Scared with a few questions - Cancer: Breast Message Board

CoastieMom · 02-19-2009, 07:40 AM

Hello. Im 39 yrs old with a strong family history of breast cancer. my mother passed away Sept of 08 from breast cancer and my father's mother also had breast cancer but beat it. I went in for a mammogram 2 weeks ago the examination showed suspicious breast abnormality and was told i needed a Stereotactic biopsy so i went in 2 days ago for it but was unable to have it done since the abnormality is on the chest wall so now im waiting on an appointment for a needle Localization well Im scared to death and was wondering is someone who has gone through this can tell me what to expect and how painful it is? Thanks,Jen

leea1206 · 02-19-2009, 11:45 AM

Hi Jen-

I've had 2 different biopsys, but unsure if one of them was the needle biopsy.

I did have the steriotatic done in 2005. And then the 2nd one in 2006, which was like a core needle biopsy. For that one, they lay you on your back. They will numb the area. You feel pressure but not alot of pain. When they extract the tissue, it sounds like a "pop" and then it's over. They will tell give you an ice pack for the area and instruct, when home to use an "ice pack" (frozen peas work well) off and on for 24hrs or more.

It honestly isn't too bad. You will have bruising, of course, but this will improve. Some women get an rx for an anti-anxiety, like xanax, to calm their nerves. I always try to close my eyes and not pay any attention to what they are doing. - don't really want to see the needle. - Juest let them do their thing and it will be over in no time.

Hoping all will be beneign.
Leea

bypeep · 12-20-2009, 12:54 PM

I had an 18 gauge needle aspiration done in August. They were able to get tissue and fluid with it. I didn't have anything to numb my breast and to be honest, didn't feel anything but pressure and some strange popping, crunching as she penetrated the wall of my cyst. They didn't believe it was a cyst until this point because it was so firm and were only trying to get cells. Mine has a very hard shell. She called it a fibrous cyst.

I'm probably having it done again in a couple of weeks and I'm not nervous at all this time. But... this is probably slightly different than what you're having done. I wish you the absolute best!