Biopsy was Monday

Kimber

OK ladies, I can tell you what hell is like because I was there on Monday.  I was scheduled for the wire localization at 11 and surgery at 1.  When I got to the wire localization and the tech looked at my films, she said "wow, this is REALLY deep!"  Ok first sign of things to come....  She took 12 views and could not locate the clip that was placed last Wed.  They called my surgeon who said to take me to another radiology dept outside of the hospital, and we went right away.  I spent the next THREE hours being smashed, grabbed, pulled, everything you can imagine to try to get my chest wall on film.  I finally ended up with 5 people in the room with me, all positioning me, one stayed with me pushing on my back and pulling on my breast inside the paddles!  Her hand is actually on my x-rays.  FINALLY they located the clip, the radiologist got the wire in and I went back to the hospital where they were waiting for me to operate. My surgeon did not seem to be to happy with the clip placement, he told my husband it was too much in my muscle.  I have never been so sore in my life.  I think all in all I had around 50 films taken.  I told them THEY were going to give me cancer!

 Supposed to have results tomorrow.  Also, check out this article about the BRCA gene and women with a family history:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081117/hl_hsn/familyhistoryupsbreastcancerriskevenwithoutbrcagene 

I am not trying to scare anyone by sharing my experience!  The radiologist said she has been doing this 26 years and had never seen what happened to me.  Of Course! 

wishiwere

Wow! 6 cm+ and they couldnt' locate the area?  Clip or not, you would think they'd be able to come close at least? Who put the clip in? Was this a lumpectomy then?

So sorry you went through all that!  Sounds ridiculous to say the least! What did the doctor think of them not getting it down at the hospital and 6 people?  I think I'd have been running out of there for the nearly pub by that time!  You are strong to have stayed put lady!

leaf

Oh Kimber - I'm so sorry this had to happen to you! 

I know you are very scared.  

I wouldn't worry too much about the article.  It isn't exactly accurate.  For one, the article says that women with BRCA 1 or 2 have an 80% chance of getting breast cancer.   That just isn't true. This is a direct quote from the NCI website.  They didn't even quote the website THEY were citing correctly.

"According to estimates of lifetime risk, about 13.2 percent (132 out of 1,000 individuals) of women in the general population will develop breast cancer, compared with estimates of 36 to 85 percent (360-850 out of 1,000) of women with an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. " http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

They should have said UP TO 85%.   Some of the people with BRCA have a 36% lifetime risk of breast cancer.  That's different than 85%.

The article you cited said that BRCA women had "And in women younger than age 40 without the BRCA mutations, but with a very strong family history, the risk is about 15 times higher than the general population, according to the Canadian researchers."

but we ALREADY know that BRCA women have breast cancer at an earlier age, and the risk of breast cancer in the normal population before the age of 40 is quite low- the AVERAGE age to get breast cancer is in one's early 60s.  

You have to beVERY CAREFUL with statistics.  When somebody says they have 15 times the general population- well, you know that CAN'T be right because the NCI says the risk for an average woman is 13%, and 13x15 is MORE THAN 100%, which of course isn't possible.  When they say 15 times, the researcher probably means 13 times 3-5% which might be 45-65%.

I can't remember  what your family history is like, but if you have a significant family history, I would really encourage you to talk to a board certified genetics counselor.

I had a horrible experience with wire insertion too.  People shouldn't have experiences like this!!!!!!

Holding you in the light, Kimber.

Kimber

wishiwere,

The 6 cm LCIS was removed by lumpectomy last Feb,  This is a new spot on the other side only located by MRI and is very near my chest wall - one person said in my ribs, another said in my muscle.  Yes, my surgeon was upset.  It's pretty bad when the technician at the hospital can't locate the clip, but techs at two other facilities were able to. They were amazed at how I handled it.  I think I am, too.  The surgeon told my husband that nobody can have their tissue pulled and compressed like I had and not feel like they have been hit by a truck.  A feel like that and then some.

 leaf, I have a strong family history and have already had genetic testing.  I was just throwing that article in for anyone interested.  I have 2 sisters, one who is a 10 yr survivor and one who hasn't had cancer, and we thought the article was interesting for her (the non-cancer sister).   I don't bother with statistics myself, it is what it is.  Now I start the process of WAITING  for the results phone call.   YUK

Kimber 

flash

You get a heartfelt, "that sucks" for all you've had to go through.  I hope it comes out well for you.

Kimber

Results are in, benign!  However the surgeon is concerned because the clip was not in the tissue they removed.   He is concerned it is in my muscle, or that he didn't get the exact spot.  He wants me to have an MRI when I heal (no more mammograms) and locate that clip and if there is still an area of concern to have a core needle biopsy.  Anyone have any experience with them not getting the clip with the biopsy?  This just goes on and on......

pk0199

Kimber,

Try not to get too worked up over the clip not being in the biopsy. Unfortunately sometimes those clips move and are not in the exact spot, they are supposed to be a guide line not always a definate "X" marking the spot.

Glad to hear your results are benign.

leaf

Hi there Kimber.  I'm so happy that it is BENIGN!!!!!

I know there was an article about a clip moving in their breast.  I have several clips that they put IN during a biopsy, and never took out.  I've only had 3 core biopsies and 1 excision - I think I have 2 clips in because they didn't put in any during my first core.

I know during my first core biopsy, the radiologist was almost doing a jig that he got a set of calcifications.  To me that means that often they don't.

I remember one poster here said they had a wire excision, and the breast surgeon said the wire didn't help him locate the 'area of concern'.  So I think there can be a lot of movement, as  pennyk  said.

I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this, Kimber.

Anonymous

Kimber----BENIGN--what wonderful news! Don't worry about the clip--they are often removed, but do not pose a problem if left behind. Now you can relax--go celebrate!

Anne

mtbmom

Kimber- I'm so happy for you for your results.  I just went through a similar experience-mammo last monday, no change, but US showed some thickening in the ducts on the other side from the lcis.  Had a biopsy Wednesday were they had to go deep and bled a lot with a lot of bruising.  Came back B9-just found out 2nite hurray!  BUT, I'm getting so tired of this-4 biopsies this year, including an excisional. Have some serious thinking to do over the holidays about whether pbms are the better way to go, at least for peace of mind!  But!!!!!  I'm doing a happy feet dance for you 2!  hugs Denise

Kimber

Denise,

I hear ya, sister!  What are we to do??  I've had 5 biopsies this year, and a painful lumpectomy that developed a seroma, now this nonsense.  And it keeps on giving......  Yes, we have some serious thinking to do over the holidays.  I know a lot of women choose to just monitor but this is really hard for me.

 Thanks for your happy dance, I am doing one for you, too!!

Kimber