MRI, Mammo, Ultrasound...Biopsy

VallovesDog

Hello,

I am new to this site and thought I'd see if anyone can relate....I am 28 yo and have been getting exams since I was 17. My mom had BC at age 29 and my aunt in her 40's. BC and colon cancer run in my family...4 of the 8 girls on my mom's side have had cancer.....2 years ago I had a mass found in my MRI. I had a biopsy and it was fibers...this year my MRI showed growth. The surgeon does not want to perform a surgical biopsy but my  radiologist is concerned and wants to have one done. Today I went for a mammo and an ultrasound..both were clear. The radiologist performed an ultrasound guided biopsy and said we'll  get results next week. he said even if negative he is still concerned with the growth he sees and wants to pursue a surgical biopsy.....sooooo radiologist wants to proceed due to my high risk and the MRI images but surgeon doesn't agree ........anyone one have any suggestions????

leaf

I assume you do want to have a surgical biopsy?  I had a situation something like that.  My oncologist supported my feeling about possible surgery, but my breast surgeon didn't want to do surgery.  I don't like my breast surgeon, but the bottom line is that no matter how much a non-surgeon wants you to have surgery, you won't have surgery unless you can find a surgeon willing to do the surgery.

Is there another surgeon in your area who does breast surgery?  Perhaps the radiologist can refer you to a different surgeon?

velutha

Where were you in your menstrual cycle when you had the imaging done?  Was it the same as last time?  How worried are YOU?  When does the radiologist want to do a follow up MRI? 

I don't think there is a wrong choice here.  Second opinions from another radiologist and another surgeon may be in order.  I personally think stereotactic biopsies verge on barbaric and should be avoided.  If the radiologists can't find something on ultrasound, it's hard to understand why they are so hot to get a surgeon to find something, unless what they really want is a lumpectomy to take out the whole area they are seeing on ultrasound and section it to look for something abnormal hiding someplace.

Anyone get genetic testing in the family yet?  That could help a lot with calming the fear in the radiologists, if you could be ruled in or out for whatever the mutation is.

VallovesDog

Thank you for your responses...my mri was conducted 15 days after my cycle began. The growth is linear 2cm and has significantly grown according to the radiologist. My mon got BRAC test and it was neg.my genetic conselor asked for her to get a check 2 gene test now. Once I get the results from this biopsy I will see what the two docs say.......the surgeon only saw my past mri but the radiologist compared the one from 2009.....surgeon wasn't able to view them so that also makes me wonder about her choice not to agree.

leaf

If you see your surgeon, you can ask her what her thought process was in evaluating you.  Breast cancer diagnosis is partly an art, so different doc definitely can disagree, as I'm sure you know, even if they're looking at the same data.