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Post by kluski on Jun 29, 2024 14:46:15 GMT
How? I get sticking a needle in a tumor/sack but how do they biopsy a calcification? In my head, it’s like a pebble. How does one stick a needle in it to get a sample?
update…now that dh and my dd know I can share. The news isn’t good. I have breast cancer. It’s truly surreal.
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schooner3
Junior Member
Refupea 755
Posts: 83 
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Post by schooner3 on Jun 29, 2024 15:31:07 GMT
In my case, they used a tool that had a little claw at the end. I think they took 3 pieces, and mine was very small! It's not much bigger than a regular biopsy needle and they anaesthetized the area first. Didn't hurt and was very fast. They did recommend that I have it removed after (lumpectomy), which showed no cancer. Good luck!
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Post by knit.pea on Jun 29, 2024 15:37:01 GMT
I was told calcification, but it was a small tumor.
The machine is pretty loud (vacuum), in a small room.
Mine was caught early/small/hadn’t spread,
but I did need surgery/chemo/radiation.
Hoping yours is simply calcification.
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Post by kluski on Jun 29, 2024 18:42:10 GMT
I have a few days to freak out so please forgive the questions. Why would one have a lumpectomy and the other require surgery and chemo?
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jun 29, 2024 18:58:34 GMT
Lumpectomy removes a tiny piece of the (whatever) so it can be biopsied.
Surgery happens if it's determined to be malignant or if the biopsy isn't clear on what it is to remove the entire mass plus surrounding tissues to get a clear margin of healthy cells at the site.
Cancer would mean chemo/radiation one or both.
(at least this is my understanding of it all)
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jun 29, 2024 18:59:55 GMT
Also, please don't freak out. Be calm. There is absolutely ZERO you can do to change whatever it is.
My mom taught me how to be calm when she had breast cancer. She said that you can freak out and cry and fall apart but you have to pick yourself up and carry on.
My DH was diagnosed with lymphnode (then brain) melanoma in June last year and I have found that my moms words are very true.
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Post by mom on Jun 29, 2024 19:04:15 GMT
I have a few days to freak out so please forgive the questions. Why would one have a lumpectomy and the other require surgery and chemo? Hey friend! Ask away! So many Peas have gone thru this or something similar. We are here for you! Try and not panic until you truly have something to panic about. I am the *world's worst* at this, but more often than not, I freaked out over nothing. I have no experience with a biopsy with a calcification -- but I ended up getting biopsy's almost yearly now because of my Dad having breast cancer and my Dr is overly cautious. |
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Post by Zee on Jun 29, 2024 19:22:12 GMT
When you go in, be sure to ask them your questions! They will help you relax about the process. 🥰
A biopsy collects tissue to send for pathology. Sometimes actual cancer cells can be missed, so if it comes back negative BUT they recommend follow up, make sure to follow up. That happened to me. No one's fault, it's just sometimes a possibility.
A lumpectomy removes part of the breast tissue and hopefully, all of the cancer cells. That approach will often require radiation and/or chemo to ensure all the cancer cells are destroyed. They will check the surgical margins and your lymph nodes (I had a sentinel node bx, where they first ran some dye and then traced it through my body to see which nodes were most likely to have been seeded with the cancer cells) and they removed a few for biopsy during my mastectomy. I was not a candidate for a lumpectomy and in any case did not want to even go that route, I had it all removed both sides as this was my umpteenth bx.
My oncotype (a score predicting the recurrence of the cancer) came back low, my nodes were negative (nothing had spread, totally unexpected with the size of my tumor), and my margins were clear. I was ER+ (estrogen receptor) which means my cancer could best be treated with an estrogen blocker (tamoxifen). I no longer had breast tissue. So, all of those things in my case meant I did not need chemo and radiation.
I'm not an oncology nurse, just relaying my personal experience and what they told me. Don't be scared until there is something to be scared about--knowledge is power! And hopefully everything is negative, but if not, we are here and they are there to help you understand all your options.
