How breast cancer biopsy is performed
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 19:47 I have had three different types of breast biopsies, as part of my treatment down at the University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Fine Needle Aspiration, Core Needle Biopsy and Stereotactic Breast Biopsy.
Here’s the first thing to understand: none of them were so painful that I needed any more than a local anesthetic and some deep breathing/relaxation exercises during the procedure.
They were performed by a pathologist armed with a big microscope right there in the exam room. This was especially cool when a few months later, during a routine mammogram, they spotted something suspicious. I was taken from mammography, right across the hall to the ultrasound diagnostic suite where the top guy ( who I adore: Dr. Patrick Dempsey) came in with a pathologist.
He found the suspicious place with the ultrasound wand, took the FNA sample, the pathologist put it on a slide and read it. Right there. Right then. No waiting until Monday. No waiting for the freaking phone to ring. They didn’t want me to wonder and worry over the weekend.
Is that cool or what?
So the final comment I have about biopsies is this: be very careful about the small clinic excisional biopsy. This old style medicine and can leave you waking up with either a larger, unnecessary wound or, as I’ve seen happen - no breast. Gee, they got in there and it was worse than they thought - no breast. That’s garbage. No excuse for that. If it was that bad, then you probably should have sought another opinion and perhaps a completely different treatment modality, like neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
Don’t be afraid of the biopsy. It’s a step toward a cure.
maven
biopsy, breast biopsy, breast cancer, cancer, cancer diagnosis, pathology in Breast cancer, cancer, maven