Wire-localized biopsy/lumpectomy

abrub
abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
My MRI showed only the 2 masses that had been spotted on my mammo and u/s (one lump on each). Now I'm scheduled for surgery to remove both masses on Tuesday. My dr says there will be a needle-wire localization placement into each mass before surgery. Can anyone tell me what to expect?

Thanks!
Alice
«1

Comments

  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    Wire localization
    Hi, Alice -

    I had lumpectomies to both breasts at the same time, and had wire localizations to each. They're done exactly the same way your biopsies were done (either ultrasound-guided or stereotactic, however, your biopsy was done), except that, once the needle is positioned, instead of taking a sample, the radiologist inserts a thin wire that stays in your breast until surgery. The wire serves as "runway lights" (my radiologist's analogy) for the surgeon, so he/she knows where to go.

    It's not nearly as Frankenstein-ish as it sounds -- well okay, maybe it is, but they give you lots of local anesthesia, don't be shy about asking for more. I was wheeled all over the hospital for hours after the wires were positioned, and didn't feel anything.

    Just FYI, wire localization is only used for lumpectomies -- so, if you get a few mystified responses to your posting, they'll probably be from women who had mastectomies. We usually get some confusion about this when we start talking about wire localization.

    Traci
  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    Good Luck Alice
    The ones I had were a miss 50% of the time. It wasn't pleasant but nothing to stress about. If your MRI was accurate you should be fine! It shouldn't affect your ice-sweeping either.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    TraciInLA said:

    Wire localization
    Hi, Alice -

    I had lumpectomies to both breasts at the same time, and had wire localizations to each. They're done exactly the same way your biopsies were done (either ultrasound-guided or stereotactic, however, your biopsy was done), except that, once the needle is positioned, instead of taking a sample, the radiologist inserts a thin wire that stays in your breast until surgery. The wire serves as "runway lights" (my radiologist's analogy) for the surgeon, so he/she knows where to go.

    It's not nearly as Frankenstein-ish as it sounds -- well okay, maybe it is, but they give you lots of local anesthesia, don't be shy about asking for more. I was wheeled all over the hospital for hours after the wires were positioned, and didn't feel anything.

    Just FYI, wire localization is only used for lumpectomies -- so, if you get a few mystified responses to your posting, they'll probably be from women who had mastectomies. We usually get some confusion about this when we start talking about wire localization.

    Traci

    I had the wire placed,
    I had the wire placed, guided by an ultrasound. It didn't hurt, as, they numbed me first, so, just the sting for a second of the first shot to numb me. It is like Traci wrote, to show the surgeon where the lump is. I also had a lumpectomy.

    Be sure and ask them to numb you. There's no reason not to be pain free.


    Good luck,

    Jan
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    I had this done as well-mine
    I had this done as well-mine was done in mammo type gadget-I wanted to some meds to make me loopy but I was told I COULD NOT. IT did not hurt but not pleasant of course. With me the put some kind of CONE and I had to lay without moving arm etc..until surgery (not a long time)

    Denise
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    Kayak
    I don't know how to do

    Kayak

    I don't know how to do PM.

    Just noticed you pix...we just went on great kayak trip in Vt-fall leaves were so pretty..

    Denise
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member

    Kayak
    I don't know how to do

    Kayak

    I don't know how to do PM.

    Just noticed you pix...we just went on great kayak trip in Vt-fall leaves were so pretty..

    Denise

    I had the wire done, did not
    I had the wire done, did not hurt at all. Good luck. Hugs
    Kathy
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member

    Kayak
    I don't know how to do

    Kayak

    I don't know how to do PM.

    Just noticed you pix...we just went on great kayak trip in Vt-fall leaves were so pretty..

    Denise

    Kayaking
    Yes, I love kayaking, and the freedom of being on the water in silence.

    Most recently, tho, I was part of a group of 130 kayakers in a fundraiser for Mesothelioma. Here's a link to a photo: http://csn.cancer.org/node/247492

    Enjoy the water!

