MRI guided Biopsy - What was your experience like?

Hematomas are interesting> After my final surgery in Dec of 2022, I noticed the bubbling at the stitching on my left breast. Day 2 it was more. I took a picture and sent it to my doctor trough the portal. On the 7th day which was my day post op to visit my surgeon and plastics doctor., it had gotten bigger. I must add the skin bruising was crazy blue so all of it was not so pretty. By this time, the hematoma had grown. They had the pictures. My breast surgeon was 1st in the morning and looked and asked questions, she got on the phone and called the plastics dr. I doodled about after she assured me the next dr would take care of me.
I could not figure out what to eat, drank some fluid, had a few chips and got a call from the plastics dr to come earlier. Whoa.I got there and was told my plastics dr was on a plane, but he set up another dr to do the surgery!!!!! At 6:00pm, because i did not have lunch or eat i was cleared for surgery. The dr had to open me up, cleanout that breast and ensure no infection had set in.
After I had more drain tubes, but these were bigger and sturdier then the first ones i had. Easier for me to drain without feeling like i was pulling them out. The dressing where the tube enters the skin did not need changing like the other one did.
All in all, I say if you have pain or something is not right, notify the medical team. I found out later my breast surgeon followed up on the plastics dr to make sure i had the surgery the same day. Not everyone has access to this type of care. That is not right.

I've had a mammo, MRI and US guided. All were painless except for a tiny sting with Lidocaine injection.

@bpknitter53
Your story about ice pack reminds me of my experience. They gave me an ice pack that slipped into bra but biobsy spot was close to center of chest and pack would not stay put. I should of wore a sports bra. I remember walking thru Mayo subway on way back to parking ramp with my hand over breast, kind like I was saying pledge of allegiance.

I had the same issue when an area in the opposite breast that revealed a small suspicious spot. The doctor tried to biopsy it by ultrasound but was not able to locate it. Then I had an MRI guided biopsy and I thought it was actually less painful afterwards than when I had the ultrasound biopsy and that biopsy came back benign and the spot was more than likely a cyst.

Great advice. Ty!

@chitown - I've had both the ultrasound and MRI guided biopsies. After the procedures they provided me with an ice pack - but only one. I purchased ahead a couple bags of frozen peas which I used to alternate for the biopsy spot to help with the slight pain as the spot became unnumbed from the procedure. For me the MRI procedure was less painful - might have been from the technician's skill, the number of spots they tested or because during the ultrasound biopsy they also inserted a marker. This would have made the MRI procedure more precise since they knew exactly where to biopsy. During both procedures they provided a helper that held my hand or just touched me during the procedure which actually helped to calm me. But the procedure itself wasn't very long. Best of luck to you. Just as a precaution if you have to travel a distance for your procedure you might want to have someone go with you to drive you home. I drove myself there and back and stopped for a beverage on my way home just to calm myself as I was driving home. But it would have been nice to have someone with me just for support.

Super helpful! Thank you. I'm a bit anxious about it.

I had an MRI guided biopsy and found it to be much better than the previous mammogram guided biopsy. Because the mammogram guided biopsy was quite awful, I asked my physician for a Valium to take before the procedure. Quite honestly, I believe the physician for the MRI biopsy was much more skilled than the one I had for the mammogram. I’m not sure how much the Valium helped, but this procedure was much less painful. They will place an IV for contrast. You will have a 5-10 minute time for them to find the area while lying on your stomach. You will feel the prick of the needle to deaden the area and then will only feel pressure once the biopsy is happening. It is a short procedure. You may have a bit of bruising in the area afterward. Best wishes to you.

@chitown
Multi ways to do breast biobsy, ultrasound guided, mammogram or MRI.

My first biobsy I had was an ultrasound guided biobsy for tumor. Then had a MRI, found another spot. They then scheduled another biobsy using MRI because of location.
The decision is usually made by Radiation Oncologist and Oncologists.

Super helpful. Ty