Pain during stereotactic breast biopsy

[Jeanne M]

ENoakes. I hope your next mammogram is o.k. and there is no sign of any cancer. A friend of mine that had the biopsy before me, did have cancer. She had a lumpectomy. She had a follow up mammagram 6 months later and was o.k. I just got another note from her recently to say she had another mammogram ( another 6 months after the other) and that one was o.k. too.

[Jeanne M]

Melanie313, When doing an internet search, I saw a picture of a woman lying on her side with breast between plates. It was a website with info on stereotactic procedure, so I guess, that it was an alternative to lying on stomach or sitting in a chair. I remember thinking at the time, it would have been a better fit for me as far as getting the right placement to include the area to be biopsied. I would think it would be a lot more comforable too.

[G.W.]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeanne M:
Sorry, this is long.....

Last fall, I had a stereotactic breast biopsy because 5-6 microcalcifications had been found on my mammogram the week before. I am 51, premenopausal and have small breasts.(34A then, but I have lost 20 pounds since) I am starting to feel anxious about doing another mammogram, even though it is 3 1/2 months away.

I had seen the mammogram films and was pretty sure biopsy was going to be negative. Surgeon even said he thought it was 90% chance of being negative. I had talked with someone who had had two stereotactic biopsies with no pain and I went thinking the procedure was going to be just fine....and no pain.
The tech tried 3 times to get enough breast tissue where microcalcifications were located....pulling and almost yanking before being compressed each time. She finally took the pad off the metal biospy table to get the 1/4 inch needed. I got to lie, skin on cold metal ....the surgeon's nurse found a rag to place under my cheek so the ridge on the table wouldn't hurt my cheek as much. Compression hurt a lot( pain level 6), but they said it had to be that way and not to move ever. I don't have a lot of padding on chest area...edge of hole in table was up against a bone on edge of breast.
I tried distraction to get away from the pain. I tried to do a watercolor painting in my head during precedure. I would get black and white trees and then try really hard to get color. Then tech would jar the table for some reason, and I would feel a lot of pain( zingers) on rib bone and then feel compression pain again....I then would try distraction again.
By this time, my arm on the opposite side of my breast being biopsied was falling asleep and was causing pain. I asked them to move it. Tech was opening upset about 'having' to move my arm.
Then the lidocaine didn't work in deeper tissue. I could feel slicing...and it was real pain, not numb pulling. Surgeon put more lidocaine down needle and proceded. More pain this time than the last. He put a little more licocaine in but said he couldn't do more because it would cloud field of vision. Waited about 30 seconds and proceded. I would feel a pain slice, quickly followed by numb slice as surgeon finished up. I didn't say a whole lot because I thought I HAD to go through the ordeal no matter what. I was so cold when procedure was over. As I was going through the door to leave, someone asked if I was alright. I said I felt wiped out, but I didn't turn around to say it. Someone laughed.
I didn't get the results until 7:30 pm 4 days later. I figured they were negative, because if they were positive, an appointment for further surgery would have been made ASAP. But I was crying daily from biopsy experience. On wound check 6 days after biopsy, I told surgeon I didn't think I would do that again. He got quiet and seemed to choose his words....then asked if I had problems with lidocaine at the dentist...shouldn't he have asked that before the procedure? ( I've been going to the same dentist for 20 years, but I have not needed a local for some time) I didn't think I had had as much pain as I had.

I was exhausted after the procedure and slept for 4 hours. Pain in breast after biopsy was at abut a 6-7...explosion going off in areas without lidocaine. I took 2 Tylenol. I kept ice on it for a long time. I went back to doing my normal activities the next day....milking and feeding a herd of 70 goats as I have a commercial dairy. I didn't do things I thought were out of ordinary daily work and what I considered to be strenuous. I had pain the breast for 6 weeks...was on 800 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours for 3 weeks
( after first week post biopsy) per my primary doctor's advice....had to find someone to help out with farm work. I went into a tailspin for a couple of months following this....
Oh, and I forgot to mention, about 3 days post procedure, there was something moving around in my breast....when I would move the arm on that side, I would experience a sensation much like when I was pregnant and the baby would move. What was this? I thought it was normal until I talked with person who'd had the same type of biopsy and found out it wasn't. It lasted about 7. Will that cause scar tissue that will look suspicious on next mammogram?

What can I do to alleviate this anxiety? I'm considering not doing mammogram so I won't have to think about ever having another biopsy .....but maybe next mammogram will be o.k.?