Hugs, I hope everything goes ok. Keep us updated. Make sure to ask them all your questions! Believe me, they WANT you to be on board with the whole process ❤️😍
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Post by scrapmaven on Jun 29, 2024 19:28:19 GMT
I am sending benign, healthy thoughts your way. It's easy to tell you not to worry, but do know that cases like this are often benign. If it's not benign then you'll be able to handle it. Arm yourself w/info and ask lots of question. This is your body and you are the CEO.
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Post by knit.pea on Jun 29, 2024 21:23:43 GMT
It’s difficult to not freak out.
The testing day and results can’t come fast enough.
You’re stronger than you think, believe me!
Keep breathing. Keep moving forward.
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Post by kluski on Jul 3, 2024 11:57:52 GMT
Thanks, All. Today is the day. I watched a video yesterday so I knew what to expect. Dumb idea? Probably.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 3, 2024 13:51:09 GMT
Thanks, All. Today is the day. I watched a video yesterday so I knew what to expect. Dumb idea? Probably. Probably not a dumb idea if you really want to know how it’ll go down. Good luck! I hope it’s nothing to worry about. I had 3 calcifications removed when I was 19. They were big so I was put out for the removal. The initial aspiration didn’t pull anything. They have not come back. |
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Post by Lexica on Jul 4, 2024 0:19:05 GMT
Also, please don't freak out. Be calm. There is absolutely ZERO you can do to change whatever it is. My mom taught me how to be calm when she had breast cancer. She said that you can freak out and cry and fall apart but you have to pick yourself up and carry on. My DH was diagnosed with lymphnode (then brain) melanoma in June last year and I have found that my mom’s words are very true. This is absolutely so true. My son was diagnosed at 9 years of age, and we were told by the surgeon that he was so sorry but he could not get it all out because it had spread everywhere. I was totally honest with my son on all that was happening, except what the surgeon said. I could hardly think about it in my own mind. Anyway, I never cried in front of him. After several neighborhood kids asked if he was going to die, he came and asked me. I said, “Not if there is anything at all that I can do about it.” One afternoon when he was playing outside, I was in the house watching and crying. He suddenly left the group and ran into the house so I did my best to regain composure and smile. He asked me if I had been crying. I admitted that I had been, just a little bit. He asked if it was about his cancer. I nodded yes. He came over and sat on my lap and said that I needed to think about it like he was. He said, “If crying could cure me, I would be crying buckets every day. But it can’t. So I may as well be happy for as long as I can be, right?” And then he said if he died, I would have years and years to cry so why waste the time crying now. Of course, this tore down my floodgates and I hugged him and sobbed. He looked at me and said, “ Sorry, Mom, but you need this.” Then that little imp farted! I was shocked because he had never done anything like that before. He made a face. I started laughing. He said “I told you you needed that!” And he grabbed some water and ran back out to play. He was right. Don’t waste time worrying or crying when you don’t really have something to cry or worry about. And I hope all went well with your mom and your husband. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 4, 2024 1:51:41 GMT
Also, please don't freak out. Be calm. There is absolutely ZERO you can do to change whatever it is. My mom taught me how to be calm when she had breast cancer. She said that you can freak out and cry and fall apart but you have to pick yourself up and carry on. My DH was diagnosed with lymphnode (then brain) melanoma in June last year and I have found that my mom’s words are very true. This is absolutely so true. My son was diagnosed at 9 years of age, and we were told by the surgeon that he was so sorry but he could not get it all out because it had spread everywhere. I was totally honest with my son on all that was happening, except what the surgeon said. I could hardly think about it in my own mind. Anyway, I never cried in front of him. After several neighborhood kids asked if he was going to die, he came and asked me. I said, “Not if there is anything at all that I can do about it.” One afternoon when he was playing outside, I was in the house watching and crying. He suddenly left the group and ran into the house so I did my best to regain composure and smile. He asked me if I had been crying. I admitted that I had been, just a little bit. He asked if it was about his cancer. I nodded yes. He came over and sat on my lap and said that I needed to think about it like he was. He said, “If crying could cure me, I would be crying buckets every day. But it can’t. So I may as well be happy for as long as I can be, right?” And then he said if he died, I would have years and years to cry so why waste the time crying now. Of course, this tore down my floodgates and I hugged him and sobbed. He looked at me and said, “ Sorry, Mom, but you need this.” Then that little imp farted! I was shocked because he had never done anything like that before. He made a face. I started laughing. He said “I told you you needed that!” And he grabbed some water and ran back out to play. He was right. Don’t waste time worrying or crying when you don’t really have something to cry or worry about. And I hope all went well with your mom and your husband. 