Bone Biopsy experience

[dunnellon]

Hi all! I want to thank everyone who shared their lung biopsy experiences with me in June. I was reassured by your comments and good wishes. Unfortunately, there was not enough tissue taken for a diagnosis. I had a meningioma removed from my cervical spine 3 weeks ago, still painful, but thankfully benign. Now I'm facing a bone biopsy on 2 of the thoracic vertebrae. I would really appreciate your experience with this bone biopsy as it is even scarier to me than the needle lung biopsy was! (It doesn't help that my husband drops me at the hospital door and can't be with me due to this Covid 19. Ugh!)

[Seaspray298]

I had the T-5 biopsied back in 2014 which confirmed my adenocarcinoma diagnosis. I am a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fl and it is a teaching hospital. As I was laying on my stomach all I could see was the floor. The procedure started with me observing 2 pairs of shoes and within a short time there were at least 10 pairs! They had to keep giving me numbing shots as the pain was fairly bad. Keeping my arms folded and my hands under my chin was a painful position for me with a bad shoulder. I remember it being tender for awhile but it did not keep me from walking my dog and doing my normal routine. Sending wishes for an easy & successful biopsy.

[dunnellon in reply to Seaspray298]

Seaspray298, thanks so much for your reply! I will be having the procedure at Shand's at the Univ. of FL in Gainesville, also a teaching hosp. I understand the value of hands on teaching, but with a procedure like this, I don't want to be anyone's 'first'! The first evaluation I had in Ocala did not think the vertebrae were an issue but the surgeon at UF (2nd opinion) thinks it is. I'm really scared of the biopsy and the diagnosis. Thank you for responding. It bolsters my courage. May I ask how far you live from Jacks? I'm about 3 hrs, 1 from FU Shands.

[Seaspray298 in reply to dunnellon]

You are having the procedure at a great place from what I have heard. Are you having a genetic profile sent off? You need to find out what mutations you have to know what type of drugs you may need in the future.

I live on the coast, in Atlantic Beach, 10 minutes from the Mayo Clinic. I have only being over the bridges to the city of Jacksonville a few times! I moved up here from Miami 7 years ago.

It is ok to be scared of the biopsy, but keep telling yourself it will be over quickly. Hope you get a boring diagnosis. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes. I am on Inspire.com as well in the nsclc survivors section!

[dunnellon in reply to Seaspray298]

I can hardly believe it! I had a call this morning from the thoracic surgeon at Shands and his team agreed with the team in Ocala where I had the meningioma taken care of 7/10 that the 2 vertebrae did not present as cancerous! No bone biopsy as of now. I need a couple more weeks to heal and a lung function test and a new PET before surgery. Last one was 6/1. So very happy, love 'boring' diagnosis!

I thought about going to Mayo in Jacks, but Shands is closer and they're supposed to have a good lung team as far as surgery goes. If I need more treatment, they will coordinate with an oncologist near me. I live in Dunnellon, moved from PA in 2002. This little town has its blessings but is inconvenient when it comes to big city needs like hospitals and airports.

Thanks for the Inspire.com suggestion. I find a lot of support and very useful information in this forum and Meningioma Mamas as well. BTW, love the 'Seaspray' name!

[Seaspray298 in reply to dunnellon]

Yayyyy, so happy for you! I would not rush into the lung wedge resection as they do not know if you have any cancer at all. I have learned over the years we all have spots and lesions and many are benign. Hopefully the PET scan will not light up much and you can forget about this.

When I first started my journey, my oncologist thought for sure I was a candidate for oliogometastic disease, which many times is curable. I had one lesion in my right lower lung, one on the vertebra and possibly 2 on the ribs. The PET scan showed 4 spots on my liver so I went for a liver biopsy (before the vertebra biopsy). Biopsy came back clear, no cancer. BUT, the head of radiologist told me I was not a candidate for treatment of oliogometastic (radiation & systemic aggressively) because he believed the liver spots were cancer and I would not be alive in 1 year. Well, obviously I proved him wrong and make sure I do not use him for any of my radiation treatments. Nothing has showed up on my liver in the 6 year journey I have been on.

I know how relieved you are! Hope your healing well from the meningioma surgery and staying away from germs! Have not been through your town although I think I visited one of the springs many, many years ago when I was a Gator at UF!!

Keep in touch! It looks like we both have fur-babies that need us!

[dunnellon in reply to Seaspray298]

You might have been thru Ocala and at Silver Springs. Our claim to fame is Rainbow Springs.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to dunnellon]

Congratulations!

[dunnellon in reply to Denzie]

Thanks so much Denzie! Been on a high all day! Celebrating when we can is a good thing, right? As my Mom would say, don't get too high, don't get too low!

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to dunnellon]

We need to celebrate every good thing. It reinforces hope and your experience will bring hope to others. Happy dance!

[dunnellon in reply to Denzie]

Love those happy dances!

[rdflynnjr in reply to dunnellon]

Congratulations. All news is important, but good news is best.

[dunnellon in reply to rdflynnjr]

Thank you! The surgeon wants a new PET on 9\1. The first one was 3 months ago to confirm a meningioma in my spine and the 1.7cm nodule was found incidentally. My needle biopsy was 'inconclusive, suspicious'. This surgeon is hot to trot to cut. Now I'm wondering if this PET shows no change where to go from there.

[rdflynnjr in reply to dunnellon]

I have always gotten a second opinion before any new therapy. It helps give peace of mind.

I hope your PET scan shows no hyper metabolic activity.

[dunnellon in reply to rdflynnjr]

Thanks. No activity would be sweet! Yes, I think another opinion would be the way to go although I'm not sure this surgeon's ego would survive. He's really good at what he does, but has the empathy of a doorknob!

[rdflynnjr in reply to dunnellon]

If the second opinion is in agreement, then you can go back to the “doorknob”. If it is not in agreement, get a third opinion.

A doctor at Henry Ford Hospitol in Detroit was going to open my-son-in-law’s chest to biopsy a lung lesion. He then went to see a pulmonologist at Michigan University and they advised him to wait. After three years now and there is no change in last CT scan.

[dunnellon in reply to rdflynnjr]

Thank you! Sound Advice!