Anxious 24 year old waiting for a biopsy exam

Astrogirl

Hello everyone,

I have been experiencing left sided breast pains for the past three years. Throughout these year, I've had 5 ultrasounds performed with no mammograms because my doctor said that it is difficult to detect tumour masses in younger patients through mammograms. In the previous ultrasounds, a 9 mm oval mass was detected and diagnosed as fibroadenoma. My last ultrasound results showed that the mass grew to 11 mm (1.1 cm), and my lymph node appeared enlarged. I was ultimately labelled as "BI-Rad 4 (minor suspicions of carcinoma)", and will be scheduled for a biopsy exam. I have no family history of breast cancer, but I do have a family history of swollen lymph nodes from my mother and grandmother's sides.

I currently live in British Columbia, Canada, and although health care is free here, the wait time for procedures are extremely long. I was wondering if there are anyone living in Canada that could share with me their experience of going to the breast clinic, getting a biopsy, and receiving results?

Also, although I am happy that I am finally getting a biopsy, I am horrified of receiving the results. I don't know how I will cope with surgery, and treatment . The only thing going for me right now is that I am a student nurse on a surgical unit where the majority of patients are BC patients who just had mastectomy. So I have the experience of teaching patients how to empty their Snyder drain, and I do have pharmacological knowledge regarding chemotherapy.

Thank you for your advices in advance!!!!

Note. This is a re-post from the "forum: not diagnosed but worried".

Leslie2016

Hi Astrogirl. I'm sorry you are here, but happy to meet you.

I'm in Ontario, and I have to say my journey has been rather fast. Our wait times here for just about everything are awful too...but once I was diagnosed, things went very quickly. I was surprised and pleased.

I had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on August 29. I had my results September 6. I saw the surgeon and had the lumpectomy Oct 7, started chemo Nov 2.

Maybe it's because I'm older and I do have a family history of BC and other cancers, but I've found everything to be moving almost too quickly since I've been diagnosed. I barely get one thing understood then I'm on the next thing!

Hopefully you will get your biopsy quickly. Once you have that, if it comes up positive for BC, I would like to think they will you move as quickly through as I have been. I wish I was in the same province so it was more reassuring, but hopefully other Canadians will see your post soon and respond. Stay positive.

dAd

Hi Astrogirl: Sorry you find yourself here but this is a great community so hopefully you'll get the support you need. Like Leslie I'm in Ontario and I agree with her that wait times are far too long here too, However, when it came to my cancer treatment, the follow-up was excellent. Following a mammogram, I was called back for US, the radiologist sent me for a 3D mammo and scheduled a biopsy 5 days later. I received a positive diagnosis for BC the same day as my biopsy and was operated on 2 weeks later.

I don't know how typical these times are for Toronto or Ontario as I have been enrolled in the breast screening program for a number of years at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre where they have an outstanding breast cancer program.

Also, for what it's worth, if your biopsy is positive you may well be surprised at how well you will be able to cope. I had surgery twice, chemo, radiation and now hormone treatment as well as zometa and I continue to be surprised that I managed to get through it. Because you are very young, your chances of a malignancy are low so hang in there.

Hugs, Anne

dAd

Hi Astrogirl: Sorry you find yourself here but this is a great community so hopefully you'll get the support you need. Like Leslie I'm in Ontario and I agree with her that wait times are far too long here too, However, when it came to my cancer treatment, the follow-up was excellent. Following a mammogram, I was called back for US, the radiologist sent me for a 3D mammo and scheduled a biopsy 5 days later. I received a positive diagnosis for BC the same day as my biopsy and was operated on 2 weeks later.

I don't know how typical these times are for Toronto or Ontario as I have been enrolled in the breast screening program for a number of years at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre where they have an outstanding breast cancer program.

Also, for what it's worth, if your biopsy is positive you may well be surprised at how well you will be able to cope. I had surgery twice, chemo, radiation and now hormone treatment as well as zometa and I continue to be surprised that I managed to get through it. Because you are very young, your chances of a malignancy are low so hang in there.

Hugs, Anne