Stereotactic biopsy

SusanAnne
SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My cousin, who helped me tremendously during my long treatment & recovery, had a stereotactic biopsy a few days ago and said it was the worst experience ever. She had 6 samples taken from one site and numerous tries to take samples from a second site to no avail. She was there over 2 hours and then developed an infection a day or two later. It was very painful for her and she now has to wait 10 days for results. Is all this typical? I've only had surgical or fine needle aspirations so I have no clue. Any info would be helpful, thanks.
Susan

Comments

  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #2
    Susan,

    I've often felt that this relatively NEW procedure will one day prove to be a spreader of cancer. It will be interesting if in 10-20 years they find recurrence corresponds to stereotactic biopsy. I posted this in another post several months ago. Would advise you not to show your cousin this info now. Since you have a close relationship just warn her to always be VERY aware of unusual symptoms.

    http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content/interventional/breast_biopsy_xr.htm

    Good Luck to her - and thanks to you for your many helpful messages to me.

    Jean
  • seeknpeace
    seeknpeace Member Posts: 259
    #3
    Hi...I too had this procedure, followed by a bilateral mastec. w/tram flap.

    For me, this was horrific. The pain was almost unbearable. The numbing did not work, I felt every minute of it and the doctor and technician could of cared less.

    I too think that this procedure will be under scrutiny in years to come. One thing that bothers me is why they take so long to give results. I had mine in one day.
  • Mbladet
    Mbladet Member Posts: 12
    #4
    I had a SBx July 14th. Although the position wasn't the most comfortable, there really wasn't much pain. I got a hematoma which turned parts of my breast blue for a while but thankfully no infection,

    I agree with the worry that the Sbx spreads cancer. I am a nurse and it seems to me if the duct was transected then that opens the door for the cancer cells to wander to other parts of your breast and lymphs. My oncology surgeon swore that wasn't true but I am not convinced. I am scheduled for a double mastectomy with tissue expander reconstruction tomorrow. Can't wait to get the cancer out of me and hopefully the lymphs will be negative. Still need chemo Her2 3+ ER/PR negative
  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
    #5
    Mbladet said:

    I had a SBx July 14th. Although the position wasn't the most comfortable, there really wasn't much pain. I got a hematoma which turned parts of my breast blue for a while but thankfully no infection,

    I agree with the worry that the Sbx spreads cancer. I am a nurse and it seems to me if the duct was transected then that opens the door for the cancer cells to wander to other parts of your breast and lymphs. My oncology surgeon swore that wasn't true but I am not convinced. I am scheduled for a double mastectomy with tissue expander reconstruction tomorrow. Can't wait to get the cancer out of me and hopefully the lymphs will be negative. Still need chemo Her2 3+ ER/PR negative

    Thank you ladies for your replies. It also turns out that the facility where the biopsy was done had just gotten the machinery so I'm sure that their inexperience played a part in the result. Unfortunately, the view that these biopsies can be responsible for further spreading cancer cells is something I've been hearing a lot about lately. That puts us in such a dilema as to how to proceed.

    Mbladet, good luck to you on your surgery tomorrow. Have you looked into trials with Herceptin? I just finished one. Contact me anytime if you'd like info.
    Susan
  • seeknpeace
    seeknpeace Member Posts: 259
    #6
    I am with all of you and your views about this biopsy. It makes no sense to me that they could cut a gaping hole into the cancerous duct, thereby exposing unexposed tissue to your cancer, and it not be worrisome. My docs insist that this is the best and safest. Seems that their thinking is that because a slicer/dicer comes out of the bottom cuts, and then retracts back into the needle, pulling the part that was exposed to the cells back into a space that closes up. When they remove the needle, there should not be any cells on it to deliver to the breast in that process.

    Ok, fine, but, that gaping hole,,,,no one will address or respond to it. We have micro blood vessels in there, and the lymphatic system is not the only means of metastasis, so that scares me. My cancer 2.5 cm and was estrogen/prog. negative and it was high nuclear grade comedo with extensive necrosis...very aggressive, ready to go any moment. That kind of cell exposed to surrounding tissue makes me uncomfortable, even though they found no spread in the sentinel node biopsy, which is new too. I hope that they do not come out in a few years and say it was not the miracle test that they thought it was. I am just a worry wart. I need some time between me and my cancer to be able to breathe easier.

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