Mother has stage 4 breast cancer and I'm scared

mossholder

My mother has been battling stage 4 breast cancer now for almost 4 years.  It has been traumatizing for me and my family.  I am 41 years old and have had 3 mamograms over the past 3 years.  The first one was fine.  The second one showed an area in the left breast at the 2:00 position.  I was called back for spot compressions and ultra sound.  They confirmed it was a "cluster of simply cysts".  Each year this area shows up and I go through the same procedures. I also go to a breast specialist/surgeon 6 months after the mamogram to be checked again with ultrasound and she says the same thing.  I am scared to death that it is cancer.  How can they know for sure without a biopsy?  Should I have it removed?  I was dianosed with fibrocystic breasts.  Am I at a higher risk of developing cancer with this condition?  No other family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer other than my mother.  However she did have an aunt on her father's side that had lung cancer.  I have just seen my mother suffer so much that I feel like I should do something.  Currently she is in ICU due to complications from chemo, etc. 

dee1961

Unfortunately there is no way to know without having a biopsy or lumpectomy. If you are worried get it done for your piece of mind. Good luck to you and your mother

dee1961

Unfortunately there is no way to know without having a biopsy or lumpectomy. If you are worried get it done for your piece of mind. Good luck to you and your mother

mawhinney

It is only natural that you are scared. Take comfort in the fact that your have 2 doctors looking over your care and that they seem to agree on the course of treatment you are receiving. Remember that you can always obtain your records and test results and seek another opinion. Most doctors are unwilling to preform biopsies when they don't see a real benefit.  Biopsies leave scar tissue that cab make future tests somewhat more difficult to interpret.

andyr1

I feel your pain.  I am in the same situation.  My mother was initially diagnosed with stage II and in 3 months went to IV.   My mother, sister and I have "frbrocystic" breasts, very scary and no one has the answers.  Mom did yest negative for the BRCA test, however she never had a history of it in her family so what does this mean for us?  Statistics say 1 in 8???  My mom had calcifications for 10 years, 3 lumpectomies?  What do you do?  Should I have a mammogram now or wait a couple more years for what's protocol?  I hated seeing my mother go through what she went through.  She di everything right?  What do you do?   THAT is the question....

mossholder

andyr1,

Have you and your sister ever had mamograms? It sounds like you haven't according to the above.  I started at age 39, a couple of months after my mother was diagnosed.  I am now 41.    How old are you?  Also, can you feel any of your cysts?  I'm so sorry to hear about your mother.  I hope she is doing well.  Currently, my mother is in the hospital and is not doing well.