Small breasts and excisional biopsy

The attempt to do a steriotopic biopsy failed because my breasts are too small.  I have an excisional biopsy scheduled for Thursday.  The area of concern is one of 4 clusters of microcalcifications.  The radiologist and the breast surgeon concurred that since they were going in surgically, they might as well biopsy a second cluster that was going to be watched with 6 month mammograms.  How much tissue is removed?  I'm only a 32A.  I fear I will be left with nothing!
This site has been wonderfully helpful!  Thank you

[braveheart2]

Over a period of over 20 years I am a veteran of 5 lumpectomies, 1 stereotactic core needle biopsy and 1 wire-guided excisional biopsy (the latter just last Monday). Despite all of these tissue-removing procedures, my breasts actually look no different than they did before. Old scars have faded and are barely visible; there are no dents, puckers, or divots; and my new scar from last week's excisional biopsy is healing well and shows no obvious absence of tissue. So please don't worry!!! If anything, your breast tissues will be slightly thicker and a little swollen right after surgery as your body goes through the normal healing phases, but then all should be well.

Let us know how it all goes for you! We'll be thinking of you on Thursday. Remember, the odds are in your favor -- they estimate that 80% of microcalcifications associated with benign tissue changes. Kind regards...

[peekawho]

I had no problems with my first biopsy (I had small breasts, too) but the second one was very near the nipple and completely undermined it, causing it to collapse to the side.

[momzr]

I had an excisional biopsy in July.  I was JUST like you.  Very small . . . not even sure I truly fill an "A" cup!  The sterotactic also did not work for me because of my small size.  I, too, worried about excisional and can remember the surgeon saying they'd take a small sample maybe a dime in size and I thought to myself  'I'm not even sure my nipple is a quarter in size' - so a dime sized area sounded rather large to me - ha!  However, when he did it the incision is right around the edge of the aerola and it did not significantly change the way the breast actually works.  As others have said - 80% of time these turn out to be nothing, so try not to overly stress!  Good luck.

[texasroselm]

I am happy to hear about all of you having no lasting disfigurement from your biopsies.  I have to wonder if my surgeon screwed up... I had an excisional biopsy done due to two clusters of microcalcs at the end of July this year.  I was told by him that i would only be left with scaring around the ariola.  I also am an A cup.  My breast is very disfugured nipple collaped in on itself and off to the side of my breast now.  I am also an inch smaller on the left.  I was told by him that he removed approx. 2 and 1/2 cotton balls worth of material.  Does anyone know if this is a normal amout to be removed for a biopsy?  my results were begnign (fibrocystic changes) but i cant seem to get through one day without shedding some tears over the fact that i feel so violated and disfigured.  i feel violated as i feel that the surgeon lied to me about the procedure and continued to lie to me afterwards.  he told me that he did not remove any skin but i have had 4 plastic surgeons tell me otherwise.

[marybeth725]

A related discussion, stereotactic vs excisional biopsy was started.