FNA Biopsy Today

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

So, I went for my biopsy today. The doctor said it would feel like having bloods taken.......... DID IT HELL!!!

The doc checked my head and neck, breasts and groin for lymph nodes. Basically all of the areas I told him I have them. He agreed that they were lymph nodes but said that because I am slim I would be able to feel them anyway. My problem with this statement is that I have always been slim and never felt them like this up until the last year and a half and since that period they seem to be popping up every where.

Anyway, he done the FNA and only got the smallest amount of blood out of it. My question is..... is this normal to have such a small amount of fluid withdrawn?? He just about had enough for two slides and the other two slides were left empty. And, should it be blood that comes out or a clear fluid??

The doctor also done bloods and chest x-ray's. I have been told that my biopsy results will be back with the doctor today but he will wait until the bloods and the x-ray report before writing out to me to tell me my results..... this will take 14 days. Its really annoying to know that someone holds the answer to your problems in their hands and you cant find out for 14 days.

Well, he didn’t biopsy the collarbone node as it was too difficult to do so he done one further up my neck which he says will give him a lot more information. The node has now twice the size it was before i went in to the doctors and man does it hurt. (Don’t worry, I know this is because of the biopsy and will go down and stop hurting in a few days)

Has anyone else gone through a FNA and what was your experience?

Kindest regards,

reuben_payne · Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject: Re: FNA Biopsy Today

Hi,

I've had a couple of FNA biopsies done (three I think) - they tend to only get a bit - they seem to just poke the needle in, wiggle it around a bit, and smear it on the slides

I think they know whether they have enough when they are doing it - in one of mine they could see they didn't have a good enough sample, so they went back for more

Good luck for the results - it's a pain waiting for them isn't it!

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Thank you for reading my post reuben,

It really is a pain. i had the biopsy a week ago so I phoned the hospital today and they cant give me the results because there not all back yet. This is seriously doing my head in. I can focus on anything. The doctors PA was far from understanding and wouldn’t let me leave a message.

Anyway, you have had three done.............. One is more than enough for me.

How did yours turn out?

anjou · Experienced user Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 65

FNA is not the best -- if you are really concerned, I would insist on an excisional biopsy
_________________
Follicular lymphoma grade 3, stage 2 dx 9/99 CHOP x 3 3600 rads rituxan x4

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Thank you anjou,

i probably will when i get my results. I just need to know for sure that its not cancer otherwise it will play on the back of my mind forever.

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

I got sick of waiting today and phoned my GP to see if they had heard anything.

She has had a letter back. she asked if the consultant had phoned me, i said no, she asked if he had written, i said no........ then she told me that she has a letter but as all my tests arnt back yet they cant tell me anything at this stage. she said if i dont hear from the consultant this day next week then to phone her again. she told me that he will probably make another appointment to see me because they usually give you your results face to face!!.......... is this true??

She listed off the results that they are waiting on and to be honest she said them that quick that i cant even go and check them out but i know i didnt recognise many of them. It seems like such a long time to wait for results.......... how does this sound?? is this normal?? some one please tell me if you have heard of this situation before.

reuben_payne · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: FNA Biopsy Today

Hey Weston

Try not to be concerned about the delay - they can take a while to get the results - last one I had seemed to take ages to get the results back - I forget how long, but it was well over a week. It was particularly stressful as I was in the process of preparing to move overseas - I was convinced I would be told my Hodgkins had come back at the last second! (turned out ok, though)

Just hang in there - you'll get the results soon

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Thank you, I’m glad all turned out all right for you. Moving is stressful enough without worrying about illness too!!

I had my FNA on the 18th of May and I’m still waiting. I know the biopsy results are back but they keep telling me that they can’t tell me what it is until all of the blood tests are back. Im just so paranoid now. When I was talking to the doctor she seemed so evasive.

When she told me that the FNA results were back I asked her if it was ok and she said that she couldn’t tell me at the moment cos she is waiting on bloods. I may be ignorant but couldn’t they just give me the results of the tests they already have??

lol........... This really is driving me nuts. I will find out soon so the waiting will be over and I will be able to go back to normal and look back on all of this and swear I was nuts!!

Thanks for getting back to me.

Take care,

Tracey

Debbiefix · Regular Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 15 Location: CT

It seems to me that by now you should be told SOMETHING. It's been a couple of weeks now. They shouldn't keep you wondering. IT's so unnerving.

worriedmom69 · New User Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 4

Dear weston,

I know you might not be monitoring this site anymore, but I thought I'd try and see what happened with all your nodes, especially your chest one. I apologize if you updated in the forum and I missed it - I tried to scan through looking for one.

The reason I am interested is that my 12 year old daughter has a lump on her chest just below her collarbone. She has had a CT scan and x-ray that were clear. She was diagnosed with a mild case of mono last week, and so now the pediatric surgeon we were referred to and our pediatrician are saying "oh well that lump on her chest must be an enlarged lymph node from mono." But the radiologist said she didn't have any enlarged lymph nodes on the CT scan, and the lump was there a few weeks before she was diagnosed with the mono, so I am a little afraid to let my guard down about it.

I hope you had a good outcome with your situation. Any advice you can pass along would be appreciated.

brainman · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: FNA Biopsy Today

Hi worriedmom69,

Yes, the above post from Weston was the last one he posted. I do not know if he still checks the cancer forum or if he is notified via email of a reply to his topic. It never hurts to try Wink

. I hope he does reply with some information to help you.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

It has been a while since I posted. The FNA came back with "enlarged lymph node probably due to virus" it took me a long time to get the results from the hospital and they could not be any more specific. It was at that point that I thought I would be best for me to put it all behind me. Then in October 06 I started coughing up blood - remember I was only 27 at the time. I went to the doctors and my lymphocytes were 18.5 (raised) had a chest x ray which showed some "patchy inflammation on the base on my left lung" sputum test showed Pneumonia. Got that cleared up with antibiotics and relapsed in January 07.

Since that point I had already chosen to put everything behind me so that’s where I stand today. The doctor told me I was fine and I had no option but to believe him. I must say that I do have a thought about it daily and because of everything I have read about FNA I would definitely have an excisional biopsy - definitive answer!!

Obviously, mono can be in your body before you actually start showing symptoms and it is possible that the lymph node had picked up on this and was doing its job before you even knew your daughter felt unwell. However, if you are in any doubt whatsoever, at the very least get an FNA.

I hope your child is fine but please get a second opinion if necessary. I too have a child, 7, and I can only guess how you feel. Children are precious to take chances with. I was fortunate and I hope your child is to. Collar bone nodes are always worrisome, don’t let it drop until you are comfortable that they have done the right test and you’re happy with the response.

I am sorry I can’t be of any more help. Please keep the board posted on your progress as the information provided on these boards is at times a life line to the readers. Those people looking for information, hope, truth and honesty.

I will check back and look for good news from you.

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

p.s. i still have the collarbone node.

brainman · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: FNA Biopsy Today

Good to have an update on your story, Weston. I am glad you are alright now.

I totally agree with you on the FNA issue. It is so easy to get a false negative with one.

Best wishes for the Holiday season.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

weston · Regular Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 20

Thank you Brainman - I have read your story and now I get your tag. How are things now?

Thanks for the good wishes and i too hope that you have a very happy holiday season.

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