Waiting for results but nurse said it's cancer

marycal

Hi all. I really didn't think I'd be here and now I'm so scared.

I'm 47 and I found a lump a few weeks ago in my left (dense, cystic) breast. My doc then felt it and said it's likely a cyst, so did ultrasound. Birads 4, 1.2 cm, indefinite margins.

Went to breast center today and the nurse felt it and said she'd be surprised if it wasn't a cyst. The mammogram showed a spiculated mass (then I knew it was bad). Had another ultrasound and this doc says it's less than 1 cm in size. Had fine needle aspiration.

Full results won't be back for a week, but the nurse came back in and said, "ok, there are cancer cells". First off, it seems like every step of the way I'd get encouraging feedback (as in, it doesn't feel like cancer) only to be crushed with each diagnostic test. Secondly, "there are cancer cells"? Is this somehow different from saying "you have cancer"?

So now I have a week to sit with knowing it's cancer, but not having any idea what type, etc. How do I do that without completely freaking out?

Meow13

Call the doctor and ask for clarification. Either the biopsy results are back or not.

Kmbrll54

marycal, my situation is very similar. I felt a lump, went to my doctor and she said it felt mobile and was probably a cyst but she ordered a diagnostic mammogram and sonogram. The tests showed that I had a mass with spiculated edges and the Dr at the breast center told me it was cancer but she needed to do a biopsy to confirm which type of cancer it was. I had a core biopsy on Wednesday and now I am waiting. In the mean time I am finding out that some women have had these types of masses and they turned out benign. Its quite the roller coaster ride and I really feel for you. I'm freaking out a little myself....I'm trying to stay busy so my own thoughts don't drive me crazy.

Anonymous

I would say, the first report is often suspect, and a nurse can't dx cancer. Only a pathologist can do that. Your intuition that it is indeed cancer could very well be right (and if it is, you WILL be okay!!!) but the nurse overstepped her expertise by making that statement. I think she said "there are cancer cells" because she couldn't bring herself to come right out and share what she thought she needed to share with you.

Hang in there,

Claire

Felloco1

waiting for firm results is awful... I had similar was told it was cancer but needed the biopsy results for the final clarification. Surround yourself with folks who are important to , keep as busy as possible , get out for fresh air / thinking time and stay off doctor google ( left me with more Qs than answers) would be the small advise I could give.

I can only say that once you know finally they get a plan together quickly and you at least feel like you can do something meaningful to get on with recovery and take some elements of control over the situation.

My best wishes & thoughts to you 😀 Xx

Anonymous

I've had several fine needle aspirations and they always told me they don't know if there are cancer cells or not unless they send it to the lab and have a pathologist look at it. It makes no sense for the nurse to say this to you! I also had a lump that could not be aspirated and everyone except the breast surgeon thought was surely cancer (my gyn, the radiologist, even after a core needle biopsy etc) -- had it surgically removed and it turned out to be benign. You just don't know until the pathology report is done.

marycal

Thank you all so much for replying! Your comments, advice and support truly helps. So I'm at UCSF Breast Cancer center and I feel like they would know what to say and what not to say and how to handle it. I mean, this is what they do! I guess whoever the docs are that take the cells from the mass looked at it under a microscope right then and there. And I guess you can tell whether it's cancer or not? It's that simple? I know what you are all saying, that you can't know for sure until the pathology report. And EpicSquirrel, that's so interesting what your docs told you. But I'm assuming these people must be able to tell it's cancer under the microscope. Regardless, I still have this horrible wait. KmbrII54, I hope everything comes back benign for you and glad you're staying busy.

Thanks again. My thoughts are with you all.

djmammo

Marycal

When doing a fine needle aspiration of a mass, it is routine in some centers to have a cytopathology tech waiting just outside the room with a microscope who takes a look at each sample to see if it is adequate for diagnosis. It is otherwise very difficult to tell when to stop taking samples that are so small. It helps avoid having to repeat the biopsy.

I personally avoided doing biopsies that way, preferring instead to do only core biopsies which provide the pathologist with a relatively large amount of material to work with compared to fine needle aspiration.

If the above is what occurred at your appointment then what the nurse told you would not be just her opinion. As always one waits for the final path report before taking action. Let us know how it turns out.

marycal

Thanks djmammo for the explanation.