HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Joan M · 04-05-2011, 08:51 PM

Jessica,

Glad to hear that you're doing well.

I had a needle biopsy of my lung which was not bad. I was on my stomach and the biopsy was done through my back.

Spoiler alert: Potential for collapsed lung, which I didn't have. Potential to cough up blood, which happened to me. But it wasn't bad because I was warned and therefore knew in advance what to expect. Just a little tickle and a slight cough. I just let it drip onto the sheet in order not to move during the procedure.

The interventional radiologist was great. He told me what he was doing step-by-step, which I appreciated. No surprises.

After the procedure I was in the hospital for four hours and given a few x-rays to determine whether my lung collapsed.

Good luck!

Joan

04-05-2011, 08:51 PM	#7
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Lung Biopsy...what to expect? Jessica, Glad to hear that you're doing well. I had a needle biopsy of my lung which was not bad. I was on my stomach and the biopsy was done through my back. Spoiler alert: Potential for collapsed lung, which I didn't have. Potential to cough up blood, which happened to me. But it wasn't bad because I was warned and therefore knew in advance what to expect. Just a little tickle and a slight cough. I just let it drip onto the sheet in order not to move during the procedure. The interventional radiologist was great. He told me what he was doing step-by-step, which I appreciated. No surprises. After the procedure I was in the hospital for four hours and given a few x-rays to determine whether my lung collapsed. Good luck! Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!