Questions and advice needed

ouray17

Had a core biopsy yesterday at Baylor Dallas. Radiologist told me he was almost certain its cancer. He told me he wanted me to have the weekend to wrap my head around it and also asked if I had a bc surgeon in mind. The diagnostic mammo and us read, by a local doctor, showed a 8mm spiculated mass. The radiologist yesterday found another nodule in the same breast and a couple of tiny lymph nodes that turned red. He doesn't think the other nodule is cancer, but I need it biopsied anyway. He will call me Monday or Tuesday with the results.

I've had 3 surgeries for thyroid cancer: the first was a thyroidectomy and nine positive nodes, second for a 4 x 2 cm tumor in the center of my neck with 13 pos nodes and the last at MD Anderson in 2001 with 15 pos nodes. I still have a 3mm node in my neck that has stable for 10 years. Also, had a stage 2 melanoma with a wide resection. Had 150 mc of radioactive iodine after the 2nd surgery, but the new stuff didn't uptake the rai.

Questions and advice:

What should the biopsy show? What questions should I ask?

Were the lymph nodes turning red a problem? I was very surprised he told me he thought it was cancer.

What is the next step? Should I go back to MDA for a second opinion?

What is IDC-L? Seems there is a connection between RAI and IDC-L

Any other advice also appreciated!! Thanks upfront to all of you that have been down this road and are willing to help others

I'm actually doing well with this. I'm 60 and my first surgery was at 28. My real concern is to try and get this taken care of without any more delays or problems like the local doctor missing the second nodule that now needs a biopsy and why didn't the radiologist do it yesterday.

Thanks again,

Karen

MelissaDallas

You're in Dallas and UTSW is the only NCI designated comprehensive cancer center in the region. They are excellent-If you want a second opinion I'd go to them before I went to MDA

MinusTwo

I agree w/Melissa. Baylor in Houston as well as MDA is an NCI center, but not Baylor Dallas. It's easier to go closer to home if you have access to an NCI comprehensive center, and UTSW is that.

https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-ce...