Tiny mass on MRI, not on Mammo or US. Worrisome?

slg76

I had cancer (IDC Stage 2 or 3, node negative) five years ago in my right breast. In my screening MRI this year there was a tiny 7mm, enhancing mass in my left breast. (It is homogeneous, T2 hyper intense, and persistent enhancment). I did a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound yesterday and the mass couldn't be seen. Now I need to do another MRI and if they see it they will do an MRI guided biopsy.

Am I doing all this nonsense for something harmless? A lymph node maybe? Or should I be concerned? I panicked a little at first but now that I've calmed down I'm wondering if all these tests are a little more aggressive than what I really need.

Does anyone know if it's better to do the followup MRI and biopsy right away or maybe wait a month so that if it is a benign "something" it can have a little time to maybe resolve itself and save me the trouble/invasiveness of another biopsy?

Anyone have similar stories? What did it turn out to be?

Thanks so much for any input you have!

vbishop

I have heard that mris sometimes yield false positives. With you having been through the bc process before, I say go with your instincts.

Me? I would probably follow Dr's advice and have the test. Better safe than sorry later.

wallycat

My cancer was only found on MRI. I went back for ultrasound to get the biopsy and had to go back for the needle guided biopsy w/ MRI. Mine was not spiculated and "they" were "sure" it was not cancer. It was. Nothing else picked up the ILC.

My fraternal twin sister had an MRI because of my dx. She had the same area (odd) light up on the MRI (same hospital, same machine, blah, blah). They did a biopsy on her and her area was NOT cancer.

Unfortunately, you don't know till you know. Has your doctor discussed waiting? I'm a "get it over with" type of gal. I would want to know right away, but others have a stronger constitution than me

Best to you!

slg76

thank you ladies. My doctor did not suggest waiting it was something I read on another forum, although the radiologist said it's no rush and they aren't sure they can get an appointment for me right away anyhow. I'm also a get it over with kind of gal.

wallycat: Can I ask how big your mass was? Mine also "Looks benign" but I would never forgive myself if I ignored it and then later found out it was cancer.

wallycat

"They" said mine would be 7mm. My breast surgeon SWORE that MRIs are 99.9% accurate. He said he would eat his hat if it turned out wrong (so many things down this path were "wrong"). Turns out I needed to buy the doc a hat. Mine ended up being 1.8cm.

I hope yours will be like my twin's....and you can go on your merry way.

slg76

Wallycat: WOW! A sobering reminder of how much we don't know. I'm so glad you followed up right away and I'm sorry that the result turned out like it did. I hate the idea of more treatment but I'm a big believer in getting as much information as you can and then dealing with it. Hoping to get a biopsy this week, otherwise I have to wait 3 more weeks so the MRI is synched with my cycle. My original dx tumor was about 2.5 cm, but it was obvious, you could see and feel it in my breast.

reflect

Hi, I believe knowledge is power.

My 8mm mass was found to be enhancing on MRI (as well as another, previously unseen) and on biopsy (which took 3 hours) both are IDC. It took 2 months to dx my cancer, the MRI was critical. Please do it. You can then be relieved and carry on, or start treatment, Best of luck!

wallycat

They made me wait nearly 3 months before the MRI and another who knows weeks for the biopsy. They said that since I was still getting periods, I had to wait 2 weeks after my last period for more accuracy. (I have never heard this before but this was all new to me.) Of course, stress, perimenopause and my period was weeks late. My gyn finally called and said that if I did not get my period in another week, they would just do the procedure. Fortunately, I finally got it that week. Dizzying to be going through all of this. I still am surprised I'm not on antidepressants or anxiety meds, though I certainly know I have PTSD from all of this.

Good luck with your biopsy and I hope it is nothing.

slg76

Biopsy results came back benign. Whew! It was just normal fibrocystic changes. Back to high risk screening and hoping that I have a couple norming screenings before my next scare. Thanks for your input and support.

wallycat

Great news!

SO happy it was b-9 and you can go and enjoy your life!

jenn32214

Ok, I had my breast MRI yesterday and they told me I had to have it at least 5 days after my period started, so it would be in the first half of my cycle, But wallycat, you're saying two weeks. Or was it your biopsy that had to be two weeks after?

Thanks!

Momof6littles

I was told 7-12 days after start of cycle for MRI.

jenn32214

Well I just heard from BS about results of the MRI I had last week. A 2nd area of concern in my left breast from my mammos is still a concern on the MRI. So now I have to have that biopsied too. And BS told me if that turns out cancerous also, the two are too far apart to do a lumpectomy (as there would not be enough breast tissue left for that) so I would need a mastectomy. which for me would be a complete game changer.

He did say the right breast looked good on the MRI (that also had a microcalc that was biopsied but that one came back benign) and the lymph nodes looked good. But again, as far as I'm concerned it ain't over til the Fat Lady sings, and I get the pathology report back after surgery.

slg76

Just a quick update. I had an MRI guided biopsy and the mass was benign. Better safe than sorry!