Just a little pinch. It will be over before you know it. It might bleed (maybe a little, but in my case a lot) so dont let that freak you out, My doctor told me that was normal. I have a very small threshold to pain, so if I was okay, you will be too :)

Thanks ABGirl. I am a little nervous. I can't wait for it to be over to be honest. I am such a baby about these things. I'm so nervous to be put to sleep. I really appreciate your story! thanks so much.

hi sl,

i am sorry to hear that you need to have this procedure done, let me tell you that i had it done as well when i was diagnosed with breast cancer and its a very percise result, so for the little discomfort the peace of mind with be worth it.

may god look after you linam.

i found out today that my biopsy results are cancer. i'm 26 years old and i'm freaking out. the first thought that came to mind is am i going to die? i need some advice. my mom had breast cancer when she was 46. she's fine now. cancer free. i'm scared...so scared.

I'm having a needle localization and a breast biopsy done on Monday. I'm very nervous. Can anyone share their story with me? I have a very very small lump in my right breast that my Doctor thinks is benign but he still wants to take it out due to my family history. I'm having the needle localization done before the surgery. Please share your stories...
Hi there, i'm brand new to this website, when i saw your concern i felt i must try to tone down your worries if i can. My daughter had to have a needle biopsy, and like you she was very nervous and anxious about having it done. Please try not to worry (easier said than done, i know) but, ask yourself a little question, is worrying helping to ease your anxiety, is your anxiety helping to ease the worry? No, the whole process took about 20 minutes and apart from a little discomfort my daughter found that the worry was worse than the process. The hospital that she attended gave her the result straight away, no waiting for a week. It might be a good idea to find out if you can be told straight away, then at least you will find out if there is a problem or not. What ever the result, don't let it spoil your Christmas, you must be positive. I hope that everything will be ok for you, but, if the result isn't what you hope, please don't let it consume your every thought, it makes it worse and that won't help, and as i said above non of the negative things/thoughts will put it right. My thoughts will be with you and if you want to share the result on the message board i will come back to you. xx

I'm so sorry that your results turned out to be cancer. I don't really know what to say except I will be praying for you. Was the cancer contained?

I don't really know much. I"m meeting with the surgeon today. He really freaked me out yesterday. He told me i'll probably need another surgery and i'm not going to die. but how can you really think you arent. i'm only 26 years old. and this is killing me right now. i'm trying to stay positive. i have a mother who fought cancer at 46 and won! i just hope i'm as lucky. i won't really know much until after today. i'm nervous.

I am seeing a surgeon in four days to schedule a needle localization biopsy because of microcalcifications. Does anyone know how doctors determine what type of biopsy is needed. After spending a lot of time on the internet (probably too much time!) I'm really confused about all the different types of biopsies. The one they've chosen for me seems pretty invasive. Maybe I should be thinking it's good to be aggressive, but then I start wondering WHY they want to be so aggressive!
Thanks,
Laura

I had a wire guided excisional biopsy on the 23 of Jan. and for me they had to do that type of biopsy because of where the microcalcifications were located, they were pretty close to the chest wall, and also I think it depends on their size.

Thanks for your reply! What was the recovery time for your biopsy? Will I be able to go back to work the next day, or would you suggest taking some time off? Also, were you sedated for the operation or were you sleeping?
Thanks!

My recovery time was a few days and I still am alittle tender, but I don't think you are having the same kind of biopsy that I had. I had a wire guided biopsy where I had to go have two wires inserted first so they knew where the tissue was that needed to come out. Good luck and let me know how it goes!! Even mine was know big deal , except waiting for the results which were good!!

Sorry, Yes I was completely asleep for the surgery

I had a needle biopsy 2 years ago. Dr. said it looked benign & thank god it was. The procedure was not bad at all. Try to keep positive thoughts. Good Luck

Did you have your biopsy? Microcalcifications are dispersed and not as easy to id as say "a lump." A larger biopsy has to be done to "sample" the area. Hope if went fine for you. I had the same sort of procedure.

SLJ - haven't heard from you since your last post. How are you doing? Please update us. Thanks.

