Surgical Biopsy

I am scheduled for a surgical biopsy on July 14th and don't know what to expect. Seems like everyone I know that has had a problem had the needle aspiration. I was told it would bleed to much so I have to have surgery.  Is there much pain afterword? Can you wear a bra or is there a certain kind/type I should wear? How many days off from work would I need? I was told I could go back the next day but I sure don't want to go back braless. I feel like I pulled the short end of the straw since I don't know anyone that has had this done so I don't know what to expect. On July 23rd my husband is having the seeds done for prostate cancer we found out he had last month. When it rains it pours around here. Thank you for your help ladies.

I had the surgical biopsy and it was quite easy for me. Keep in mind that we all may have different experiences with surgery. You'll probably be more comfortable wearing a bra for a few days, without wire. You'll want the support, as when the breast pulls down with gravity, you may feel discomfort. I just took OTC pain pills, did not need anything stronger, and I went back to work the next day. That may also depend on what kind of job you have. I have an office job where there is no physical lifting. It may be hard to lift and hold heavy things for a while. I used a small pillow at night, as I sleep on my side and I needed support for my arm so it would not rest on my breast.
80% of breast tumors are benign, so here's hoping yours is too!

Thank you for your input ladies. The wire guided part before the surgery really has me on edge. I will let you know how it truns out.   

 

Thank you Lauri,

My surgeon said he never misses, sure hope he's right This has to be with a wire guide as there is no lump and it's close to the chest wall which is why they couldn't do a needle biopsy.

I had an ultrasound guided breast biopsy on July 10. It was not bad at all. They deadend the skin and after applied a small sugrie-strip. I have a little discomfort, but it isn't constant. Sad to say I have what is called infilterating ductal carcinoma grade 3 0f 3. Whatever all that means. I see the breast surgeon Wednesday. My daughter will be here to go with me. I have a surgeon that specializes in breast surgery. That helps. I pray it's not in my lymph nods. Best of luck on your biopsy and also to your husband. Dee

Well, after so long I've decided to write again. I wasn't sure about it, as everything came back negative from my excisional biopsy (the lump turned out to be a fibroadenoma) and I almost felt ashamed to say it after reading how many of you get bad news from the biopsy. But I just wanted to say, for those that have to go through it, that everything went so well with the doctor and the nurses, that I'm happy I did not have to wait and see is the lump changed before deciding to have a biopsy. Another thing, beside all the anxiety of waiting first for the surgery, then for the results, is that I found myself worrying about my family, not about myself, if the lump turned to be BC. I know that fibroadenomas tend to form again, so I'll probably have to endure all this again, thinking it's something bad (I know women with fibroadenomas have twice the chance to get BC). It also tells me that at almost 40 I might be getting into premenopause :). Anyways, I just wanted to say good luck to everybody in the forum, those who have to go through all the tests and waiting, and those that go through treatment. I'll keep reading the posts!

Thanks

Beti

Beti,

 

Do not feel ashamed to tell us you don't have BC.  We, of all people, rejoice when we hear those words.  I am very happy for you.  As Judy said, stay on top of your health, because no one else will.  I wish you a very happy, cancer-free life.

Thank you very much for your words! I did lose a very close friend because of BC (tomorrow would be her birthday) because I think she did not have the proper treatment, according to her age and type of cancer. I hope that all the advice you give here could reach even more people.
I also wanted to mention that I had a lot of support from my partner, you will laugh, but he kind of found the lump, and encourage me to go to the doctor right away (I was planning to wait for a couple of months to see if the lump went away), and having all my family far away (South America) that meant so much!
I think going through this will also help me provide support to other women. One of my cousins has a similar problem, and she basically freaked out when she heard about fibroadenoma, because she has several. If any of you has any more info (besides what can be found online) or a very good site to check, I'll really appreciate the info.

Abrazos (hugs, in spanish)

Beti