Awaiting diagnosis

Hi Emy

Sorry to be meeting you on here, as it means that you have concerns with what is ahead. 

With regard to the biopsies, they give local anaesthetic before doing them and they do check that you are properly numb. I didn't feel a thing. It is best to be quite upfront from the outset that you have a needle phobia, as the breast team will then be able to take this into account when they are organising things for you. Needle phobia is actually not that unusual.

I found the staff at the one stop breast clinic  were absolutely excellent at telling me what sensations to expect and also at holding my hand and giving it a tight squeeze in empathy at certain points. Nothing was as bad as what the imagination thinks it will be. You could ask your GP for something for anxiety e.g. lorazepam or something like that, which you could take the night before and the morning of your visit. I have heard of people getting this type of support to get them to appointments. However, you would not be able to drive yourself, if that is something you would be needing to do. Have you got someone who can go with you to the clinic?

You are gong through the most difficult time, as you have been told that you have an area of suspicion, but do not know what the nature of it is yet. It is not surprising that you are feeling weepy - I think most of us were the same at that stage. Hopefully your appointment will come through quickly and as you get more information you will feel less shell-shocked and know what you are dealing with.

What we know we can deal with.

You don't say anything about friends, family or sources of support. It certainly does help at times like this to have good people to help you through. Just talking things out helps. I have walked and walked and walked and talked and talked and talked. Better out than kept bottled up inside.

Wishing you al the best

WallyDug

It seems ages ago the I had my biopsy it was only June and like you was wondering if I would feel any pain.

Let me help you with this. You don't feel a thing as you are given a local anesthetic, now I understand your fear of needless but I'm sure that the breast care team have dealt with this before so will have ways to help you. You won't be the first and definitely won't be the last. Good luck and hope it all goes well for you. 

The worst thing about my biopsy was the noise  - I don’t know what it was but they warned me it sounded like a stapler and it did. Didn’t feel a thing as the local anaesthetic stopped that. I couldn’t see anything as I was on my side. The radiographers and their team were fabulous. 

Dear Emy74 you might not need a biopsy but if you do you will not feel a thing, the waiting is the hardest, one day at a time if you can Love from Ann

Hi Emmy. I too am afraid of needles. I didn’t feel a thing. I told them of my fear, closed my eyes the whole way through and did some deep breathing while it was being done. The man doing it was a bit bemused

Angus 1 the noise that sounded like a stapler was the instrument that undertook the biopsy. The people who did the biopsy let me hear the noise it would make so I didn't jump. They also asked if I would like to watch on the scanner which I did decline. 

Hi Emy74. I'm not very good with needles (can't look) and I had to have two lots of biopsies as the first came back inconclusive. I was really scared at the thought of having biopsies but honestly they did not hurt as they do numb the area, although I was sore afterwards with brushing. But sometimes the fear of the unknown is worse then the actual event as I found in my case but as others have said it does make a very loud noise but they do warn you. X

Hi Emy74

I was in this same predicament 2 years ago. I was so scared,   they did my biopsy same time as mammogram,   to be honest I didn't feel anything and I didn't see anything ( needles etc)

I did cry but it was because I felt sorry for my boobs lol,      the thing I wasn't prepared for was they then chipped my boob, not painful,  but I didn't have chance to say yes or no to it, the choice wasn't mine,  the chip did come in handy on a later test but I don't like it in me and I wasn't given a chance to think about it.    I'm mentioning it to you so ur not shocked if they do the same.

Unfortunately we have to go through this so we know what's happening to our bodies.

Luckily this is more emotionally affecting as its not painful and I don't like pain.

Next time I think I would do some meditating before I go n relax myself.     Sending love and healing your way xxx 

Thank you, your words really helped me through the procedure. I took your advice and had some calmers beforehand and it really wasn't all that bad. I hope you are doing OK xx

Thank you xx Yes, I had a clip put in too - by that point I was so relieved not to be feeling anything, I didn't care what they did.

I hope all went well with your results - I get mine next week xxx