Radiologist won't say it's fibroadenoma, wants biopsy, planning for bad news

[crazyforlatin]

Instead of one movable lump, the mammos (2D, 3D and magnification) and ultrasound now show 2 lumps and the radiologist or rather the nurse practitioner calls them tissue mass, not a cyst, can't even get them to say they are movable. And there's more stuff going on (they call it busy br--st), small white dots indicating calcification. I'm scheduled for a US Core Biopsy next week with 2-3 days turnaround time, so basically results in 2 weeks. They will only decide how to treat the calcification after biopsy result.

 

I'm preparing for the worse. I googled a little, landed on a forum that discussed calcification and cancer, and ended up even more depressed. Talked to a couple of friends and felt way worse. So I'm back here to ask for prayers and stories.

 

Of course I forgot to ask what stage is my situation. I don't think it has spread to the lymph nodes because no one mentioned that. 

 

By the way, I'm 43, and this is my first mammo which turned out to be 3 mammos in 2 hours. Wanted to avoid radiation and got 3 blast-fulls. But the compression part did not hurt at all. 

 

 

 

 

[prairiewindmomma]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

[zoobie]

:grouphug:

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

 

 

<hugs>

[Laurie4b]

Sorry that you have to wait so long! That is a really long time to be unsure. Most people find being unsure worse than an unwanted result but knowing what they're dealing with and having a plan. 

 

Unless google comforts you (some people are comforted by tons of info), don't google. You will hit all kinds of stuff to worry about ---and you only have whatever it is that you have not all the other "things" you can find. 

 

As a breast cancer survivor, here's what I would suggest: 

 

There is still a significant chance that you have benign masses. They don't know until the biopsy although a very experienced radiologist may sometimes know by particular characteristics of the mass on a mammo. (Mine did. I got the biopsy too, but she told me the day the mammo was done. I had the biopsy two days later and results two days after that.) Did a radiologist read the mammo and talk with you? What was the role of the np?

 

Try really hard not to lose the next two weeks spinning your wheels. Do stuff you enjoy, live life.  It's okay to distract yourself and put it out of your mind while you wait. If you prefer not to, then do helpful things. Exercise. (You should do this anyway, but it relieves stress and if you do have bc, you improve your (already good) odds if you exercise.Besides the exercise, there might be some work you could get done to prepare in case you need treatments, which can chew up a lot of time. That way, if everything turns out well, you'll  be fitter and will have accomplished some things and if it doesn't, you'll be better prepared

 

If you have bc: 1) Don't go to "worst case scenario." Many breast cancers are very treatable. 2) They cannot stage you yet. They can tell you the size of the masses (which does affect staging) but staging also requires knowing whether cancer is in the lymph nodes or not. If the biopsy reveals that it is cancer, it will also tell you what type. Then they will want to check out the lymph nodes. If you want to chat more, you can PM me. 

Edited May 28, 2016 by Laurie4b

[Kalypso]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:

[Guest]

I am sorry for your worries and fears. Listen to Laurie4b. From my mom's experience with BC, they do not stage until after they have evaluated other things. I remember my mom being very concerned because of things they said about how the mass appeared (it was big and had many "tendrils" or I forget what they call them), but when they did stage, it was Stage 0.

 

Probably better not to Google.

[StaceyinLA]

I can't offer much advice, but I'll be praying for you.

[crazyforlatin]

The radiologist didn't talk to me. It's a hospital so there were many women there. The NP drew the lumps and clusters and scheduled me for the biopsy. The only thing I got from her was that these two lumps are called tissue mass, smooth and oval shaped.

 

He almost let me leave until he got a closer view of the 2d and 3d. That's when he asked for magnification mammo and ultrasound and biopsy.

 

Thanks so much Laurie, I'm planning to PM you soon.

[Laurie4b]

The radiologist didn't talk to me. It's a hospital so there were many women there. The NP drew the lumps and clusters and scheduled me for the biopsy. The only thing I got from her was that these two lumps are called tissue mass, smooth and oval shaped.

 

He almost let me leave until he got a closer view of the 2d and 3d. That's when he asked for magnification mammo and ultrasound and biopsy.