I've told my primary doctor about the lidocaine not working....not about the whole experience. I did call the head of radiography in March after I got enough courage and thought it would put an end to the anxiety. She as a bit defensive, said she would check it out and get back to me. She never got back to me.
Should I request to go to a different facility? My clinic is a part of Mayo healthcare systems, but Mayo Clinic, (Rochester, MN) is 40 miles away.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just had a stereotactic breast biopsy this morning. Besides the sting when he numbed the breast, it was painless. I had very nice nurses who asked me throughout the procedure how I was doing. I did feel some tugging on the breast, but again no pain whatsoever. Obviously going to the right facility can make a huge difference.

[PollyM]

I am anticipating a stereotactic biopsy very soon after microcalcifications were found on a recent mammogram. Will meet first with breast surgeon next week. Am very very anxious about all this.

[KatD]

I have been reading about various experiences with the sterotactic biopsy. I went into UCLA this mrning and they tried for 1 hour to get enough tisse compressed to do the biopsy. Becasue I am so small, they were unable to do it and suggeted an open surgical biopsy instead. I do not want to have surgey. I am very interested in knowing where those of you with very small breasts were able to have the sterotactic biospy done -- I am willing to travel to avoid surgey. Thanks in advance.

[tinamarie]

KatD.
Perhaps John Hopkins would be the best...or Cleveland Clinic? I don't know about Mayo Clinic. An anesthesiologist from my town went to Mayo in Rochester for her double mastectomy.

There is a breast forum John Hopkins ask an expert. You could post question there. http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/services/ask_expert/index.asp
If you want to travel there:
To call for an appointment 443-287-2778

[scotslady]

I had a stereotactic breast biopsy yesterday. I took a valium prior to the procedure on the advice of my internist. This was an excellent Breast Center. The Tech and the radiologist both top notch.
They gave me 2 shots of lidocaine prior to the core needle biopsy...burning but no big deal. I thought then she was going to do the biopsy but because the spot was so deep, she decided first to give me another shot of lidocaine. The doctor told me it would not hurt as I was already numb. But I could feel the needle go in and told her so....and then the most horrific pain I have ever felt...it was like someome with pliers was tearing my breast out. I held on to the pain for probaly 2 minutes. She then decompressed my breast from the mammogram machine (instant releif) and told me I could not tolerate the biopsy at this time. Did she hit a nerve, a blood vessel? I don't know but I do know that Lidocaine never numbed me. With all the advances in breast cancer treatment has made...this is barbaric.Sisters, we need painless treatment for all our biopsies. Why can't we have the same treatment colonospy patients get? The tech told me that many patients had the same reactions. I can return in 6 months for another mammogram OR have a surgeon take over...but with a surgeon I will still have to have the stereotactic biopsy first with a wire. I am tired of friends telling me about their painful biopsies, (needle or stereptactic) I am tired of friends that tell me before their masectomies that they have been injected painfully into their nipple region with no painkillers with a dye to check for cancer in the lymph nodes. Please do not tell me that you are sorry for what I went through. I have had 2 children by natural birth and would rather go through that again. For furthering breast treatment I urge you to call on your doctors and breast Centers for painless treatment in biopsies. Without that. many of us will never go back.

[Karen S]

So sorry others have had similar experiences to mine. I am also small with dense breasts. At age 51, my mammograms have all been totally negative. Last November a digital screening mammogram showed a 2 mm calcification. After s spot film showed the same I asked to see my film and a small more white spot showed up in both views. The Radiologist told me he wanted to do a biopsy. I thought no big deal(a also meant one to me) So I scheduled a core steriotactic (?spelling) biopsy for the following week.When I came in for the biopsy I asked numerious questions and was told it would only feel like a pinch for a minute. I was layed down on the steriotactic table and waited a bit for the clamps to be put on my breasts and the compression(both of which were slightly painful), skin prep then the lidocaine administration. This felt like putting rubbing alchol on a open wound. I then felt the "skin nick" they put in with a scalple. I immediately told the radiologist I felt that, its sharp. He didn't acknowledge my comment or presence for that matter.I must have moved around quite a bit by then(probably stupid with a 9 gauge needle in my breast)They had to reposition the films and my breast and take additional xrays.This was so unbelievably painful I couldn't even speak(yet alone ask them to stop) So I guess I'm not the only one who had a bad experience. The Radiologist yelled at me that I would tear if I moved again.
I called the department manager a few days later and told her about this. She was pretty unsympathetic and implied I must be a real wimp. I told her that I've been a RN for 30 years, have had several surguries, tons of dental work, biopsies of other body parts and have never felt pain that what I felt during the core biopsy.So no, I would never have this again.
About 6 weeks later I spoke with the patient relations department at the hospital where I had this done. This person thanked me for the feedback and said they were going to investigate what happened. She was also pretty understanding of what happened and why it made me so upset.
The results were totally benign breast tissue.

