Bronchoscopy

[monkeygirl62]

Tomorrow I am having a bronchoscopy and it's obviously necessary since I have lung involvement with my breast cancer. I am having a little anxiety about this procedure. I have a DVT under my left armpit where one of the cancer mass is with numerous blood clots. The surgeon said I will be asleep. Can anyone please share they're experience with this test/ procedure?

[kiwi67]

I cannot help from a personal point of view as I have not had one, but as a nurse I have seen a few and you will be asleep and know nothing. You might have a bit of a sore throat and cough afterwards but that is all. All the best for tomorrow

[monkeygirl62 in reply to kiwi67]

Thank you!!

[Flower1513]

My mom had this done also. She was super nervous also and it was super easy. You will be just fine!!

[monkeygirl62 in reply to Flower1513]

Thank you!!

[Gingerann1]

I had one not related to my MBC diagnosis in 2018. It was easy. I don’t remember having a sore throat or cough. Just being woosey from the anesthesia for a bit. You got this!

[NPmary]

I am not trying to add to your anxiety with my question - I am sure you will do fine with the procedure. I have lung involvement that recently progressed. I was told the only way to know if cancer is in the branches is to do a bronchoscopy, the procedure was not recommended. I am just wondering what the specific reasoning for the procedure is in your case and what else I should perhaps know that I don't about this.Thank you for bearing with me. 🌺

[monkeygirl62 in reply to NPmary]

NPmary, so it's done now and I am back home now. They did the procedure because of lymph nodes and a mass in right lung and only went in the airways not in the lung itself. They are checking to see if the mets are all metastatic breast cancer or something else. I woke up coughing but now no more coughing, no sore throat and I feel the same like before the procedure. Except for a weird rash on my IV arm.

[NPmary in reply to monkeygirl62]

Thank you, sounds like you are recovering well. Wish you the best, let us know about your results and again hoping for the best. 🌺

[Chamisa]

I had one where the doctor concurrently took biopsies in three places in my lungs. We knew it was MBC but we needed a biopsy of the tissue to guide treatment decisions. It was either do my lungs (put out) or liver (awake) and I chose lungs because I was so anxiety-ridden I didn’t want to be awake for the procedure. My main issue was I had a lot of coughing afterward, which I hadn’t been forewarned about. Other than that the experience was not bad. I know it’s important to work with a practiced surgeon. I was at a big teaching medical center in Dallas (UT-Southwestern) and my doctor was an expert at the procedure.

[monkeygirl62 in reply to Chamisa]

I would have chosen lungs too. Oh doing liver awake would be more anxiety for me.

[fancydog]

Early in my journey I had 2 Bronchoscopies because the primary tumor was in an airway, then another because I developed pneumonia and was bleeding some in my lungs but that healed up nicely, then I had another one in 2020 to see if they could biopsy a spot right beside an airway but they could not reach it and I had to have a surgical biopsy done. I did not have an existing DVT as you in any of these but I would think precautions will be taken. The actual procedure is very easy with a quick recovery, best wishes for you.

[monkeygirl62 in reply to fancydog]

They did take precautions with the leg pumps for a DVT. Funny thing though the DVT is under my left armpit where the cancer mass made numerous blood clots not in my legs. Lol.

[Burtie1]

Praying everything is ok. I don't know anything about this. Sorry. Positive thinking. Everything will work out good!

[Denfer]

I had a bronchoscopy a couple weeks ago and it was easy. Twilight sedation. I was to investigate the cause of my lung inflammation. Easy peasy

[Widdershins3]

I had to have one of those last year and I too was anxious about it. But the doctors made certain that I had one of those anesthetics that result in amnesia and it worked like a charm. Afterward I had some scratchiness in my throat that cleared in a day or two, but no bad after-effects from the procedure. I slept through it and had no memory of the procedure at all. Best of luck!

[monkeygirl62 in reply to Widdershins3]

I did sleep through it 🥱 thank God, took care of the anxiety that's for sure!