    Oh, and to PM, click on CSN Email in the upper left box.
    Select "New Message" and put in my user name "abrub" (or whomever you'd like to message.)

    best,
    Alice
  • kacee999
    kacee999 Member Posts: 110
    Wire
    I had this done at my biopsy. The folks were wonderful and the doctor who did it was a doll. I had local anesthetic and it was basically a no-brainer. Almost no pain at all. Had one little "twinge" when he inserted the wire, and he immediately gave me another injection and it was completely gone. The biopsy was not a big deal at ALL.
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    I had my wire localization
    I had my wire localization done by mammogram. My radiologist likes to use the mammogram cuz it holds the breast in place.

    I checked into outpatient surgery, gowned up, and was wheeled up to the radiology dept.They numbed me up really good, I never felt a thing.They had three people in the room. One wonderful older lady was there just to keep an arm around me and keep me calm.

    I never felt the wires go in, but if you get it done this way, don't look down if you don't want to see quite a bit of blood. I looked down and got immediate more anxiety when I saw the blood.

    When I was done, they sat me in the wheel chair and used a special type of cloth tape to hold the wires that were sticking out down. They wheeled me back down and I waited for the surgery.

    I had a lot of pain after my lumpectomy. A lot of women don't, but everyone is different.

    They told me to wear a sports like bra after for support, but I had no income at the time and couldn't get one, so I had to wear what I had. I could really feel the pain for the first two to three weeks. When I would stand up, the pressure of my breast hanging and gravity was terrible.

    I hope yours goes without a hitch and little pain and a fast recovery!
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member

    I had my wire localization
    I had my wire localization done by mammogram. My radiologist likes to use the mammogram cuz it holds the breast in place.

    I checked into outpatient surgery, gowned up, and was wheeled up to the radiology dept.They numbed me up really good, I never felt a thing.They had three people in the room. One wonderful older lady was there just to keep an arm around me and keep me calm.

    I never felt the wires go in, but if you get it done this way, don't look down if you don't want to see quite a bit of blood. I looked down and got immediate more anxiety when I saw the blood.

    When I was done, they sat me in the wheel chair and used a special type of cloth tape to hold the wires that were sticking out down. They wheeled me back down and I waited for the surgery.

    I had a lot of pain after my lumpectomy. A lot of women don't, but everyone is different.

    They told me to wear a sports like bra after for support, but I had no income at the time and couldn't get one, so I had to wear what I had. I could really feel the pain for the first two to three weeks. When I would stand up, the pressure of my breast hanging and gravity was terrible.

    I hope yours goes without a hitch and little pain and a fast recovery!

    This sounds like what they are planning for me
    I now know that the wires (2 of them, there are 2 lumps) will be placed in mammography while my breast is compressed, after which I'll be brought back to the OR.

    I'm hoping for an easy recovery from the (double) lumpectomy, but I know that we are all different.

    News to follow on Tuesday or Wednesday (post-op when I feel up to getting back on the boards.)

    Thanks to all of you,

    Alice
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    Hello, Alice
    I also had the wire guided lumpectomy. While I didn't find it pleasant, it wasn't horrible, either. My surgeon was supposed to order Ativan for me, but forgot. I do wish he had though, since it took a little while and then I had to wait a bit for surgery. I had very little pain post surgery and never needed the pain meds.

    Remember, we are all different and while our cancers and treatments may be very similar, we may not have the same experience.

    Sue
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    sbmly53 said:

    Hello, Alice
    I also had the wire guided lumpectomy. While I didn't find it pleasant, it wasn't horrible, either. My surgeon was supposed to order Ativan for me, but forgot. I do wish he had though, since it took a little while and then I had to wait a bit for surgery. I had very little pain post surgery and never needed the pain meds.

    Remember, we are all different and while our cancers and treatments may be very similar, we may not have the same experience.

