Not sure about fibroadenoma

dobiedame

Hi guys. I'll try to keep my history as short as possible. I am considered high risk since my Mom was diagnosed with bc at 47 and passed away from the 3rd round of it at 57. My maternal grandmother also passed away from the same thing. I am 38 and got my first mammo about 4 yrs ago which showed microcalcification clusters on each side. Biopsy done on each and came back b9. Last may I felt a lump on my left breast with some minimal pain. Another mammo, ultrasound, and mri. Fine needle biospy showed a b9 7 mm complex fibroadenoma. I went back last week for my 6 month follow up mammo and ultrasound. The dr said it has grown 3 mm and she wanted to schedule for excisional biospy (which I have set for feb 4). From the way I understood her, she felt it would be best to take it out now before it gets any bigger due to it being more complicated if it was larger and not necessarily a higher risk. I guess I'm looking for some advice or knowledge from anyone who has had something similar. Thanks Ladies for any input.

mdoak

Hi there,

Fibroadenomas are benign. I am wondering why they labelled yours "complex." Given your family history, the doctor will want to excise any mass that grows to make sure it's not cancer. Another possibility is that it's a phyllodes tumor -- hard to distinguish from a fibroadenoma even with a core biopsy, and almost impossible with a fine needle. Phyllodes are usually benign as well, though.

So there are lots of possibilities of what it could be, most of them benign -- a strange-acting fibroadenoma (I had one of those recently), a phyllodes tumor (almost always benign, but they grow and need to be excised), and it is possible it's cancer.

Keep us posted. And by the way, the excisional biopsy won't be bad at all. I personally have found the core biopsy to be more difficult.

Melissa

dobiedame

Thanks, I was thinking of phyllodes myself. I believe it was labelled complex because of the sclerosing adenosis. I'm not too worried about the biopsy. Feel like I'm becomming a pro at all of the different biopsy procedures.

katzdo

I've had several b9 fibroids removed over the last 20 years (I'm 47). Have a mother diagnosed at 63 and a grandmother who passed at 54 so given all my lumps and bumps (I'm loaded with cysts), I've always had the thought of cancer in the back of my mind. I've only had one cyst aspirated becasue it was hugh and it was painful. It was over 3 cm in size. I have a GYN who had a mother who passed form BC and believes that if it is not suppose to be there than it should come out. I tend to agree with him so all the lumps, even if I knew they were benign through needle biopsy, I had removed. I wouldn't worry about the cysts, but I have now been dignosed with LCIS when they needle biopsied a lump that turned out to be benign. This was an incidental finding, but important for me to know. As for your doctor wanting to remove your before it gets larger, I would imagine that it is easier to remove something when it is smaller and less noticable in the breast. Good luck with all.

dobiedame

Through all of my mammos and such, I was rated with a birads 3. The latest report bumped up to a 4a. I do try to keep things in perspective, but until the biopsy and findings are back, the thought of bc hovers in my mind. With each new test it seems my risks go up. Thankfully all have been b9 and will hopefully continue that way. I do try to pull out of the negative thinking when it gets out of hand and this board really helps!

Peppi1

I have a strong family history of breast cancer and a fibroadenoma as well. It's my understanding that after a certain age, a fibroadenoma that is growing is usually removed. As you age, it should get smaller if anything. So the fact that it's getting larger is just a little red flag. I apologize, but I can't recall now after which age it should shrink and not grow. The size of mine is monitored. Plus if it's growing,  I think it can block the view on imaging of a potential cancer...so it will help future imaging tests if it's out. Wishing you all the best.

vmudrow

I was told that they can't tell if a fibroadenoma is B9 for sure so they like to remove them (I've had several) - hopefully yours will be B9 - hugs, Valerie

dobiedame

Thanks. I had the biopsy yesterday. I actually feel better physically from the excisional than I did from the stereotactic I had a few years ago. The dr. said it looked like a typical fibroadenoma. Will have the results back monday or tuesday.