****Please note everyone’s experience is different, this is just a description of my experience. Not a substitute for medical advise****
Before the biopsy was done my blood pressure/vitals were taken. There was a table in the room and an ultrasound machine beside it. My biopsy was a vacuum assisted core-needle biopsy. Just before we got started a ultrasound technician did a brief ultrasound of my breast and then cleaned it off and began to sterilize it. Another technician came in and gave me numbing injections in my breast. They felt like little bee stings. Once I was numb the ultrasound technician again placed the ultrasound wand on my breast while the technician doing the biopsy turned the machine on, it sounded a little bit like an electric razor and looked like a big electric toothbrush with a long hollow needle on it, it wasn’t exceptionally loud but definitely audible. As the hollow needle was inserted i felt a lot of pressure but no pain. I heard clipping and clicking sounds, it didn’t hurt. I felt pressure as the needle was moved. About 4 passes were done. The needle remained inside the breast the whole time. Once the biopsy was done. A small titanium clip was placed where the biopsy was taken. This is done by inserting another needle through the hollowed needle. This part for me did hurt because the numbing agent did wear off quite a bit when we got to that point. I did jump when the clip was placed. Afterwards the hollowed needle was removed. The area was cleaned and dressed and I was taken to a mammogram machine. They assured me no squeezing would be done, they just wanted to verify it was in there.
The mammogram afterwards just involved placing my breast in the clamps and having a couple pictures taken. No squeezing involved. After that my biopsy site was cleaned again and gauze was placed over my steri strips. I was helped into my bra and was given a circular coldpack/gel packs to put in my bra for the way home. I took 2 extra strength Tylenol after the biopsy as my biopsy site was very tender/sore.
Following biopsy I was told to wear my bra except for showering for 3 days, even sleeping. I could shower the following day and could remove my gauze after 24 hrs. I did develop quite a bit of purple and blue bruising. As I healed it looked like I had rainbow boob. I was told no lifting for 1 week following biopsy. And no lifting arm above chest level for 1 week. These precautions they give you are to prevent hematoma (pooling of the blood under the skin of the biopsy site).
*Notes*
1. Sometimes other surgical clips other than titanium are used as they are cheaper. Make sure you ask for a titanium one. Other types can cause irritation, especially if your ears are sensitive to cheap earrings.
2. I frequently iced my biopsy site for 15 mins on, 15 mins off with gel packs I cut to fit inside my bra. It helped alot with the discomfort.
3. My biopsy site was painful for about 3 days post biopsy. My biopsy site was pretty healed about 2 weeks post biopsy.
4. Post Biopsy and after I healed I could not feel the surgical clip inside me at all.
5. Make sure you pick a comfortable form fitting bra or sports bra to bring with you to the biopsy as you will need to wear it for several days when not showering, including sleeping. Make sure it’s something you can get off and on easy for when you want to shower. Perhaps something with front closure or zipper in the front.
Life and Irises 