excisional breast biopsy

[life6]

I am having an excisional breast biopsy.  Please explain what I should expect pre and post-op.  Thank you so much!

[Dr Santos]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about the pain you've went through.The goals of needle localization are to assist the surgeon in removing the breast mass accurately and to minimize the amount of tissue that must be sacrificed in the process.  Today it is most commonly performed with hook wires or retractable curved wires with imaging guidance provided by mammography or ultrasound.The risks of the procedure include: bleeding, dislodging of the needle, pneumothorax, infection and allergic reaction. Results from your surgeon should be in within 2 - 3 days after your biopsy or may take up to 10 days depending on the results or the hospital.  For whatever her reasons were, I think it would still have been appropriate for the nurse if she showed more sensitivity during the painful procedure. You can always mention this to your doctor if it bothers you so he can bring it up to the radiologist to prevent this from happening again.

Take care and please do update us on your biopsy result.  

[life6]

Hi Rowena,

Thanks for the post.  The biopsy itself was fine.  However, I had a needle localization (J wire) before the surgery itself.  This part was horrific!  The nurse put a local numbing solution on quickly with something like a square of cotton, all the while I was sitting and breast was compressed with a machine.  Then doctor (radiologist) comes immediately in and inserts a needle three different times, each time in a different spot and deeper and extremely painful.  I cried out in pain!  Never have had anything like this and I've had three children.  Then the doctor immediately leaves and the nurse says she'll be back in a few minutes, as she has to check to see if the mammogram picture is ok to take to the surgery.  When she returns and takes me out of the mammogram machine, I comment on the pain I had and she said something like, "I guess that comes with having this done" like no big deal.  I actually was angry later.  We treat our dogs better.  In the dentist's office, they always check after numbing and before starting the procedure to see if the numbing is working.  I don't see why in this day and age, pain should be part of this procedure.  I'm debating over whether to write a letter to the doctor who heads this radiology office.  Don't want to really create a scene, as I'll probablyu have a mammogram there at another date.  However...  I should mention that I had a stereotactic breast biopsy in this office 6 weeks ago.  At any rate, hoping to get the results soon.  Comments?

[Dr Santos]

Hi Ma'am,
How are you? How was your breast biopsy? it's been almost a week since your post. Please do update us with the biopsy result. Take care and all the best with your biopsy. God bless!

[life6]

Thank you, everyone, for your responses.  Keep me in your prayers, please!

[Dr Santos]

How are you? Patients are typically given detailed instructions by their physician and anesthesiologist in advance before your biopsy. Patients are usually advised not to wear talcum powder, deodorant, lotion, or perfume on the day of the biopsy. If you are taking any medications for other conditions, it is advisable to inform your doctor about it.

The scar from a surgical biopsy is typically small. The breast is cleaned and covered with special surgical drapes. You will be given a local anesthetic to the breast  or a combination of intravenous sedation with local anesthetic.the surgeon will attempt to completely remove the area of concern often along with a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue. The incision will be closed with suture material. If the suture material is absorbable, the stitches will usually dissolve on their own. However, if non-absorbable suture material is used, patients will need to have the stitches removed during a follow-up office visit. You have to change the dressing daily and pain medications are usually prescribed.

I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted with your biopsy.

[japdip]

Much the same for me but without the drain. Small incision 1-2 in. A little sore like with any cut, I was given an ice bag and like the previous poster, I didn't get my prescription for pain med. filled either. I did take a couple Tylenol and thought it was not a big deal also. I didn't remember anything either ... good luck with yours.

[Ray515]

Hi-
I had an excisional biopsy in April.  It is an outpatient procedure done under a 'twilight' sedation.  I walked into the operating room, the anesthetic nurse gave me some wonderful drug and that's all I remember until waking up as they were bandaging the area.  I was in postop for about an hour and then my hubby took me home.  I can honestly say that I had headaches that hurt worse than this surgery.  They sent me home with a prescription pain med but all I needed was a little Tylenol the first day or two.  I think I had one stitch and there was a small drain in place that drained any fluid directly into a gauze pad.  I had to change the bandage once a day or so.  It only kept me from my regular routine for a couple of days.

It wasn't a big deal for me at all.  I hope your's goes as well.