I had a punch biopsy to the side of left nipple 19th August. Today I removed the dressing after a shower. I still have an open wound so have applied another dressing but my breast is itching like crazy aside from my nipple that has been itching for months. Has anyone else experienced this itching after biopsy and should I keep the site covered? its still oozing blood. Im wondering if it is the dressings that is making me itch and cause slight redness. Having to wait until 29th August for results is not doing my mental health any good...Im aware a lot of people in same boat but it helps me to write my concerns on this site.
Hi
I guess 3 days isn't too long for it to heal in this time but here's a link to cancer research information on a punch biopsy and it says it is rare to have bleeding, so probably as the others have said it is important to contact your doctor. They should have told you who to contact? If they haven't speak to your doctor.
I had a needle biopsy, so I can't help you with regards to how long it should take for a punch biopsy to heal. The needle biopsy healed really quickly, so much so that I can't even recall it being an issue.
There are so many trains of thought on wound healing in the medical profession and they keep chopping and changing what is best. If you doctor confirms it isn't infected and that it is just part of the normal healing process, then based on my experience I would leave it open to the air and wash it as normal. (I have had a number of scars/wounds from a major road accident in 1983 and these often open up. The last time - during my breast cancer.... I had an MRSA infection in my leg which wouldn't heal and was weeping and bleeding. The plastic surgeon I eventually got to see told me to leave it open to the air as much as possible and wash it with Babedas shower gel /Badedas shower/shampoo gel because there is something about the horse chestnut in it that helps healing. I had this infection for 2 years, had IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, dozens of doctors/hospital appointments in that time, but within a month of following his advice - it had healed).
The waiting is always the worst bit. I had guessed based on the BC nurse's question "do you have anyone with you?" and statement "we are concerned about an area ...." that I had cancer, so it wasn't a shock when I saw the surgeon that I had breast cancer, I had already accepted that I had it, but not knowing what was going to happen next is the hardest. You may have an inkling from conversations you've had - but they can never be sure until you get the results of your biopsy. Your mind goes into overdrive doesn't it? When you know exactly where you stand, it gets a whole lot better and everyone I've ever seen on this forum / spoken to says the same. It's important to take each stage at a time and try to avoid worrying about the next bit.... easier said than done of course, but it really is the best advice you can be given. Only use Macmillan, Cancer Research, NHS and Breast Cancer Care UK sites to look up any information as these sites are the up to date ones. Things change so quickly with research and treatments that many, many sites - including random Googling provide a load of rubbish and out of date information.
Fingers crossed for you that it isn't breast cancer, but should it be, please be assured many, many times isn't ever as bad as you expect it to be.
Kindest wishes,
