Hi Maggie 

i had a vacuum assisted biopsy exactly a year ago. This was after a needle biopsy which confirmed I had Atipical Hyperplasia. The vacuum biopsy was successful in removing the offending cells  and I didn’t need any further treatment, but have to go to the breast unit at the hospital each year for a mammogram. 

My mammogram is tomorrow, and I don’t mind adminting I’m very nervous about it. 

The vacuum biopsy itself was a little painful. I should have asked for more pain relief earlier as they had just about finished when I did ask.

i had a very black bruise after but it wasn’t painful and the small scar had disappeared completely in 6 months. 

Hope this puts your mind at ease

i never gave having a mammogram a second thought and it was a huge shock last year, but I realise I was very lucky for it to be caught when it could be easily  treated. Still worried about tomorrow though keep your fingers crossed for me. 

Hi Ann, 

Thanks so much for your reply, at least I know now a little of what to expect. Is the procedure done while you're in the  mammogram machine? I can't even  begin to imagine that but I'll make sure to ask for as much pain relief as possible. Consultant has also told me to expect asymmetry in breast afterwards as well. Wishing you the very best of luck for tomorrow and of course I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.       x

Hi again Maggie, 

Mine was done while in the mammogram  machine, but not the one that you stand up to I was lead on my side with left breast clamped very tightly. It was done by a consultant radiographer who was very nice and the other radiographer was lovely, the nurse was brilliant and kept me talking to take my mine off the procedure.  It really wasn’t too bad, not pleasant but I went straight home and was fine for my 2 year old grandson to come round with his mum and dad in the afternoon. 

In fact a funny story, he came in and announced Gran Gran has sore booby so I have to be careful, son said sorry Mum I had to tell him so he didn’t throw himself at you. Daughter in law asked if I was bruised and when I thought grandson was playing I said I don’t know as I have this massive dressing on and showed her. 

On his way out Ivor very loudly announced Gran Gran got very big plaster on her booby and told all at his nursery next day. 

Hi again Ann,

LOL, that story about your grandson definitely made me laugh, kids really are the best medicine. I wondered about the mammogram machine, didn't know how they would do that when you were standing so now I know, I like to have as much info as possible before I go in as you've probably guessed...lol. I'm a bleeder as well, dr doing the 3 biopsies really struggled because of bleeding and the poor nurse trying to stop it without totally panicking me. Already been told by the consultant to tell them I'm a bleeder before they start anything. Best of luck again for tomorrow.    x

Thats a hilarious and very sweet story of your grandson :) 

I had VAB done twice about two months ago. The first time was similar to Maggie#s where my doctor wasnt too satisfied with the core needle biopsy that came back benign vs what she saw on the scans. My first VAB came back as benign breast changes with a variety of conditions and so, my doctor recommended removal and so,  I underwent a second VAB for purposes of removal. 

I actually didnt feel any pain at all. The first bit is similar to the core biopsy where they numb your breast with anaesthesia (maybe a higher dosage) and after that, you feel some tugging and pushing in a blunt way. You might be a bit wary of the sounds which alternates between a drill and a vacuum. I had mine done lying down on a regular patient examination bed and they rolled the machine to the side of the bed. Though, I might add that my first VAB had me do a mammogram right after the procedure in order to take a pic of a clip they left om the site of the tumour, and boy, that mammogram post procedure was indeed quite uncomfortable as the nurse cldnt find the clip and so, we had to do teh mammogram multiples ways three times. 

A few hours after, you may feel a bit of throb and discomfort, but not really outright pain per se. 

Let us know how you get on darlings, both of you. 

I was lucky/brilliant nurse and had very little bleeding. She applied pressure for 30 minutes as she was determined I wouldn’t  bleed or bruise and then put loads of strips in  a star over the insision. I did have a big bruise but that was a perfect oblong shape and was well away from the insision, but it  wasn’t painful, In  fact I didn’t need any pain killers at all in the days after. I can’t think of anything else to tell you, but try not to worry ( not easy I know) if I’d asked for more local anaesthetic a bit earlier I would have been fine.  I’ve had more pain at the dentist. 

Thanks for your good wishes for tomorrow. 

I know I’ve been very lucky as I would never have known there was anything wrong without  last years mammogram as the abnormal cells were the size of grains of sand 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it puts my mind at rest knowing that it's probably not anywhere near as bad as I think. My VAB isn't until 15th Sept but will definitely let you know how I get on.    x

Thanks again for sharing your experience. Dr and nurse at my biopsy were both fantastic and I'm sure the ones doing this will be too. Let me know how you get on tomorrow.         x

Hi 

I had my mammogram this afternoon, but  nothing to report as have to wait 4 to 6 weeks for results. I was hoping to either get them today or very soon.  I will just have to forget about it for a few weeks and try and keep busy, which isn’t easy in this in today’s circumstances, every thing I was involved with is closed we have Facebook and WhatsApp groups that we have set up which are great but not the same as meeting up with family and friends. I shielded for 14 weeks due to a compromised immune system, but I’m back out and about using extreme caution. 

Maggie hope all goes well for you and maybe I will get my results about the same time you have your VAB and we both get good news. 

Ann x

Hi Ann,    

Glad that now it's all done for you but I know what you mean about the waiting, it seems to take ages especially when it's getting more difficult to keep your mind on other things. I've just recieved a computer to allow me to work from home so that'll keep me a bit busier at least. My VAB isn't scheduled until 15th September so we probably will get our results around the same time. Here's hoping it's good news for both of us. Take care.

Maggie       x