What are the different biopsies please?

Hi again Maze50 this is the place to ask your questions so please don’t apologise.

There are a few different types of biopsies used in the Diagnosis of Lymphoma.

I have had a CT guided Fine Needle biopsy when a small mass was found on my lung.

I have also had a core biopsy under general anaesthetic where the mass on my neck had enclosed around nerves and blood vessels so I had to be knocked out.

I have also had a lot of skin biopsies as I have a rare skin Lymphoma.

I also have had a lot of Bone Marriw Biopsies to check if my Lymphoma was in my Bone Marrow.

((Hugs))

Thank you for replying Thehighlander . How would this translate to my son.  The only place he has a lump is on his neck.

So what might his biopsy on Thursday involve and what will the guided biopsy involve please?

I had the core biopsy in my neck and it had to be open surgery.

A guided biopsy can be simply done using an ultra sound to guide the fine needle to the correct spot and a few little samples are taken. He would have a local anaesthetic to numb the area so apart from the little sting when the anaesthetic is given that is all he will feel.

Results normally takes out 10 to 14 days but a few of my results did take 6 weeks as they had to be sent for further testing,

Thank you.  Why would he need both in the same place?  Or is it likely they spotted something on his lung when he had a chest xrey?

I am not sure if they are going to be in the same place….. and yes they may want to check an other area or even do a Bone Marrow Biopsy…… questions need to be asked.

Has he a Specialist Cancer Nurse that you can phone and ask?

Hi could you please tell me just how bad bone  marrow biopsy are , as i have to have one and need to know the real truth as to what to expect

Hi wino I have had a good number of Bone Marrow Biopsies (BMBs) over my years…… honestly I have found the BMB process to be ok and definitely had much worse experiences going to the dentist.

The area is very well numbed and all I felt was a short period of pushing as they get the core sample. 

I had to lay on the dressed area for 15mins and for me, I jumped in the car and did the 3+ hours drive from Glasgow back to Inverness.

Hi Highlander thank you for the reasurrance, you hear so many bad reports on the procedure its just horrible. I am still nervous but i will put my best foot forward and get it done.I think when i first came on here nearly 4 years ago you were one of the first people to reach out and i would like to thank you for that.Its nice to see you are still helping people bless you

Good that you have found the community a supportive place.

Don’t overthink BMB….. in the early days I over thought it. So I told my team that they had not to tell me when I was having one. I would turn up to clinic and would only know I was having one when I was given a couple of paracetamols and this was a sign that 30mins later I was having another BMB.