Sep 19, 2021 06:29PM livinlife wrote:

Soooo sorry you find yourself here les!!!! You've already been through so much! Just want to send support and best for the biopsies. BIRADS 5 is more likely than not, as I'm sure you're aware, to come back cancer. I'd give you some hope for DCIS though with that many areas that may be a long shot..... Please let us know how the biopsies go and certainly once you hear about results. You already know the waiting is really difficult..... Also ice, ice, ice after the biopsy and even a little the next morning if you can - I found it really helped!

Sep 19, 2021 10:29PM jen2957 wrote:

I read your post’s title and, for a moment, thought, “Is that my post?” I do not have a history of cancer- aside from a bit of SC skin cancer- but I literally just went through the four core needle biopsies in one go on Thursday; my DX mammo and ultrasound were BIRADS 5 as well. I have one mass in the left breast and three in the right. The radiologist was concerned that so many biopsies in one day would be too much, but honestly, I just wanted to get it all done ASAP. It actually went fairly smoothly and I was able to watch the ultrasound screen as the biopsies were performed. For me, it helped get me out of my emotional brain and into science and learning mode. And for the record, in retrospect, I would 100% do all of the biopsies in one day if I had to do it over.

I have very dense breasts and it got a bit brutal at times when the doctor was trying to create the initial path through to the mass so the automated biopsy “gun” could cleanly fire into the correct area to be biopsied, but since the area was very well numbed, it was more of a pressure sensation- and sometimes like being mauled by a bear. 😬. But the pain was truly minimal. My team used sodium bicarbonate to buffer the lidocaine when they numbed my breasts and it took nearly all the sting out of the injection.

I am quite bruised on the right side where the three were done, but some of my bruising may also be intensified bc they had difficulty stopping the bleeding from two of mine and had to apply extremely firm (think pushing all the way down to your ribs) pressure for 10-15 minutes on each entry point to achieve homeostasis.

As Livin Life said- ice, ice, ice! I kind of arranged my ice packs into a “boob shape” each time when I put them back in the freezer and felt that helped provide more immediate relief bc of better contact. I also used a wide, neoprene back support band that my mom had let me borrow. I would arrange the covered ice pack, then wrap the back support thing over the outside of my shirt to the ice in place and to also apply a bit of pressure to minimize swelling. An Ace bandage would work similarly, I’m sure.

I’m so sorry you have to go through this situation, but please feel free to reach out with any questions or just to vent a bit if you need to. You are not alone! We are all here to support you through this process.

Sep 19, 2021 11:34PM - edited Sep 19, 2021 11:36PM by jen2957

I'm only a few days ahead of you in this part of the process. I have to say, after the biopsies were over, I had a good cry, then felt this kind of surreal feeling of calm. I told my husband I think it was the fact that I FINALLY felt like something proactive had been done to get us to the next steps. It was kind of nice to have a couple of days of feeling relief more than worry. I hope you will find comfort in being able to mark the biopsies off your list.

Now, of course, the waiting begins. I am supposed to receive my results sometime this week, so it's a whole new set of stress. I feel like I just took one of the most important tests of my entire life, but there was no way to prepare or “study" and now I'm just waiting for my “grades" to post so I can find out where I'll end up next. It's maddening!

Oh- I did get a prescription for a couple of Valium to take if needed the day of my biopsies. I wasn't sure if I would need them. But wanted to have them on hand. Well, when I got there and my blood pressure was 183/100, the nurse strongly encouraged me to take them! I do think they helped keep my thoughts from racing and they definitely brought my BP down. If that's something you think you may need, it may be worth a call just to get a couple to have with you just in case; you don’t have to actually take them if you don’t end up needing them, of course

Sep 20, 2021 08:35AM moderators wrote:

lesmisarahbles - We're sorry you have to be here, but you've come to the right place for support as you go through this. Let us know if we can be of help. We're thinking of you!

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Sep 24, 2021 04:27PM lesmisarahbles wrote:

Update: TLDR it was all benign

Shockingly to both myself and everyone I’d interacted with at the imaging clinic, all four biopsies came back benign. I’ll post the details below. Very very thankful that I don’t have to face cancer a third time yet. They did note LCIS and want to discuss my case with more doctors, I’m assuming to figure out what further imaging and tests may be needed and how closely to follow me as I may develop BC later on.

Thank you all for your tips and kindness this week, it was incredibly helpful.

—-

A. LEFT BREAST, SUBAREOLAR, ULTRASOUND ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY FOR
A 4.3 CM MASS WITH IRREGULAR MARGINS (WING CLIP):

Fibroadenomatoid changes, adenosis, microcysts, usual ductal hyperplasia, and
dense stroma are present (additional levels are evaluated).

Immunoperoxidase studies for E-cadherin, estrogen receptor, and cytokeratin 5
do not identify an atypical cell population.

Note: Specific histologic features of a mass forming lesion are not seen.
Radiologic correlation is suggested to ensure that the biopsy is representative
of the targeted lesion.


B. LEFT BREAST, POSTERIOR CENTRAL, ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY FOR A
0.8 CM MASS WITH INDISTINCT AND CIRCUMSCRIBED MARGINS (RIBBON CLIP):

LOBULAR CARCINOMA IN SITU, classical type, is present. Immunoperoxidase studies
confirm the absence of E-cadherin and estrogen receptor positivity. A multiplex
study for p63/keratin AE1/AE3 study shows myoepithelial cells at the periphery
of the involved ducts, as well as intermingled with the lobular cells.

Fibroadenomatoid changes, at least 1.2 cm.

Note: The fibroadenomatoid changes likely correlate with the targeted mass. The
LCIS is an incidental finding.


C. RIGHT BREAST, 12:00 (3-4 CM FROM NIPPLE), ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE NEEDLE
BIOPSY FOR A 1 CM MASS WITH IRREGULAR MARGINS (WING CLIP):

Fibroadenomatoid changes (at least 0.4 cm; additional levels are evaluated).


D. RIGHT BREAST, SUBAREOLAR, ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY FOR A 3 CM
MASS WITH IRREGULAR MARGINS (RIBBON CLIP):

Dense stroma with pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH), at least 0.8 cm
(additional levels are evaluated).

Note: Specific histologic features of a mass forming lesion are not seen.
Radiologic correlation is suggested to ensure that the biopsy is representative
of the targeted lesion.