Questions

sflow

I have been lurking for a couple months. I was diagnosed with stage one invasive bc in Nov. The tumor was only .08 cm and was considered early stage. Had lumpectomy--no node involvement--clean margins- and 3 months of radiation. Am now on Arimidex. Just had 6 month mammo and got back a letter that there is an area "probably benign" that needs re-looked at in 6 months. My questions--first of all, how accurage are radiation doctor's reports , and secondly, why do I have to wait 6 months to find out--this will kill me. Are there other tests I can have before then to give me some answers?

auntgina

Hi Sandif. I had the same probably benign answer and come back in 6 months. Been wondering about this also. Virginia

mreilley99

i would request not waiting 6 month but asking if you could have a recheck in 3 months...i agree the wait would do more damage to my mind than the possiblity DAMAGE TO MY MIND than the malignency...INSIST...AND BECOME A "top notch biatch"

Anonymous

I don't know if this helps at all, but my follow-up mammograms ALWAYS include the phrase 'probably benign' and I'm always thrilled (although it did freak me out the first time I saw that). It seems to be oncology-speak for NED or no malignancy seen. I'd say definitely question it for your own piece of mind...and then try to relax.

Marin

auntgina

Thanks, everyone for your answers. Virginia

sflow

Thanks for your replies--that is what my onc said--it is the routine report you get after surgery and radiation. I feel a little better but have a bunch of scans coming up. I am a newby at this, but I assume these scans are part of my life now.

Anonymous

The reason I suggest an aggresive approach to those probably b9 findings is because in 05' I had a b9 findings mammo and then in 06' was dx w/IDC in that same breast. They said it had been there about 2 yrs. The 04' and 05' mammos missed it. Are your mammos done by digital with CAD or the traditional mammo? I have dense breasts and now going for my follow up mammo after finishing rads in Jan. I insist on that digital mammo now because it picked this up very well. Oncology has made great strides, especially in BC, but WHERE your getting treated is key. They said that a Univ. based comprehensive cancer center is far better than a clinic or traditional hosp. setting. Just TRY (and I know its hard) not to stay in a worried state. I did that and ended up with two cases of shingles in one yr. OUCH. Less stress is way better for you. Listen to your body..

Blessings and prayers are with you.

Pittsburgh

Hello everyone, I'm brand new to this forum. In 2007, at age 50, I had a lumpectomy and radiation for a mucinous tumor in my right breast. Nothing spread to lymph nodes. Yesterday, I found out that I have two small new tumors: "invasive ductal carcinoma with focal mucinous features, low grade ductal carcinoma in situ" and "invasive ductal carcinoma with mucinous features" in the same breast, different locations from first tumor. Do these descriptions mean that they're mixed rather than pure? And what is the usual protocol for second mucinous cancers? I will meet with the surgeon next week. Are there particular questions you suggest I should ask? I have to admit, I was taken by surprise on this, since I had never heard of anyone getting mucinous carcinoma twice in one breast. Just don't know what to expect.

ChiSandy

Seeing as how your first tumor was a Grade 3, I’d push for a spot compression diagnostic mammo and ultrasound rather than waiting. If you’d originally had a Grade 1 or perhaps 2, waiting 3-6 mo for a re-check might be reasonable. Hate to throw gasoline on a fire of worry, but my Grade 2 IDC, sized by diagnostic ultrasound at 7mm and two weeks later by the ultrasound guiding my biopsy at 9mm (two different radiologists), was 1.3 cm by the time it was removed a month after the diagnostic imaging.

I’m a bit nervous myself, as my followup mammo and BS’ NP appt. (10 mos. post-op--should have been 6-mo., but Medicare only covers annual ones even after a bc diagnosis) is next week; and both my cats have been sitting on both breasts and cuddling me--my black kitty Heidi only kneads the right one, where my cancer was. I’ve been hearing stories about cats being able to sniff out their owners’ cancers, even if neither palpable nor visible.