HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

anxiety over having to have a stereotactic biopsy

Support Forums
>
Breast Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/13/2013 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I just 68 (yesterday) and had an abnormal mammo.  Got called back for magnified views and an ultrasound. A 9mm mass with spiculated edges showed (hard mass). I have to get a stereotactic biopsy but I have such extreme anxiety, I haven't even been able to make the appointment.  I don't know if I can lay still on the table on my stomach for an hour.  I am afraid with my nerves I will have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the procedure.  Help...anyone else this afraid?
Posted 8/15/2013 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Of course, I'm scheduling a biopsy and am terrified but I'm more afraid that my own body could be harming me. I hate it and am anxious as well but it has to be done. Just remember, it'll be over with soon and at least you will know what's going on :)
Posted 8/15/2013 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I still haven't made my appointment. I called my hmo primary dr. and asked for something to take to help with the nerves. Still scared as heck after reading my reports. Doesn't sound good.
Gizmosis, I hope your biopsy goes well.
Posted 8/16/2013 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gingerda,
I had a stereo biopsy around 2 weeks ago... You just have to try to find the most comfortable position and then hold it for the next 45 minutes to an hour. Try to breathe shallow but steadily so as not to have a panic attack in the middle of it. I faced away from the doctor and nurse so I can only hear them and not see what was going on. They will give you lots of local anesthesia and you will feel no pain while the tug and poke you for the biopsy. Truthfully the hardest part was the strained neck I got from the position... You have to slowly get out of the position so you won't hurt you neck further. Do keep on icing the area and after the meds wear off ... You will feel major soreness and some pain as if you got clobbered in the boobs but that lasted a couple of days ( Tylenol helps)
My biopsy unfortunately came back positive for DCIS so imbue for a lumpectomy... Good luck and just get it done and over with. 🙏
Posted 8/16/2013 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, JTQ. I finally got the courage to call to make the appt. and the radiologist who will do the procedure said he would rather do an ultrasound guided biopsy. So it has to go back to my dr. for a referral and then approval from insurance. It will be at least another week. I am hoping the ultrasound guided will be easier, as I will be on my back. Darn, I wish I wasn't such a chicken. I pretty much know my results will be bad, just from reading the reports so far. My mom had breast cancer at age 80.
I'm sorry you got a bad result. Good luck to you.
Posted 9/16/2013 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
I am scheduled for a stereotactic ultrasound guided biopsy in 4 days and I am completely terrified. I just found out last Friday that my mammogram revealed clustered microcalcifications but I didn't really ask all the questions I should have in the moment.  I didn't ask for my BiRads number .I have family history. Would they give this to me? I should just get a copy of my radiology report....have many phone calls to make now that Ive digested this. I have read so many horror stories about these biopsies that I am considering searching for a facility that will do it under conscious sedation. We all have enough to worry about without worrying that it will be a terribly painful procedure. Anybody else do this under twilight sleep??

Positive thoughts for all of us.....

Posted 9/16/2013 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Donna, I just read your post. I completely understand your fear.  When I got to the radiology center I tried to bribe my daughter into taking me back home. lol.  I had my biopsy 2 1/2 weeks ago. I took two Xanax and I was able to relax on the table. I think the ultrasound guided biopsy was easier for me to do since I could lay on my back.  The radiologist numbed my breast pretty good.  For me, the injections weren't very painful, a little stinging. Once numb, I didn't feel a thing.  It was over pretty quick.  Unfortunately, my pathology report came back showing invasive ductal carcinoma.  (I have a solid mass). I just went to see a surgeon a few days ago and now I am stressing out about having surgery.  I don't know how I will get over my fear to even show up at the surgery center.

As far as you having the stereotactic biopsy, I had that 14 years ago because my mammogram showed microcalcifications.  I took a valium and made it through ok.  I was a younger and it didn't really bother me to lay on my stomach for 45 minutes.  So I was somewhat relieved this time I could lay on my back and be comfortable. That time my pathology report showed lobular carcinoma in situ.  My dr. said it was not a true cancer and to just keep an eye on it with mammograms.  I guess that is debatable, depending on which dr. you talk to.  He said this cancer that I have now is not related to the LCIS.  Don't know what to believe. 

As far as your mammogram report, you can get it from your dr. or the radiology center where you had it done.

Honestly, as far as the biopsy goes, I can only speak for myself, that I worried about it for 3 weeks and made myself sick, and it was painless.  I don't like being put to sleep (that's why I am fearing the surgery) so I was glad I could be awake and just have the local for the biopsy.    Ask your dr. for a prescription for Xanax or Valium...it helps so much to calm you.  Positive thoughts for you too. 

Posted 9/18/2013 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I just had an ultrasound guided biopsy done. I too was anxious. I had my surgeon call me in some xanax. It worked wonders. The procedure itself is extremely easy. They did have difficulty getting my breast numb so I received a lot of injections. That was the worst part though. I didn't find laying there uncomfortable at all. As a matter of fact I had a warm blanket and a really soft pillow. It was very comfortable. The radiologist walked me through everything he was doing and because of my position I couldn't see anything. I didn't even feel tugging or anything. Probably because I was a little loopy from the meds. Just make sure you have a driver if you choose to take something to relax you. It was also nice because then I just slept off the xanax for the rest of the day until the next morning...Goodluck!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply