CT Guided Needle Biopsy

Hi

I had a CT Scan needle biopsy, for me i had no problems, and if i had to would have another one.

Every one is so different, hope others come along to advise you.

The waiting is the hardest part of this journey though once we get a plan, every thing falls into place.

Take Care Ellie xx

I'm having a ct scan guided one next week I'm presuming they tell you the worst possible scenario just in case..

Dear Feelingbetta

Like you I was really nervous about the needle biopsy, they sent me literature which ran through the risks.  The radiographer specialist talked me through everything and answered all my questions. He was very calming and reassuring.  I was then asked to consent to the procedure.   I was asked to put on a robe and the nurses put the cannula in.  

They draw on the area they want to biopsy by running you through the CT scanner a few times.  For me it was my chest but for some it is their back.  They give you a local anaesthetic and top it up if you need it. They tell you when they need to hold your breath and when you will feel a push, but it does not hurt.  I imagined my son was in the room which made me braver!

They then send you to a cubicle to rest and they give you a drink and food when you're ready.  They monitor your blood pressure for a few hours.  You then go for a chest xray to check everything is ok.  Once the doctor has seen this you are able to leave.

I was a little bit sore in the area for a couple of days, but nothing major.  I had the biopsy on a Friday and got my results in a consultation the following Thursday.

Please don't be too nervous, they need this biopsy to make a formal diagnosis and to test for the type of tumour you have.  They can then make sure they give you exactly the right treatment.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Thank you YinYang

Hi Feelingbetta

Please don't worry about the CT guided biopsy. I had mine in November. It is slightly uncomfortable but is certainly nothing to worry about. I had mine near the centre of my chest at the top but I had two earlier CT guided biopsies in 2015 which they did at the top of my back so I guess they do it in relation to where the tumour is located in your lung.

They will tell you the risks involved just as they would before an operation and you do have to consent to the procedure. All I can say is that I've had it three times with no ill effects so please do not worry.  Good luck.

Suzanne

Thank you so much YinYang and Suzanne,

My appointment is tomorrow (Friday) and reading your comments has made me feel much more comfortable about the whole procedure.

Best wishes to both of you with your conditions and of course to everybody else on this forum!

I hope your biopsy goes well. I’m having one in a couple of weeks time so I hope you let us know how it goes. It’s so good to find others at the beginning of this journey but I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long. It’s the time in limbo and the not knowing that’s not helpful. I wonder if you have a specially dedicated cancer nurse? Our hospital has two who are contactable by phone and mine by email.

I’m not a religious person but I’m sending you my warmest wishes for the best possible outcome.

Daisy

I've had two core biopsies and had heard some real horror stories about them, but the reality was quite different.

I did ask my oncologist to prescribe a dose of lorazepam I could take prior to the procedure and I made sure to tell the doctor doing the biopsy that I have an extreme fear of local anaesthetics, so he took that part very slowly and everything was literally painless.  He also warned me about the noise I would hear as each specimen was taken.

When I needed the second biopsy, I specifically asked for the same doctor.

Any biopsy which only samples a portion of a lesion can be inconclusive, but CT guidance should ensure that samples are being taken from the correct place.  There are risks but they are managed and you will be kept for an hour or two after the biopsy to ensure that no major complications have developed.

I have become my own advocate over the last couple of years and I no longer tolerate health professionals trying to dismiss or minimise my concerns.

I understand your frustration.  I've waited almost 5 months for surgery following a suspected recurrence last year and I was only given a surgery date a couple of weeks ago.  Whenever I'm waiting for the healthcare system to do something before the next step can happen, I feel like I have no control, and that's extremely unpleasant.