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[ezia]

First off when I had my mammo done the tech showed me my films and then hugged me and told me to go and do whatever my husband and I ever wanted to do in our lives NOW! She told me to go through each and every chemo no matter how sick I was and never miss and told me to call my husband after I would see the radiologist. She then told me to read an article while waiting to talk with the radiologist and to please not tell him any of this because she'd get in trouble. I was in shock, I guess, and did as told and the moment I phoned my husband I broke down. She in her own way led me to believe it was BAD! Then I went to the best place(so they said)and I too had a horrible experience during a stereotactic at John Hopkin's!! It and they treated me terribly! I have a very high threshold for pain. I also did not move nor complain to them during the procedure. The xray tech adamantly told the Dr. to stop several times due to the fact she thought something was wrong,he told her nothing was wrong and continued.She walked around the table to look at my face and ask if I could feel the procedure. My tears apparently had made my mascara run and she didn't even wait for an answer. She told the Dr. to stop! He wouldn't and as soon as she was finished she walked out and said
"she couldn't take it anymore"! There's so much more with the way they left me there alone and then continued to trest me with such direspect . In a mean tone of voice the other tech told me to go was my face before I scare other people and also she was upset that my procedure took longer than expected and said I caused a back-up and now they all had to scramble. She told me to leave because I was finished and I knew the Dr. said I was to have an exit mammo so I enquired about that and she said "well i don't have time I have my own patient!" It wasn't my fault that my tech walked out! So someone else asked what I was waiting for and I told them and she said to hurry over to her and she would do it. I found myself apologizing that the procedure took so long(it wasn't my fault) I found that the Dr. was training someone on me!). They should have been somewhat sympathetic to a new patient ,wouldn't you think...I guess that's too much to ask! Well needless to say I didn't go back there for my mammo. I went to a brst surg. 6 months later and they said Hopkins didn't even get it all out! I had to have an excisional.
Now it's been 3 years and I've moved to Tn. and Vanderbilt has found microcalc. in another area of my right brst. I just shook my head and asked what's next? They told me to come back in May. I think I've pretty much decided that I won't go through another stereotactic so maybe I won't even bother going back. Does anyone here believe in "meant to be"? Sometimes I feel deep down that God has it planned when and how you will "go" anyways so why bother with all this? I told my daughter n' law this and she said she's surprised to hear this from someone who is normally so positive(is this negative...it's just faith) So sorry this was so long, but it's funny how just a few people in the medical field can ruin things for you forever!)

[Vicki1]

I just had a stereotactic biopsy today on my left breast. After reading all the horror stories, I couldn't sleep for three days because I was so upset and nervous about having it done. I didn't tell my family I was having the procedure because I thought I might cancel the appointment and they would be upset that I didn't go through with it. So I drove myself there and am thrilled to say it was a very pleasant surprise. I felt no pain whatsoever. The staff at Columbus Breast Health Center in Indiana was very comforting and catered to my every need. My advice to those who have to have this done is to get to know that doctor and other staff members who will be involved. Tell them what you want and that you will not tolerate being in pain. There is no need for it with today's technology. Don't let them tell you what will take place. You are the one paying!!! I haven't gotten my results yet, so please keep me in your prayers!!

[Allie]

For further information on breast biopsy, please visit:
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/biopsy/general.asp

[stopshere]

I too just underwent an unimaginably painful stereotactic biopsy. I was told there would be mild discomfort and pressure. But oh my, oh my, I saw stars and my head was reeling. I could feel myself passing out even though I was lying down. And I almost threw up. I started a complaint process through the hospital that did this procedure. So far they haven't acted too sympathetic -- in fact they've been almost on the offense. But I also told my doctor, and then the surgeon I had to see next. Both of them were absolutely appalled at what I went through. Being an investigative newspaper reporter, I started researching this on the Internet. I learned that yes, some women have excruciating pain -- and it seems like way too many radiologists don't care about that. But I also learned there is absolutely no reason to go through all that pain, either. Properly done, this procedure should not be anymore uncomfortable than having a tooth worked on. My brother works in radiology in Atlanta. He told me not to put up with the barbarians that cut through me. He told me who and where to go with my complaints. And, my surgeon added that when she does these biopsies, her patients get a ****** and a pain pill before they get the lidocaine. She said pain should not be a part of this process, and to insist that only she do the procedure if I ever need it again. The kicker to this is the surgeon says the radiologist missed the spot altogether -- and only pulled out tissue. The suspicious spot never got touched she said. Now I have to have a surgery to take it out. To everybody else who has gone through this nightmare, DON'T TAKE IT LYING DOWN. Complain and complain loud. This is 2008, not 1888. Pain is totally unnecessary in this day and age.

