2 Years Out of DX, Worried

hlya

My friend (whom I met at the clinic) got IDC ER/PR+ HER+ 2 nodes involved, stage 2, went through all the treatments (mastectomy, rads, chemo, herceptin, tamoxifen), now it's 2 years out of the original dx.

She had her bad breast removed and leaves the good one there.  This year after mammogram (they did twice),  the lab asked her to go back to do a biopsy which is schedule  the week after next.

She is totally freaked out.  Did anybody have the same experience but turned out to be nothing? Why does the lab schedule a biopsy for her?  Does that mean there is some suspicious area on the film?

 She was told earlier this year she had some fibroplasia. 

pj12

I am so sorry your friend is going through this again. She is fortunate to have a good friend like you by her side. I am now two and a half years out from my initial diagnosis. It just seems to me that once you have had a BC diagnosis no little thing gets ignored. I have had so many nervous moments, call backs, mammos followed by ultra sound, suspicious moles and spots in lung, and on and on. Everything has come to naught which is really great but it sure does scare me every time.



Unfortunately you have to follow up "just in case." Here's hoping it just turns out to be a false alarm.

hlya

Thank you pj123

oh my...... last time she was very nervous about something and I made her feel better, and finally the result turned out to be nothing.  this time I don't know how to calm her down though....should get a copy of her mammogram report on Monday.  will see...

Halah

If they want to do a biopsy, they found an "abnormality" and want to check it out to rule out cancer. Just because they do a biopsy doesn't mean it is cancer at all.

In my case, in November of 2009 I went for a routine mammo that showed an abnormal density the size of a pea. I then went for a second mammo of that breast and an ultrasound. In December of that year,  I had a stereotactic biopsy and they sucked it all out and was benign. I was told these things happen all the time and 80% of the time they are benign.

I know it is hard not to worry. What is it they say? Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. There is always hope. Let us know how it goes for her!

hlya

Hi, WinterStorm,

Thank you for sharing.  I got her mammogram report today.  it says a stereotactic biopsy will be followed.  so does stereotactic biopsy mean they will such everything out?  is that the difference from regular needle biopsy?

Halah

I've never had a regular needle biopsy, just the stereotactic biopsy. It doesn't necessarily mean they will suck everything out. For me it was a very small amount of abnormal density so they were able to get it all without having to go back in there. But with your friend, they will get enough tissue to determine what it is they are dealing with. I know this is a difficult time. But try not to worry.

Do let us know how things turn out one way or the other! We care!

Mindy