Anyone had a tit biopsy?

[Seshat]

Just want patient-to-patient experience here.

At my last mammogram/ultrasound breast check, they found a pair of cysts in my right breast which they want to take out and hand to the pathologists. They're almost certainly benign - just nothing important - but they're significant enough to have pathologists check.

So: what happens when they do a biopsy? Does it hurt afterwards? (More than just a cut, I mean. Obviously they have to put at least a small cut in your breast.)

How scary is it? I mean, there's the huge 'C' word sitting there in the back of your mind and you have to keep reminding yourself that this is just early-detection protocol and it's almost certain that there's nothing there.

But how bad is the procedure itself? What can any of you tell me about what happens?

Um. I'm babbling. I seem to be nervous. Please help me be less nervous.

[snugglegirl05]

I had a biopsy done on my right breast back in 2009. There were no cysts. There was something different. I cannot remember exactly the reason for the biopsy.

I remember having to sit up when I was getting the anesthesia. I ended up feeling faint while that was happening. So the entire procedure including the anesthesia had to be done lying down.

I was nervous because like you I did not want the outcome to be cancer. Luckily it was not cancer.

A needle was inserted into my right breast to extract the suspicious looking cells.

I went to work the next day, but I was still groggy. So if need be, I would take 2 days off instead of one *that is if you only take one day off and go to work the next day*

Try your best to stay calm before and after the procedure. Meditate, think of something peaceful. Do activities that take your mind off of what you are experiencing.

[firecat88]

*hugs* I had a biopsy a couple-a years ago. It was probably one of the easiest surgeries I've had. It was very quick and I was able to go home the same day. The worst part, for me, was changing the wound dressing on the incision. However, mine was kind of a special case because of everything else that had been going on/led up to me needing the biopsy in the first place.

[Seshat]

Thank you, both of you.

I don't know if this will be a needle or an incision biopsy. However, if it is an incision one, I will have Bast on hand to change dressings: I won't have to try to play three-armed monkey on myself.

(It's wonderful to have Toth and Bast in my life. )

If anyone else cares to share their experiences, please do. I already feel better having read snugglegirl and firecat's responses.

[Teefies2]

I have had biopsies in both breasts. Thankfully, neither one was cancer. I agree with the person who says take an additional day off if you can. You'll be groggy after the biopsy, and sometimes that effect can last into the next day.

The actual cut itself isn't bad. I have two VERY tiny scars, one on each breast. My surgeon was kind enough to cut right at the line of the .... what's it called? the brown part? aerola? So, you'd have to know what you were looking for to see mine. Ask if that can be done for you too.

Good luck. The great majority of the time, these turn out to be nothing. BTW, I just had a mammogram - I am 16 years past the last biopsy and still cancer free!

[Seshat]

May you never need another biopsy, and may all your mammograms and ultrasounds be clear of cancer.


And thank you. I will definitely check to see if the areola option is viable.

[Yfandes]

As a breast cancer survivor I've had more biopsies than you can shake a stick at. I don't remember any of them being particularly awful, until they got to the radioactive tagging, and that would have been fine if they had been prepared with the topical anesthetic as requested.

So my only suggestion is to harp on the topical anesthetic (if warranted) as much as you can (both the rub on liquid and injected) - it makes everything better. Overplay your pain reaction if necessary

None of my biopsies left very noticeable scars, and wound treatment was like a band aid.

For cysts, once they find out they are benign, it helps me a lot of they can aspirate them when they "reinflate" after months/ years (otherwise that area is tender). Plus its good they can check what they aspirate.

Good luck and baby yourself!

[LesserSouthernFroglet]

I've had a needle biopsy done - in the specialist's rooms with no anaesthetic at all. It was quick, relatively painless and barely needed a dot bandaid to cover it. It was less uncomfortable than the flu injection (although the target site is a lot more delicate!)

If they do an open biopsy the incision is usually on the areola line. It's also more common these days to have a local anaesthetic infiltration on surgical sites, which greatly reduces the pain and discomfort afterwards.

Good luck Seshat! It's a scary, scary time, I know. Look after yourself!