[tams]

I had a stereotactic biopsy on June 9th, 2008. I am 46, have always had completely negative mammograms until this last one which showed a few areas of microcalcifications. These were still indeterminate with additional imaging and the radiologist recommended the biopsy. I scheduled it for the next week. I researched it a great deal and from what I read and was told, I should not feel any pain at all during the procedure, pressure but not pain. I felt I was ready; I couldn't have been more wrong. First of all, the positioning of the breast itself was torture, and painful, and only added to the stress of anticipating the actual biopsy. There wasn't any amount of time between the initial Lidocaine injection and the beginning of the procedure, and I gasped in pain when I felt the needle go in. The tears came instantly, but since I couldn't move, all I could do was lay silently crying and horrified. The radiologist said "well if you felt it going in you're going to feel it coming out", and he was right. He then said he would inject more Lidocaine and I was somewhat relieved, but shouldn't have been as I felt the needle go back in for the 2nd time. The pain was excruciating. I was completely horrified and felt so alone even though there were four other people in the room. Next I was informed that the 3rd spot they needed to get to was very difficult as it was close to my chest wall and they needed me to maneuver in a way that allowed me to also slip my arm through the same hole my breast was in. Once I did that, they put my arm in a sling underneath the table to hold it out of the way. The compression and tugging and pulling as hard as they could seemed to be neverending, I could not believe I was going through this. By this time my stress level was through the roof, and the tears never once stopped. At this time I guess the Lidocaine finally took effect as I did not feel the needle go in, but did feel pressure (that I can handle), but I must say; too little, too late. When the procedure was over, after 1 1/2 hours, I managed to walk to the waiting room where my husband was inquiring at the front desk as to what was taking so long, and he looked over and saw me, and I couldn't even speak, I had to just get out of there, and I walked outside and felt like I was in a dream or something, I made it to the car, and broke down hysterically crying, trying to explain to my husband what I had just been through. Today is one week since I had it done, and I am still bruised, and sore. The only good news here is that I got the results and they were benign. The scary thing about this is that I'm not sure I could go through that again, I could only imagine the stress and anxiety I would be feeling because of this experience and I would be scared out of my mind. Someone's response was that this is barbaric and they are right, this is completely insane to be putting women through this kind of painful procedure, when they are so scared as it is, because you're only there if you've gotten some kind of bad news, and now this adds to the fear. Someone needs to improve this, whether it's the procedure itself, equipment, training, or education. Words cannot describe how hard this was. I'm afraid knowing this will prevent a lot of women from seeking further testing and that's scary, but they need to know what to expect. This may not be everyone's experience, it seems some have had painless biopsies, and I hope that's the majority, but women need to be aware this can happen and doctors and facilities need to make sure they are prepared and need to make sure that all women obtain further testing with as little discomfort as possible.

[denverdenmom]

Two months ago I had an ultrasound guided core biopsy of the left breast. Fortunately, it was benign. It was recommended that I have a sterotactic vacuum assisted biopsy of the right breast - BIRADS -4 - Suspicious. Unfortunately, there was a hematoma complication from the first procedure and I was positively unable to lie down on my side or stomach for about 6 weeks.

We rescheduled the Stereotactic biopsy for last week. NOW, my insurance company has refused to pay for the first biopsy and won't authorize the second biopsy claiming " it is a pre-existing condition". Now, prior to my May 08 mammogram, I had not had one for two years. I'm in generally good health and there is no history of breast cancer whatsoever in my very large family.

I'm scared to death of the procdure itself, particularly after reading all the posts here and given the fact that almost every time I've ever had a procedure ( like foreceps vaginal childbirth, rupturing a blood vessel, requiring emergency surgery; or a large, severe hematoma after a hysterectomy, or this breast hematoma just recently....) I have complications and pain that is off the charts.

Question, I've read now many statistical studies anywhere I can find them and wonder, if rather than have the biopsy, I could just have another mammogram in 6 months or so to compare the calcification cluster size, etc.

Between the insurance company and my extreme fear of the procedure itself, I'm a wreck. I don't know what to do. I've spent countless hours and days, procuring records and proof of my not having had any breast issues prior, even had to obtain a letter - almost affadavit from the director of the Breast Center, further attesting to the fact that I hadn't had a breast issue previously. This health care system is so broken if makes me physically ill just to think about it.

Sorry for the length of this missive, Just had to vent. I'm a single mother of two teenage boys, sole source of income and support, and pretty much alone out west with most family and support group back East. Any suggestions would be appreciated. DDM

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[pctwgirl]

Hi everyone,
I just had the stereotactic breast biopsy today and there was very little pain, actually I would say just a little discomfort. I experienced a slight burning sensation when the Lidocaine was administered and some feelings of pressure. The procedure was done by the radiologist who specializes in these type procedures in a radiology center. I just wanted to add a positive post about this procedure.