Does anyone know

Misty3

Does anyone know

Misty3

why a history of benign breast biopsy adds to risk of BC?

leaf

I'm sure its a complicated question, with more than one answer.



One reason may be that any biopsy could produce scar tissue, which may make it more difficult to see further problems.



Another may be that something near the benign biopsy may have been suspicious (they wouldn't have biopsied it unless it was suspicious) and turned bc. (Many times LCIS occurs not *at* but *near* the 'suspicious lesion', and confers risk on both breasts, even if it is only found in one breast. LCIS is a strange disease.)



I'm guessing, but people who have had a 'suspicious lesion' may have more breast tissue (versus fat) - thus have more tissue to have at risk than other women.



Some biopsies, though benign, are higher risk. Remember most oncologists consider LCIS benign, yet few people opine it confers zero additional risk.

This paper categorizes different types of benign biopsies and finds each has different risks.

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/new_research/082905a.jsp



They don't understand the natural history of breast cancer, though there are several different models.

Anonymous

Misty--it's not the biopsies themselves that cause an increased risk, it's the reason that the person had the biopsy for in the first place that may  (or may not) increase the risk.

Misty3

Got it.

I noticed on some screening tools that they ask for a history of benign breast bx which then bumps your risk.

I thought it was probably due to pathology that already exists.

Thanks

leaf

It was 1.5 years after my excision, after 2 biopsies at year 1, that I was told 'I had a lot of scar tissue'. I'm sure that doesn't make it any easier to read my mammos or ultrasounds, but I'd rather they check it all than leave some questionable areas untouched.