Fibroadenoma or cancer???

Samlam

Hi dolls!

After 1 regular mam, 1 3D mam, 1 diagnostic mam, and an ultrasound I was told by the radiologist that the lump appears to be fibroadenoma. I had 2 choices. have a needle biopsy or wait 6 months and retest. Would anyone consider waiting and why? Or why would you biopsy? I'm curious what others would choose. Also how can she seem so sure it's non cancerous by viewing the ultrasound? I really appreciate any feedback. I'm feeling stressed, confused, and afraid.

Ps: I decided to do the biopsy because I want to know for sure. However I have to wait until Jan 5th.

Blessings-Sam

kim575

I'm in the same boat as you. A complex cyst that looks solid so I'm being referred to a breast specialist for a biopsy. Wish I could give you words of wisdom but it's good you are having it biopsied. Watch and wait approach scares me.best of luck!

LisaAlissa

Reasons why you might want to wait six months? Well, each biopsy creates scars that makes future imaging more difficult ("something" might hide behind the scar). Also, most BC is extremely slow-growing. And fibroadenomas aren't BC. So something that looks like a fibroadenoma on both mammography and sonography? Waiting to see if it doesn't look any different in six months might be a good way to determine that it isn't something. Typically they continue the six-month call backs for at least two years before they conclude that it isn't "something."

But a biopsy now will relieve your mind--and avoid anxiety each time you're up for another six-month scan. A referral to a breast specialist (surgeon) to see what they think might be a good idea. They might suggest an MRI, but most insurance companies don't want to approve an MRI w/out a positive biopsy result.

Depending on the size of the fibroadenoma, the breast specialist might suggest an "excisional biopsy" that would get rid of the lump altogether while allowing a pathologist to examine the tissue. (An excisional biopsy is nearly the same as a lumpectomy...just a different name for the same procedure, depending on whether a diagnosis has already been made or not.) Repeat the scarring issue...

HTH,

LisaAlissa