This probably is the scariest part of the process. Everything is still unknown. You've probably had symptoms of some kind for months. Myself, I itched for 6 months, 24 hours a day every day, before the biopsy. It was almost a relief to know that finally we could know what was wrong, even if it meant cancer.
This is really the easiest part though as well as the scariest. You will probably spend one day in hospital as an out-patient. Take a Walkman and magazines and prepare to spend the day relaxing. The surgery is quick and the pain medication will keep you comfortable, so think of the day as a vacation from your hectic life.
I took along Sports Illustrated and classical piano to read and listen to before my procedure. When I went into the operating room, they told me that all my vital signs showed I was extremely relaxed. I believe that this helped me to recover more quickly.
A few days before you go to the hospital you will want to arrange for people to take you to and from the hospital and to help you out for a few days afterwards. It's not that you'll be an invalid, but the surgery will make you more tired, and in my case it was shoulder surgery so I couldn't lift things like trash. Well, I could, but it hurt for two hours afterwards and there were people that would have been more than happy to help me if I'd let them. Let your friends and family pamper you. You deserve it and it will make them feel a little more at ease in the process. This is scary for them too, and it helps if they have something to do while you go through it.
Expect to have soreness in the biopsy area for about 3-6 weeks. There may be some nerve damage that will make the area seem numb for a bit, kinda like going to the dentist, but that will go away as the nerves regenerate themselves.
Copyright 1996, 1997. Last updated March 23, 1996.