 

Thanks so much Laurie, I'm planning to PM you soon.

 

"Tissue mass" just means a hunk of tissue.

 

Smooth is good. Oval (regular) is good.

 

Obviously they can't rule out cancer or they wouldn't be sending you for a biopsy, but think about it: cancer cells are out of control. They don't reproduce neatly and make smooth oval masses typically.

 

Fibroadenomas on the other hand are firm, smooth, and oval-shaped. 10-20% of women who have them have more than one. Calcifications may occur with fibroadenomas.  (I googled that for you. ;)  ) 

[crazyforlatin]

Laurie, your responses mean a lot to me.

 

I wished I had thought of questions to ask. I should have asked why did they almost let me go and then stopped me. What did the radiologist see? I just followed dumbly around and the NP really didn't offer much of what was seen in the mammos. I should have pressed harder.

 

Do I need a second opinion at this point? Like bring the mammo results to a specialist before the biopsy? Or after the biopsy? People always say get a second opinion, but for me, what stage would that be?

[Laurie4b]

Laurie, your responses mean a lot to me.

 

I wished I had thought of questions to ask. I should have asked why did they almost let me go and then stopped me. What did the radiologist see? I just followed dumbly around and the NP really didn't offer much of what was seen in the mammos. I should have pressed harder.

 

Do I need a second opinion at this point? Like bring the mammo results to a specialist before the biopsy? Or after the biopsy? People always say get a second opinion, but for me, what stage would that be?

 

I would call back the NP and ask your questions. That is okay. There is a suspicion ranking that they do when they find a mass. You could find out what that is. I am guessing based on your description that it is not particularly high. That will be on the mammo report. It's not secret info. So if you want more info, call back and ask what the level of suspicion is that it is malignant.

 

Any doc who sees masses is going to want them biopsied. (And 80% of masses that are sent to biopsy are benign.)  So no, now is not the time for a second opinion. You don't know anything yet to get a second opinion about. People will sometimes get a second opinion about what type of surgery or what regimen of chemo is best. But you need a diagnosis first.  

[crazyforlatin]

Thanks, Laurie, I need to do something so calling the NP is something to do. Also I need the report and of course I didn't even ask for that today. I really don't how I even made it home.

[mamiof5]

Don't Google, just do yourself a favor and don't Google. There are so many possibilities, just wait and see. Many, many, many prayers for you!!!

ETA: just had a chance to skim the other posts. Masses. Dh had a big one in his back, got removed and thank God it was benign

Edited May 28, 2016 by mamiof5

[vonfirmath]

Laurie, your responses mean a lot to me.

 

I wished I had thought of questions to ask. I should have asked why did they almost let me go and then stopped me. What did the radiologist see? I just followed dumbly around and the NP really didn't offer much of what was seen in the mammos. I should have pressed harder.

 

Do I need a second opinion at this point? Like bring the mammo results to a specialist before the biopsy? Or after the biopsy? People always say get a second opinion, but for me, what stage would that be?

 

I have the fiber-cystic thing going on in my breasts. AND a history of breast cancer in my family.

 

I've had breast-ultrasounds since my early 20s. And even an early biopsy.  Recently, (at about age 40) they decided to start mammograms instead. But I don't get "just a mammogram and go home" It seems every time I get called back to look at something they saw.  Its happened so often that I just have to assume it is nothing, now. But there's always that tension "What if this time..."

[Joules]

Mine were lipomas:

"Lipomas are the most common soft-tissue mass encountered, accounting for 50% of soft-tissue masses and found in 2% of the population."

 

The scare took a couple of years off my life, but the lumps were harmless.  I'm hoping your news is good.  I feel bad that you have to wait so long for an answer.  My suggestion is to go to the movies and binge watch TV until you have answers.

[OneStepAtATime]

Great advice from Laurie4b.  

 

Is there anyone that can go with you to the next appointments?  You will probably be much better off if you have someone else dealing with driving and it helps to have a second set of ears and eyes paying attention to things.  Your mind can leap to all kinds of dark places.  They can help more accurately analyze what you are hearing/seeing.  Either DH or my mom went with me to mine and it was very helpful (I am a BC survivor and so is my mom.  I agree there is still a high probability that this  is not BC, but even if it is the success rate for treating BC is high).