Thanks for your reply. I'm scheduled for Wednesday. The surgeon took a lot of time to show me my films. I have quite a few individual calcifications, many of which are large and therefore not suspicious. I have one small area where they are really close together. That's the area she'll remove. I'm fortunate to have not been very nervous throughout this waiting period. It's surprising since I usually am a BIG worrywart.......I'm realizing I worry much more about other people's business than my own!! Having information really helps put things in perspective....communticating with others who have gone through it, I think, is especially helpful.
Thanks again!

hi, i read the posts here when i found out i had to go have a excisional biopsy with needle localization. I am also an RN which did not help the anxiety level i was feeling. I had it done at the hospital ( outpatient). i was a wreck could not sleep for the past week and a half. just wanted to say the needle localization was not at all what i expected.i had a radiologist tech that stayed with me thru the radiology testing. it went smooth just one little stick.i had anticipated the worst. have such a fear of needles ....after the needle localization i went for a mammogram to make sure the wire was in the right spot.the surgery and post op went smoothly. the day of surgery i was up and out shopping afterwards .felt fine and by the next day i was back to normal.would not know i had anything done at all. small suture area. the hardest part is the waiting till Tuesday for the results.just got to hope for the best.i hope i may be able to alleviate someones level of anxiety by telling of my experience...:) :)

They're going in to take a look, see where the margins of the tumor are, if it is contained (in situ), or outside the margins. Its in your best interest. I know its scary. They'll do a path on it and see what kind of breast cancer it is (there are several types and each one has a "personality" and likes to do different things). You'll need to know what kind you have so you can learn about it and make good decisions in your treatment. Its key in survival. I'll be 16 years out this July and am doing fine. A loss of breast tissue - life. Reconstruction can be done with good results. Keep us posted please. Prayers for you.

My thoughts are with you too. Please keep us posted. When I had the needle wire biopsies I was pretty emotional about it and no localization was used, but I was anesthesized for the biopsy part and all in all it was okay and just about a 1 1\2" incision w/ stitches covered by dressing. Tylenol for pain was fine and I just had to watch activities while I healed. I was in hospital initially for a hysty and while on the table had the LB biopsy. Two weeks later came back into hospital for MRM of LB for stage 1 in-situ comedo carcinoma. Two years later back in for simple mastectomy for multiple calcifications and lobular hyperplasia in which enlarged lymphs found. I'm still here after 16 years and doing fine. Ya'll hang in there. Take each day, one foot after the other. Sometimes you think you're sailing along fine, and out from behind a wall you'll get hit with a brick and emotions get you going Its normal. This is a lot to handle. As women we tend to put ourselves last behind caring for everyone else. This is a time for YOU. And as nurses (I'm an RN) we care for others before ourselves too. We have to remember if we dont' take care of ourselves, we can't take care of others. Love and hugs.

Well, just one more day to wait. I had my biopsy done last Wednesday. The actual procedure was pretty straightforward...what I expected. Unfortunately, I had some big problems with my blood pressure and that complicated things from the start. My BP dropped to 80/50 and it took about 45 minutes to get it up to 108. (It's usually 120/70!) The anesthesiologist was really cautious and made me go to mammography on a stretcher! (I found out later from the nurses that he was retiring two days later and didn't want a bad result on his last week of work!) Anyway, thank goodness for the nurses who got me through the whole thing! Hopefully, my results will be ready tomorrow. I don't feel like I'm nervous, but I also can't sleep......hmmm, wonder why!!

Hello again. just wanted to give an update. The incision is healing nicely. the stress level these past four days was thru the roof .i wish they did not make you wait for the results..I was relieved to get good news today it was only a cyst..I felt a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders . the whole experience makes you look at your life differently....my prayers are with all of you who are going thru it also

Hello again, I had a wire guided biopsy in Jan. which went fine, but I think my surgeon might have left alittle bit of the wire in the breast, I can see two little black spots, that I thought would go away, does anyone know if this is some sort of marker in case there had been something wrong where he would have to go back in?

Hello again, I had a wire guided biopsy in Jan. which went fine, but I think my surgeon might have left alittle bit of the wire in the breast, I can see two little black spots, (that I thought would go away,) does anyone know if this is some sort of marker in case there had been something wrong where he would have to go back in?

boodle2
When the radiologist has the needle in the correct place he may inject a blue dye (some Rad don't). Then he inserts the guide wire down the needle and pulls out the needle. This leaves the wire for the surgeon to follow. The blue dye is there for the surgeon to find the exact spot. Sometimes the wire can travel out of the exact area and the dye ensures the surgeon has that area.
I would bet that is what you are seeing. If it is part of the wire it will sure show on your next mammo and you will know for sure.
Newfie11

Thank you, but could it still be the dye after a month?

My mistake I mean it has been 2 months.

You bet! It is a stain.
Newfie11

Thank you, that is good to know!

i had one yesterday my inscion is about 5in and looks pretty deep . it was 0.3m but i have silver looking thread from stiches ?????? it this the guide wire? didn't get to talk to surgeon, i am going back this thursday for results??