Has Anyone Had To Have A Biopsy On Their Lymph Nodes ??
Has Anyone Had To Have A Biopsy On Their Lymph Nodes ??
My breast MRI showed a secondary small .5mm mass behind my original one that they want to do an MRI guided biopsy on. I am terrified of this whole process so the idea of doing it is giving me anxiety. They also want to do a possible biopsy on the first few lymph nodes in my armpit b/c they see they are slightly inflammed. Has anyone had this one ? All of the pictures and research I am doing online makes it look terrible and like a huge procedure. Can you please help me out. Thanks in advance… read more
Hi Lisa631. I had a biopsy of a mass on my nodes and it's not difficult. Other than holding my arm above my head for a long period of time, they numb the skin around the area they go into for the sample. They do it using ultrasound just as they do for a breast biospy. And yes, you can ask for some Xanax and take it about an hour prior to the biopsy. It's not a huge procedure..
They can also do a sentinel node biopsy which is surgery but not difficult. They take a few nodes and test them for cancer cells. They will do a frozen sample right then and there during surgery and then they will send the sample off to pathology. If the pathology comes back negative then they won't need to remove any further nodes. I had a sentinel node biopsy during my lumpectomy surgery and they took 4 nodes out. All but 1 came back negative and the negative node was less than a 1mm microscopic cancer cell so both my surgeon and oncologist said that both immunotherapy and radiation would take care of it and I didn't need any further node removal.
My pcp prescribed a low dose of Xanax to take when I get really anxious. I like that I don't have to take it daily.... just when needed. Big hugs
Ask for a mild sedative from your primary doctor . It will definitely calm your nerves. I didn’t have that type of biopsy but had the breast biopsy and had no idea I could’ve aske for something . Ask ask ask !!
Lisa, I had a biopsy guided with ultrasound, it really wasn't bad. I'm 2 weeks out today from lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy in my arm pit, taking 3 nodes. The pain was minimal but the arm pit incision was the worst of the two, maybe because of sweat or my bra? But don't be afraid of the process. Did they find the new "leasion" with mammogram?