 

In the meantime:

1. Exercise. (if you don't normally then start out slowly, maybe just walking a few minutes each day, but this will help not just for now but further down the road)

2. Stay busy.

3. Don't google.

 

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

ETA:  If you know they will be taking blood work, please don't go in dehydrated.  Drink some water ahead of the appointment so it will hopefully not be an issue to find a vein.  

Edited May 28, 2016 by OneStepAtATime

[Happy]

Another BC survivor here. LaurieB and OneStep gave you great advice. The hardest part is not knowing...while you wait do things that keep your mind busy and give you satisfaction. Exercise is ALWAYS a good idea. Create art. Deep clean a closet. Read something engaging. Laugh!

 

Whatever comes next, you'll handle it.

[Laurie4b]

Popping back in to encourage you to have a fun Memorial Day weekend.

 

Two reasons: 

 

If you have a benign thing going on (and the odds sound in your favor from your description) then you won't have lost some fun days from your lifetime. 

 

If you do have cancer (I will be surprised if you do), you will need to learn to take one day at a time which means making the most of your good days. So while I was in chemo, I could anticipate that days 1-2 I would be sleepy, days 3-4 some achiness in my bones, day 8 or 9 food would taste like wet cotton and then I'd feel normal for a couple weeks. So on my tired days, I made sure to enjoy my food and on my wet cotton ball days, I could get a lot done b/c the rest of me felt fine. So your body is still feeling good right now, so just "be" in today, not next week. Do what you have to do today, which is I hope to have some fun with your family!

 

 

[blessed2fosteradopt]

My situation was similar to yours except I only had one mass and they got me in much quicker. Turned out to be a fibroadenoma. My doctor did tell me that's what he expected but I don't think it's out of the range of normal for most not to want to say one way or the other. Like another poster said, smooth and oval is good. I wish you could get in earlier to get an answer. Most of the time it turns out benign and I hope that is the case for you.

[ktgrok]

You could ask to pick up a copy of your mammogram report, and look it over, if that would help you mentally. It would me, but the more info the better for me, it helps me feel in control.

[MorningGlory]

Just seeing this. Many, many (((hugs))) and prayers for you.  :grouphug:

[Caraway]

My mom always asked to audio record (with her phone) all her appointments. That way she could review them after the fact.

 

â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ Hang in there.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[crazyforlatin]

Thanks so much for the support and prayers and advice. I'm trying to stay positive, but it's more difficult when I have time alone to think. It really helps when I get a notice each time someone here posts. This place really makes me feel I have friends who can encourage rather than blame me for not getting a mammo at 40 or drinking too much Coke (quit since April) or coffee (quit yesterday, except for a couple of gulps today). 

[Starr]

Don't listen to the blamers. Keep busy, check the days off the calendar. You'll get through this!  :grouphug:  

[ktgrok]

Oh please! If everyone who had caffeine had cancer we'd need a fleet of oncologists just for my town. No one deserves cancer. Chances are VERY high that this is NOTHING serious, but even if it was, it isn't something you deserve. There is no justice when it comes to health.

[Pegasus]

Just a little more encouragement. What jumped out at me was this was your first mammogram.  Keep in mind that with the first, they do not have anything to compare it to.  I got called back after my first mammogram for a more focused mammogram, followed by an ultrasound, and ultimately a biopsy.  It turned out to be nothing harmful. Now they have these previous pictures to refer to with new mammograms - it might look weird but it's normal for me.

[Anne in CA]

This thread is making me feel better. I have a mammogram for next week  and I'm not happy, but everyone is making me feel better too.

[umsami]

Get your report and look at your BIRADS score, that can tell you what they think. 

 

I was super nervous in between waiting for my biopsy and such, and some people suggested asking for some Valium or Xanax. If you think you need like something, ask.  I was also happily surprised that the pathology results were back within 24 hours. 

 

I really liked the forums at BreastCancer.org for support.