wire-directed excisional biopsy

By kristineaward Thursday, July 30, 2009

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I had a mastectomy of my left breast in January and was scheduled for reconstruction 7/28. I had a mammogram of my right breast which showed some calcifications that were there also in numerous previous mammograms - I had them biopsied just last week and they came back "asymmetrical cells" so my doctor is recommending a wire-directed excisional biopsy. How long is the recovery for this procedure, how big will the hole in my breast be, why do you think my doctor waited to biopsy them until now, should I just get a mastectomy and be done with the entire situation? I am so confused. Also, with work, now I must have several more surgeries instead of just the one reconstruction, they want to do them separate. Also, I am taking tamoxifen daily.

Please let me know your thoughts on this and if there are any other similar experiences. I'm mad, sad, depressed and somewhat discouraged.

Thanks for your time and support,

Hugs,

Kristine

Comments (7) | Add comment

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/30/09 2:06pm

Hi Kristine - Thanks for turning to us again. A wire-directed excisional biopsy probably has a very short recovery time; I'd imagine you could be back at work the next day. The hole will be as big as the needle he uses - fine-needle, obviously, is smaller than a core needle. So better ask for details, if you think you need them. Why did he not do the biopsy before? Perhaps the microcalcifications have shanged; they're OK, when they're just present, but if they start to cluster or show a pattern, then they can be a precursor or cancer.

As to whether you should get a mastectomy - I'd wait and see what the results of the biopsy are. It may be nothing. It may be something to keep an eye on. It's certainly your choice to have a mastectomy and be done with the surgeries all at once; but if there's a chance of saving your breast, you might consider taking it.

You're frustrated, and confused, and angry right now, I'm sure; maybe give yourself some time before you make the mastectomy decision?

Please stay in touch here - I hope others chime in. This is a great support network. Best of luck to you - PJH

Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide

7/30/09 4:16pm

I had a wire-directed biopsy about five years before I had breast cancer (same breast, but I don't think the calcifications had anything to do with my eventual cancer).

Of course, recovery time would vary depending on how much tissue they need to take, but for me it was a matter of some pain pills that day when the anesthesia wore off and then a few days for the incision to heal. I was back to my normal activities the next day. The scar was small and faded fairly quickly.

I hope it all goes well for you. I'm sure it must be discouraging to have to go through another diagnostic process so soon after your mastectomy, but this should be much easier physically than your earlier surgery.

mstiab

7/30/09 9:19pm

I am 26 years old and my surgery is scheduled for August 17 and Im so scared. I never thought that I would ever have to have these type of surgeries at my age. Does breast cancer run in your family? At this point it is very hard for me to think about and deal with. I have IDC and nobody in my family has ever had breast cancer. With your Mastectomy where did the take the tissue from to make your breast.

kristineaward

7/30/09 10:01pm

Hi there,

I'm so sorry to hear that you too are having a mastectomy and at 26years. No, breast cancer does not run in my family at all. I had a mastectomy of the left breast in January. The Doctor removed most of my breast including the areaola & nipple. I was pretty much flat following the surgery except there was an "expander" inside. It's kind of like a deflated tire tube at first that is slowly filled up after numerous trips to the Doctor. The slow inflation of the expander expands and stretches the remaining tissue to whatever size you want. The entire mastectomy experience was not as bad as I had predicted and imagined in my mind. I was back to work 3 weeks after however recovery is an individual thing and everyone heals different. My coworker took 6 weeks which is pretty standard. I relied on friends and family (and this website!) and a support group at the hospital for support and information and prepared myself with all the tools I could find to get through it. I am now actually a grateful breast cancer survivor, still on my journey of recovery which will be lifelong but I am glad that I was diagnosed early and in this day and age with the technology so advanced it's amazing. I was scheduled for reconstruction on 7/28 but now that has been delayed because of the newest biopsy results from my right breast. Please try and be strong and you can call me any time if you just want to talk and I'll be honest and open with you and share my own experience, strength and hope with you - 949-689-8178.

Warmest regards, Kristine

Hugs and God bless,

Kristine

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/30/09 10:03pm

I'm so sorry - that's just plain terrible luck to have breast cancer so young. But you'll get through this - millions of women have. You're much stronger than you believe, trust me.

When I had a mastectomy, they took tissue from my belly to rebuild my breast. It's called a tram-flap procedure.

Good luck to you - and stay in touch here, OK? We're a big community, and we can help. PJH

Magical01

8/ 6/09 7:21pm

Hi,

I am so sorry you have to go through this especially at your age. You will get through this. Anticipation and worrying are the worst part. I am having a mastectomy of my right breast August 18 a day after youand am very scared also. I have DCIS but, 8 years ago had invasive breast cancer in the same breast with a lumpectomy and radiation.

Good luck to you and let me know how you are doing. I will be praying for you.

Diane

debbie mullen

8/ 2/09 2:09pm

Hi, my name is debbie and i had multifocal comedo dcis, stage o in my right breast. my first course was to do my research to see what i needed know in the future. finding the dr's that i was comfortable with was the hardest part. you can't change the diagnosis but you can get educated so you know what to expect. i found that xanax for my appointments for sterotatic, mri, double masectomies, reconstruction expander, fill ups and placing the implants made everything so much easier. your fear can do a number on you. infact, for the future surguries i probably won't need to take any of the xanax because i'm use to it all. but if i choose to, i will have it. With my case, i changed the masec. surgeon because he was to conservative for me after getting 3 other opinions. i was very comfortable about my discion and saw different reconstructions done and how some varied to others. i choose the dr. who showed me a book of before and afters. i was impressed and she was out of my insurance network but took me anyway and excepted my insurance rate without charging me more. you have to not hide from you diagnoses tell and talk to as many people in you area to find out the best drs. i first didn't want people to know but i wasn't getting anywhere for referrals until i started asking people. most people know someone who had breast cancer and is willing to talk to you. about the surgeries.. i had a little discomfort after the masectomies but i was amazed how easy is was. it was harder mentally but knowing i was going to get better and the cancer was gone helped me. calcification is when the cells die which is normal but sometimes they don't rinse out and get clogged up in the ducts. then sometimes a mutating cell makes it it's home with the calcification and it causes more mutating cells which create more dead cells and that shows up on the mamogram. radiologist will see strings and odd shades cacification spots or spot. the strings is the dead cells clogging the ducts. ask your dr to show so you can understand what's going on in your body.

wire-directed excisional biopsy

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