Is a brassiere necessary after undergoing a needle biopsy?

October 20, 2022 12:31 PM

I grew up in the 70s and have always been a kind of free-swingin' gal...That is, I haven't worn a brassiere since junior high school and have always worn camisoles or tank tops underneath my blouses and T-shirts. I am now scheduled for a needle biopsy for next week and among the instructions I was given was to bring a sports bra or supportive undergarment to hold an ice pack and just plain avoid post-needle pain. Do I need to shop for lingerie? (more inside)

Had an ultrasound this AM and got the news that the radiologist "didn't like what she saw" so I'm scheduled for a needle biopsy next week. As I mentioned, I don't regularly wear a bra, don't own one. The person scheduling the appointment said a sports bra or tight tank top would support the ice pack. Just how painful is a needle biopsy after the fact? She also said I might want to wear a button-up blouse in case it's too painful to raise my arm after the procedure. But aren't most sports bras the type you slip over your head - no hooks or fasteners? Advice and anecdotes are welcome!

posted by Oriole Adams to Health & Fitness (16 answers total)

Needle biopsy from many years ago; not much pain as you'll probably be numbed up. A slightly tight tank top should do the job for you. Wishing you a good outcome. (I'm 26 years over BrCA.)
posted by lois1950 at 12:48 PM on October 20, 2022 [2 favorites]

I would makeshift by wearing a cami and pulling it close to my body with a couple of rubber bands. Roll the bottom hem of your cami to make a shelf bra, tighten it around your body by pulling excess fabric and use the rubber bands to hold, then place the ice pack where you need it.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 12:50 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

It's a very small ice pack, so, if you really had no other options, you could easily hold it in place with a square of gauze and surgical tape. Unless you had unusual bleeding you wouldn't even need to replace the gauze when you changed it, just use new tape when the old tape lost its adhesiveness.
posted by praemunire at 12:55 PM on October 20, 2022 [4 favorites]

Yes, most sports bras are pull-on, but they do come in other styles. Front closure would probably work better than back if your arm movement is limited, so here's a link to the Target search results for front closure sports bras, sorted by price, low to high. Looks like you could easily get something for under $25. I'd maybe size up just to make sure it's not compressing the biopsy site and that there's room for the ice pack.
posted by librarina at 1:03 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

Maybe an Ace bandage, especially if a nurse will help you put it on? Handy to have around anyway, and cheaper than a garment.

I liked a bit of support and ice afterwards myself.
posted by clew at 1:12 PM on October 20, 2022 [2 favorites]

I wore a close fitting seamless bralette for 24 hours after my biopsy 2 years ago and it was just fine it was not as restrictive as a sports bra, and was on sale for around 8 bucks at Nordstrom rack. I had no problem putting it on after the procedure because I was very, very numb.

The ice pack I received was about the size of a Chips Ahoy cookie, so it tucked in there easily.

Good thoughts for speedy results that find nothing of significance!
posted by kimberussell at 1:16 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

I found the support desirable after mine, but when I free-swing, we're talking a pretty substantial arc. I didn't find the pain too bad, but the ice packs were very welcome, and a soft bra was perfect for managing them. I definitely did not have difficulty moving my arms.
posted by restless_nomad at 1:30 PM on October 20, 2022

Last June I underwent a mammogram and an automatic ultrasound based on my history of dense breast tissue (I just turned 52 a couple weeks ago). I was called back because of what they called suspect 'focal differences' of my right breast. This meant that the difference wasn't seen identically on the left side. Second mammogram and ultrasound - same result. The radiologist came in and told me I had to immediately have a needle biopsy and see a breast surgeon. Given that I had just had a meeting with my gynecologist the week prior for excessive bleeding and my mother's history of uterine cancer, I was just having a *stellar* few days.

I was able to get in to see a breast surgeon within a day or so and she said that not only had they tagged the wrong side of my right breast in the report, but what the radiologist reported as an abnormality seemed to her like just normal breast tissue. In fact, the radiologist never even showed me where it was, or had me feel it - the breast surgeon did. I never even thought to ask the radiologist because I was so freaked out. I panicked for DAYS.

The 5mm 'lesion' feels kind of like a small lateral piece of scar tissue thinner than a grain of rice (not pea shaped), and is something I've felt as long as I've been feeling my own boobs. It's in a really weird spot kind of behind the top of my areola and very hard to locate unless you really hunt because it's deep. I actually started sobbing in front of this woman that I had never met before. And she gave me the *best* hug. This surgeon told me that radiologists ROUTINELY send women for these needle biopsies without sending them for consults first and that it's not really fair.

If it's at all possible, please go for a consult with a surgeon. Have them look at your scans and do an exam on you. I really, truly hope for the best outcome for you. It's a horrible, horrible feeling to be left hanging.


Oh, and my hysteroscopy was negative. I had a uterine ablation done, a Mirena placed, and not a single period since. Yay!
posted by dancinglamb at 2:13 PM on October 20, 2022 [4 favorites]

if you were my friend and asked me for advice, I would lend you a few sports bras or other generally sized bras so that you could use something temporarily without having to buy yourself new stuff. I would probably lend/give you stuff I wasn't using very often and didn't really care about, in case you got blood on it or whatever...

