Biopsy and Spread of Breast Cancer

Biopsy is a less invasive way of determining if the problem is indeed cancer. Once upon a time they just surgically removed the lump and if it tested for cancer then a bigger operation was needed to remove the entire breast and the nearby lymph nodes as well.

Imagine what a travesty it would be if Drs just removed entire breasts only to find on biopsy of it that it was merely a fatty lump or something benign.

I had both a needle biopsy and the needle punch biopsy and it was weeks before the actual surgery and I too thought gee what if they have opened up that cancer lump and allowed it into my lymph nodes? My sentinel node on a scan looked good with no increase in size at the time.

When I had surgery to remove the entire breast (my option) the surgeon only took the one sentinel node. That node tested positive to cancer as well as the breast and that meant I had to have another surgery to remove all of my axillary lymph nodes for testing. No other nodes in biopsy showed any cancer. Ok, its nice to know they got to the bottom of it all but now I have an arm which for the rest of my life needs to be protected against any damage as there are no more lymph nodes left of mention to heal anything. I also get lymphedema right down to my hand from time to time so I cannot do a lot of heavy lifting or any major repetitive movements or the swelling returns.

Was the needle or punch biopsy responsible for spreading the cancer into my sentinel node? I don't think so. It wouldn't have had time establish into a biopsy detectable mass. Cancer can be fast but its not THAT fast. In hindsight before cancer was detected in me, I did used to get like a tingly little finger, rather like I had banged my elbow or something. I think that was the sentinel node pain because after the surgery that tingly finger business was gone. I would have had cancer in that node for several weeks before we found the breast cancer or biopsied it.