biopsy

babs49242 said:

Arlene~ I got this info from webmd.com
A biopsy is the removal of cells or tissue from a suspicious mass. The tissue or cells are then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells. A biopsy may be performed when an abnormal breast change is found during a mammogram, ultrasound or physical examination. A biopsy is the only way to determine if a potential trouble spot is cancerous or benign.

There are many types of biopsy procedures. The method recommended by your doctor will depend on how large the breast lump or abnormal area is; where in the breast it is located; how many lumps or abnormal areas -- such as suspicious calcifications -- are present; if you have any other medical problems; and what your personal preferences are.What Are the Types of Biopsies?
The types of biopsies include:

Fine needle aspiration (FNA): A non-surgical form of breast biopsy in which a small needle is used to withdraw a sample of cells from the breast lump. If the lump is a cyst (fluid-filled sac), removal of the fluid will cause the cyst to collapse. If the lump is solid, cells can be smeared onto slides for examination.
Core biopsy: Similar to FNA, but a larger needle is used because actual breast tissue is removed, rather than a tiny sampling of cells. A sample of the lump is removed, but not the entire lump. The types of core biopsies include ultrasound-guided core biopsy and stereotactic biopsy.
Ultrasound-guided core biopsy: This technique obtains breast tissue without surgery. A biopsy needle is placed into the breast tissue. Ultrasound helps confirm correct needle placement -- using sound waves reflected off breast tissue -- so the exact location of the abnormality is biopsied. Ultrasound can distinguish many benign lesions, such as fluid-filled cysts, from solid lesions. Tissue samples are then taken through the needle.
Stereotactic biopsy: This involves centering the area to be tested in the window of a specially designed instrument. Mammogram films called SCOUT films are taken so the radiologist can examine the breast tissue. Using a local anesthetic, the radiologist makes a small opening in the skin. A sterile biopsy needle is placed into the breast tissue area to be biopsied. Computerized pictures help confirm the exact needle placement. Tissue samples are taken through the needle. It is common to take multiple tissue samples (about three to five).
Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy.
Open excisional biopsy: Surgical removal of the entire lump. The tissue is then studied under a microscope. If a rim of normal breast tissue is taken all the way around a lump (called a lumpectomy), then the biopsy can also serve as part of breast cancer treatment (removal of the cancerous tumor). This is sometimes done with wire localization. In this technique, a wire is inserted through a needle into the area to be biopsied. An X-ray is taken to make sure it is in the right place. A small hook at the end of the wire keeps it in position. The surgeon uses this wire as a guide to locate the abnormal tissue to be removed.
Sentinel node biopsy:A newer biopsy method can be used to pinpoint the first lymph node into which a tumor drains (called the sentinel node) and remove only the nodes most likely to contain cancer cells. To locate the sentinel node, a radioactive tracer, a blue dye or both are injected into the area around the tumor before a mastectomy is performed. The tracer travels the same path to the lymph nodes that the cancer cells would take, making it possible for the surgeon to determine the one or two nodes most likely to test positive for cancer.
Cells or tissues that are removed using any of the methods described above are given to a pathologist, a physician who specializes in diagnosing abnormal tissue changes.

How Do I Take Care of Myself After a Surgical Biopsy?
You may be wearing a special bra and dressings over the biopsy site after the procedure. You will be able to remove these two days after the biopsy. Small tapes or possibly stitches will remain over the incision site; do not remove these yourself. They will be removed at your follow-up appointment.

You may be asked to apply medicines or ice to the biopsy area or change the bandages at home. Your doctor will advise you about showering, bathing and wound care.

You will be given a prescription for pain relief after the procedure. But you may take an over-the counter pain reliever if that provides sufficient relief. Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin for the first three days after the procedure.

The area of the biopsy may be black and blue right after the procedure. This will go away in a few days.

cabbott said:

My stereotactic biopsy took about an hour of my time. I definately needed someone to drive me there and back(my mom volunteered) as I was a bundle of nerves. One of the assistants was a personal friend and she assured me that it was nothing to be scared of(she was right!). I had to lay on a stainless steel table on my belly that had a hole in it for my breast to hang through. The staff positioned me with pillows so that I would be "comfortable". Then they raised the table so the doctor could work sitting below the table. The injection for the pain felt like a bee sting for a count of 5. After that, nothing hurt though I knew they were working on things I'd rather not see! Ah, if you position yourself just so you can see, but I don't recommend it for jelly bellies like me. As I said, I was a bundle of nerves. They took some mammograms to position things and wheeled over something that looked remarkably like a machine gun on wheels--sterile of course--and used the information from the mammograms to aim it. The machine "shot" a needle just to the spot and then a vaccum assisted device sucked out some core pieces of tissue. The "shot" sounded loud and felt like a rubberband hitting my breast. The tissue removal was essentially painless. At one point I felt something like someone pulling one hair out and I mentioned it. The doctor gave me another pain shot, but this one didn't hurt at all. After that he took several more samples (7 in all) and none hurt even a little bit. Then he wiped me off (that's when I peeked and wished I hadn't!), made a stitch or two I think, and patched the spot with a bandaid. I had to sit up after that for 15 minutes to make sure I was okay to go home. I was about to pass out from relief that it really hadn't been that bad. After about an hour or two my knees stopping quivering and I went for a 3 mile walk. I am very light skinned and drink way too much tea which probably thins my blood. But whether it was that or some other reason, my breast turned a strange shade of alien blue that had just started to fade when the path report came back two weeks later. Some folks don't bruise at all. I bruised magnificently! But nothing really hurt and nothing was really worth getting panicked over, even though I was a basketcase! The advantage of a stereotactic biopsy is that it takes much less tissue than an excisional biopsy and that causes less scarring. It also takes less drugs, which means less side effects. It can be problematic if you have neck or back problems, but it works well with most folks of any age. Good luck!