    Sue

    Alice,
    I will share with you

    Alice,
    I will share with you my experience. Remember that we are individuals and your experience may be different.
    I had lumpectomies on both breasts and also had wire localization. Mine were done with mammography. They had me sit in a chair as it takes a little time and they didn't want me to get light headed or faint. The compression on my breasts was not as hard as a mammogram but it was pressure of course. My breasts were numbed and I didn't feel anything other than the first numbing shot and my breasts went numb quickly so that didn't last long. I literally didn't feel anything. My surgeon prefers to have the needles left so after that put the needle in and then put in the wire they put sterile cups (like dixie cups) over each of the capped needles and taped them in place. This is so the needles are not jostled. When they wheeled me out I looked like Madonna with the coned boobs. My husband was sitting outside and just stared at the bulges. I laughed and said this is what happens when you have a bad boob job. From there I was wheeled over to the surgery unit. Before I had he wires placed I had the dye for the sentinal node biopsy. That was several shots around the nipple. For me, these stung but it also didn't last. Some facilities do this when you are under, some before, some numb the area, some do nt. Mine doesn't because they feel it inhibits the flow of the dye.. They had be massage my boobs to help it move along. It had this done about 1 hour before the wires were placed. I was very fortunate that I had little pain during any of this and very little after the lumpectomies. I didn't even use pain meds when I went one. A tylenol was all I needed. I hope that yours will go as well as mine did. Again, we all have different experiences even with similar treatments, surgeries etc. But it is good to hear from everyone as it will give you a general idea of what to expect.
    My prayers and good thoughts are with you.
  • fauxma said:

    Alice,
    I will share with you

    Alice,
    I will share with you my experience. Remember that we are individuals and your experience may be different.
    I had lumpectomies on both breasts and also had wire localization. Mine were done with mammography. They had me sit in a chair as it takes a little time and they didn't want me to get light headed or faint. The compression on my breasts was not as hard as a mammogram but it was pressure of course. My breasts were numbed and I didn't feel anything other than the first numbing shot and my breasts went numb quickly so that didn't last long. I literally didn't feel anything. My surgeon prefers to have the needles left so after that put the needle in and then put in the wire they put sterile cups (like dixie cups) over each of the capped needles and taped them in place. This is so the needles are not jostled. When they wheeled me out I looked like Madonna with the coned boobs. My husband was sitting outside and just stared at the bulges. I laughed and said this is what happens when you have a bad boob job. From there I was wheeled over to the surgery unit. Before I had he wires placed I had the dye for the sentinal node biopsy. That was several shots around the nipple. For me, these stung but it also didn't last. Some facilities do this when you are under, some before, some numb the area, some do nt. Mine doesn't because they feel it inhibits the flow of the dye.. They had be massage my boobs to help it move along. It had this done about 1 hour before the wires were placed. I was very fortunate that I had little pain during any of this and very little after the lumpectomies. I didn't even use pain meds when I went one. A tylenol was all I needed. I hope that yours will go as well as mine did. Again, we all have different experiences even with similar treatments, surgeries etc. But it is good to hear from everyone as it will give you a general idea of what to expect.
    My prayers and good thoughts are with you.

    Hi
    Hi Alice my name is Patricia and I just had that procedure done on 6/21/12 the same day as my surgery. It reallywas not bad because they numb the area real good. The only part I did not like was the amount of time I had to sit there with my boob in the mammogram machine. Thank god they numbed it. Good luck to you. There is a huge amount of support for you on this site. Hope all goes well for you.

    XOXO
    Patricia
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member

    Hi
    Hi Alice my name is Patricia and I just had that procedure done on 6/21/12 the same day as my surgery. It reallywas not bad because they numb the area real good. The only part I did not like was the amount of time I had to sit there with my boob in the mammogram machine. Thank god they numbed it. Good luck to you. There is a huge amount of support for you on this site. Hope all goes well for you.

    XOXO
    Patricia

    Alice
    My experience was right on with fauxma. You know your going to be fine. It's all doable. Hugs
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    abrub said:

    This sounds like what they are planning for me
    I now know that the wires (2 of them, there are 2 lumps) will be placed in mammography while my breast is compressed, after which I'll be brought back to the OR.