😭😭😭😭 for your son. So mature at such a young age! Thank you for the well wishes. My mom is doing great 10 years out. My husband is in the thick of the battle- diagnosed 6/2024. Most recent PET at the beginning of June shows no tumors neck down. Most recent MRI at the beginning of June shows that the 8 tumors in his frontal lobe that were radiated in March are shrinking by a lot and no new ones. He’s had reactions to the last 2 chemo drugs. We have 1 more in the same chemo family we can try. Hoping to get off decadron steroid so he can do immune therapy. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 4, 2024 5:12:31 GMT
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Post by kluski on Jul 4, 2024 18:57:10 GMT
Thank you so much for thinking of me. I had a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. It was the worse pain I’ve ever experienced. I passed out twice while they tried to find the best angle. Now we wait for pathology. It could be as early as tomorrow but more likely next week since today is a holiday. Thank you again for asking. I appreciate your thoughts. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 4, 2024 19:08:29 GMT
Thank you so much for thinking of me. I had a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. It was the worse pain I’ve ever experienced. I passed out twice while they tried to find the best angle. Now we wait for pathology. It could be as early as tomorrow but more likely next week since today is a holiday. Thank you again for asking. I appreciate your thoughts. Oh no! I’m so sorry for the pain. I don’t remember mine being painful. Did they numb you? I hope it’s a whole lot of nothing for you to worry about. |
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Post by librarylady on Jul 4, 2024 19:59:23 GMT
kluskiSending all the best wishes that you have a good report.
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Post by knit.pea on Jul 4, 2024 21:23:13 GMT
Glad the testing is over.
I remember thinking I’d be sore after, but I wasn’t.
Hoping for good news for you!
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peasquared
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,176
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Post by peasquared on Jul 5, 2024 14:46:35 GMT
Saying prayers and sending my most positive thoughts that you get great news! I'm so sorry you have to go through all this.
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Post by worrywart on Jul 5, 2024 16:23:36 GMT
I’m so sorry it was painful but glad it is behind you! Thinking of you, as you wait for your results.
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Post by knit.pea on Jul 11, 2024 19:42:03 GMT
Thinking of you. Any results yet?
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Post by kluski on Jul 13, 2024 0:17:53 GMT
Thinking of you. Any results yet? Thank you so much for thinking of me. 😘😘 |
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Post by Merge on Jul 13, 2024 0:19:32 GMT
So sorry to read this update. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.
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Post by KelleeM on Jul 13, 2024 0:21:20 GMT
How? I get sticking a needle in a tumor/sack but how do they biopsy a calcification? In my head, it’s like a pebble. How does one stick a needle in it to get a sample? update…now that dh and my dd know I can share. The news isn’t good. I have breast cancer. It’s truly surreal. I’m sorry you have cancer. Lots of us have been through it and are here for you. Hugs. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 13, 2024 0:27:58 GMT
I'm sorry to hear that you have cancer.  |
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Post by flanz on Jul 13, 2024 0:28:54 GMT
I'm sorry about your diagnosis kluski. (((( hugs )))) |
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,493
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Jul 13, 2024 0:30:31 GMT
I'm so sorry to read your updated news that you have breast cancer. I will say a prayer for sucessful treatment and strength and courage to face this beast. Big {{{{Hugs}}}}
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 13, 2024 0:37:04 GMT
kluski I'm so sorry. Sending you huge hugs as you navigate this. Hopefully it's uncomplicated and curable.
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samantha25
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,320
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Post by samantha25 on Jul 13, 2024 0:47:05 GMT
Figure out type and treatment plan. We all will help.
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Refupea #39
