Titanium breast marker clip causing pain

[Anonymous]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone else has had a stereotactic breast biopsy and then had a breast marker/clip that caused pain.

My breast biopsy went fine and I had minimal pain for a few days after. Then the pain started to get worse. I'd say it's an aching/burning type pain right in the spot of the biopsy (it has now been 2 months after my biopsy). There is no redness or lump but a burning, aching pain at the site. It's really bothersome. I looked up the type of marker/clip I received (which was described in my pathology report) and I learned that the clip is encased in a capsule-like object that is quite large compared to the size of the mass that was removed by the biopsy. My mass was tiny and this clip/capsule is 3 times the size of my mass. I have very small breasts (A cup) so I'm guessing it's the size of this capsule pressing on breast tissue in a small space that is causing this pain.

My mass was benign but now I want this clip removed. I am guessing I will need an excision surgery to remove the clip. I have a breast surgeon already so I am going to make an appointment to discuss this and ask for the surgery. Has anyone had to get their clip removed due to pain?

[Anonymous]

Oh, poor thing! Please call your doctor right away. I'm sorry you're in pain.

[Anonymous]

I had pain from the biopsy itself for months. Could it be from the biopsy or must the pain be from the marker?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry.

I also had a biopsy with a clip, then subsequent surgery to remove the mass (and the clip) and my breast hurts more during my cycle now. Sharp burning (not necessarily aching, but the period-related breast pain is absolutely worse after the biopsy and surgical trauma). My biopsy was a little over 4 months ago and surgery a little over 2 months ago. The cycle-related pain after the surgery was off the charts, and this month the pain pre-period was worse than usual, due to the tissue trauma (that lasts a while).

Biopsies are pretty deep cores, even on small breasts. Are you sure it's not that, instead of the clip?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for posting this. I go for a biopsy tomorrow. Gives me a clearer idea of what to possibly expect afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had pain from the biopsy itself for months. Could it be from the biopsy or must the pain be from the marker?

I came here to post this - I don't have a clip, but I have post-biopsy pain at times, especially around ovulation. BUT, mine is not as bad as what OP is describing. Mine feels like a sharp twinge.
I'm sorry OP, I hope your doctor can address this whether it is the clip or not.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure the whole clip and capsule are titanium, no stainless steel at all?
See what surgeon says about using a small clip. You will be having a lot of complicated mammograms.

[Anonymous]

The "capsule" is a cellulose type plug that your body absorbs. The biopsy clip is most likely titanium. (surgical clips are likely stainless steel). The pain could be from nerve regeneration sensitivity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for posting this. I go for a biopsy tomorrow. Gives me a clearer idea of what to possibly expect afterwards.

What OP describes is rare.

[Anonymous]

I really doubt it’s the clip and would suspect it’s still tissue trauma/healing from the procedure.

[Anonymous]

Why did they leave the clip in?

[Anonymous]

OP here. The purpose of the clip is to mark the biopsy site so that future images like a mammogram or ultrasound will show that the site has been biopsied.

The clip/marker is a titanium coil but it is encased in a large capsule (not made from metal but a clear substance). I believe what is happening here is that the large capsule is pressing on nearby tissues causing pressure and pain, since my mass was only 6 mm and the capsule is three times the size. So that is a huge difference in very small breasts (A cup). I want the clip removed. I was reading that I will probably need an excision in the operating room to do this, but I am willing because I don't want the clip in there. I did not want the clip to begin with and now it is causing more problems than the biopsy.

[Anonymous]

Your clip is 1.8 cm?! That is huge. Mine were a lot smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your clip is 1.8 cm?! That is huge. Mine were a lot smaller.

This literally makes no sense. I've had breast cancer and had multiple biopsies, including one where the clip actually came through the skin afterward due to the awkward sampling site and left a scar, and the clips were nowhere near that size. I've never heard of such a thing and feel like OP must be misunderstanding or misreading something. A typical clip is 3mm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your clip is 1.8 cm?! That is huge. Mine were a lot smaller.

This literally makes no sense. I've had breast cancer and had multiple biopsies, including one where the clip actually came through the skin afterward due to the awkward sampling site and left a scar, and the clips were nowhere near that size. I've never heard of such a thing and feel like OP must be misunderstanding or misreading something. A typical clip is 3mm.

My doctor told me it is smaller than a sesame seed. There are also surgical clips that are sometimes used during a lumpectomy or excisional biopsy that may be bigger. I will say, I have had several needle biopsies and there can be modest residual pain for several months.