    I'm hoping for an easy recovery from the (double) lumpectomy, but I know that we are all different.

    News to follow on Tuesday or Wednesday (post-op when I feel up to getting back on the boards.)

    Thanks to all of you,

    Alice

    They used an ultrasound to
    They used an ultrasound to place the wire in me and they numbed my breast, so, it was painless. I pray you will have an easy recovery too.


    Good luck,

    Angie
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member

    Hi
    Hi Alice my name is Patricia and I just had that procedure done on 6/21/12 the same day as my surgery. It reallywas not bad because they numb the area real good. The only part I did not like was the amount of time I had to sit there with my boob in the mammogram machine. Thank god they numbed it. Good luck to you. There is a huge amount of support for you on this site. Hope all goes well for you.

    XOXO
    Patricia

    I agree with you...time
    I agree with you...time stuck in machine...i had someone holding my back to keep me forward...

    I read some posts where done prior....I cna't imagine since I had to lay still from wires in until surgery..must be more the one procedure

    Denise
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    abrub said:

    This sounds like what they are planning for me
    I now know that the wires (2 of them, there are 2 lumps) will be placed in mammography while my breast is compressed, after which I'll be brought back to the OR.

    I'm hoping for an easy recovery from the (double) lumpectomy, but I know that we are all different.

    News to follow on Tuesday or Wednesday (post-op when I feel up to getting back on the boards.)

    Thanks to all of you,

    Alice

    P.S.
    I forgot to add how weird it is to look down and see those wires sticking out of your breast!!

    Good luck this week!!!
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    fauxma said:

    Alice,
    I will share with you

    Alice,
    I will share with you my experience. Remember that we are individuals and your experience may be different.
    I had lumpectomies on both breasts and also had wire localization. Mine were done with mammography. They had me sit in a chair as it takes a little time and they didn't want me to get light headed or faint. The compression on my breasts was not as hard as a mammogram but it was pressure of course. My breasts were numbed and I didn't feel anything other than the first numbing shot and my breasts went numb quickly so that didn't last long. I literally didn't feel anything. My surgeon prefers to have the needles left so after that put the needle in and then put in the wire they put sterile cups (like dixie cups) over each of the capped needles and taped them in place. This is so the needles are not jostled. When they wheeled me out I looked like Madonna with the coned boobs. My husband was sitting outside and just stared at the bulges. I laughed and said this is what happens when you have a bad boob job. From there I was wheeled over to the surgery unit. Before I had he wires placed I had the dye for the sentinal node biopsy. That was several shots around the nipple. For me, these stung but it also didn't last. Some facilities do this when you are under, some before, some numb the area, some do nt. Mine doesn't because they feel it inhibits the flow of the dye.. They had be massage my boobs to help it move along. It had this done about 1 hour before the wires were placed. I was very fortunate that I had little pain during any of this and very little after the lumpectomies. I didn't even use pain meds when I went one. A tylenol was all I needed. I hope that yours will go as well as mine did. Again, we all have different experiences even with similar treatments, surgeries etc. But it is good to hear from everyone as it will give you a general idea of what to expect.
    My prayers and good thoughts are with you.

    Thinking of you Alice and
    Thinking of you Alice and praying your surgery went smoothly.


    Hugs, Megan
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member

    P.S.
    I forgot to add how weird it is to look down and see those wires sticking out of your breast!!

    Good luck this week!!!

    LOOK? no way...i don't look
    LOOK? no way...i don't look at anything..all i know is the put a big pointy cone over it so not to move (wires) said I looked like Madonna..hehe (mind you I am pretty small chested..!

    Hysterectomy 18 mths ago and have only LOOKED about 4 times..took months to look for first time...

    DW
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    Kat11 said:

    Alice
    My experience was right on with fauxma. You know your going to be fine. It's all doable. Hugs

    My experience was pretty
    My experience was pretty much like everyone else. You'll be fine! I will be praying for you!