In fact, if you give me your address (and you're in the mainland US) I can send you a couple of camisoles that have shelf bras in them if those would be helpful.
posted by cacao at 3:53 PM on October 20, 2022 [5 favorites]

I had a needle biopsy done this year, for two lumps. I didn't realize beforehand that for each lump they took three needle punches, to get a good cross-section to biopsy. I wasn't able to take ibuprofenm, and acetaminophen does nothing for me, so the icepacks and my ability to position them were a big help. I had a light-support sports bra I could step into, but could probably have pulled it over my head without issue if I needed to, and it held the icepack well. If you have a tank top with a shelf (no padding) that will probably be enough, but if you can get the sports bra on the cheap I'd recommend that. Best of luck - sending good thoughts your way.
posted by wheek wheek wheek at 5:01 PM on October 20, 2022

I think some of this is going to depend on cup size. I am an E cup and required a switch in methods to complete the biopsy (meaning added pokes), so I was sleeping in a tank with shelf lining for several nights after to reduce jostling, which ordinarily I would never do because I cannot stand any band around me after 7 pm. But provided you have something(s) that could be jerry-rigged to hold an ice pack and to minimize movement a bit if that's an issue, I don't think a lingerie purchase is needed.

Everyone's mileage may vary, but my impression is that they do try to numb things well, and the aftermath was not any worse in my experience than the couple of times I have wound up in an unfortunate boob-bruising situation from a fall or similar. Wishing you good luck.
posted by LadyInWaiting at 5:49 PM on October 20, 2022 [2 favorites]

I would wear a tight fitting but stretchy camisole with thin straps and a shelf bra (if possible). That way you have options to remove by pulling it down if you don't want to lift your arms.

Wishing you all the best for the procedure. I hope that everything turns out to be benign.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 11:32 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: The 5mm 'lesion' feels kind of like a small lateral piece of scar tissue thinner than a grain of rice (not pea shaped), and is something I've felt as long as I've been feeling my own boobs. It's in a really weird spot kind of behind the top of my areola and very hard to locate unless you really hunt because it's deep. I actually started sobbing in front of this woman that I had never met before. And she gave me the *best* hug. This surgeon told me that radiologists ROUTINELY send women for these needle biopsies without sending them for consults first and that it's not really fair.

If it's at all possible, please go for a consult with a surgeon. Have them look at your scans and do an exam on you. I really, truly hope for the best outcome for you. It's a horrible, horrible feeling to be left hanging.

Thanks very much for sharing your story! I am mentally kicking myself because I used to get annual mammograms for about five years and always got an "all clear" report. So later when my insurance changed and life got busy I kept putting off the exam. Went back last week and got the call about a "mass' on my right side. One part of your comment stands out for me - that they'd tagged the wrong breast for your report. When I was lying on the table for my ultrasound, the technician was wanding and wanding for what seemed forever and then the intern who was shadowing her said something I couldn't quite hear. The tech looked at the screen and then said "Oh, you're right....thank goodness for another pair of eyes." I asked what was up and she just said something about the settings on the machine or something about my mammogram, I don't know. Wasn't particularly reassuring.
posted by Oriole Adams at 12:33 PM on October 21, 2022 [1 favorite]

Before having anything invasive done (and most *definitely* if your instincts are going off!), go get a second opinion. I've not ever heard of insurance not paying for one, and for what it's worth - when I had the first mammography done, it had been about 10 years since my last one. Really, really bad for an RN trained in women's health!

I don't think that I indicated in my original post that the breast surgeon specialized in oncology, in case that wasn't clear. I knew that one way or the other, I would have to go see her and that if anybody was going to do a needle biopsy, it wasn't going to be a radiologist doing it.

Fingers crossed that everything turns out well and in your favor. Big hugs!
posted by dancinglamb at 12:03 PM on October 22, 2022

Response by poster: Thanks again for all of your responses. In case anyone is still reading, the biopsy turned out to be a bee sting, pain-wise...I only used the ice pack for the first 20 minutes, took a Tylenol and all was well. Stripped off the bra I'd spent $55 on the day before in the car on the way home because it was uncomfortable (I'm not used to wearing one). Minimal bruising, no swelling, able to sleep with no discomfort. The other shoe dropped this AM - my PCP called and said she'd heard from the pathologist and didn't have a full report yet but she gave me the names of some specialists to contact. On the plus side she kept reiterating that it was "very early" and "very small"; on the minus side the surgeon she recommended that I contacted won't schedule an appointment until they get the pathology report, film, etc. I sort of thought as much before I phoned for an appointment - I had no details as to what I was dealing with (size, type of tumor, etc). (Is it customary for the pathologist to report to the PCP and not the patient?) Anyway, I do appreciate all the replies and support, thanks so much.
posted by Oriole Adams at 12:30 PM on October 27, 2022

The pathologists will always contact your PCP before contacting the patient first. Depending on where you live, there has only just recently been a change where it is now required by law that patients can see their test results firsthand. Up until now in the US, it was always the doctors that got them and then disseminated their interpretation. On the one hand, that's great if you're a hypochondriac and don't have medical knowledge. On the other, if you are a medical professional or have a modicum of medical knowledge, it can feel like forever to know the results. I understand both sides of the debate, but some doctors still drag their feet.

I hope you get good news soon. Fingers crossed!
posted by dancinglamb at 7:48 PM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]