Biopsies the week after Thanksgiving anyone?

DagnyT

Hi all you brave folks! I am scheduled for multiple stereotactic biopsies on the Tuesday right after Thanksgiving. Is anyone else scheduled for biopsies during that week? Would you like to make a thread to support each other in this really stressful time? I just turned 50 and my diagnostic mammograms from last week showed clusters of microcalfications in both my right and left breasts. My Dr has already indicated these are are areas of real concern, BIRAD 4+ classification on both sides. So I am extremely worried about both the tests, but of course also the results.

Anyone with a similar timing who ants to talk about all these crappy feeling, please join in!

BonneChance4

Hi DagnyT! My first post here...I'm seeing the Dr. tomorrow - which will be the Monday morning after Thanksgiving - for consult of US results (BIRAD 4) and a possible biopsy the same day. Not nervous or feeling crappy quite yet, because it just doesn't seem real. A week ago, I had no suspicion anything was amiss. Tomorrow, my whole life may be changed. For tonight, I've done quite enough researching of certain new vocabulary words, such as "spiculated" and "hypoechoic", thank you. Now it's time to kick back and watch the latest Poldark on PBS. Like my mom always said, "Don't borrow trouble". Did you have someone to confide in over the holidays? Do you have someone to go with you for the biopsies? I hope so!

DagnyT

Hi Bonne, I hope you are safely (and calmly) off on your way for your appointment this morning! I will be sending you the best of luck.. I have a “pre” appointment at 3pm today (I have multiple areas of concern on both breasts so my dr wanted to mark me up the day before my procedures). But I’ll be checking posts before then and also later tonight. So let me know how you do and if you feel like chatting

stexas

I have my first biopsy tomorrow my BIRADs was a 5. I am just hoping the results will be back by Friday like they said. I wish you the best of luck.

DagnyT

Hi stexas. What time is your biopsy tomorrow and what kind are you getting? I've got stereotactic biopsies on both breasts scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm (NY time). My dr was also hopeful that we'd have results back for Friday! Fingers crossed for all of us.

DagnyT

hi Bonne. I hope things went ok for you today and I’m sending you good thoughts

stexas

All I know it mine will be ultrasound guided biopsy. Mine is at noon.

DagnyT

good luck today stexas! Later this evening this part will be behind us

NanPir

First post.....

BIRAD 4 L Breast mass from recall mammogram and ultrasound on 11/10/17

Had ultrasound guided core needle biopsy yesterday, 11/27/17.

Trying to stay positive and patience but this is very trying!!!!!!

Well wishes to all here.

Shyann30101

yes I had mine done yesterday so now I wait until Monday for results, I’m a birads 4 but still hoping a mistake was made and I won’t have cancer,I had a ultrasound guidance biopsy, so how is everyone doing after their biopsy

Debadoo

many prayers coming !!! I also will have my biopsy this Friday 12/1 the waiting in between the US last week seeing breast care doc Monday and biopsy this Friday is so hard....my US showed 9x6x4 nodule right breast 10cm back at 10oclock the tech called in radiologist who said it's not a complex cyst wanted me to see breast care center and have biopsy and hurry up and wait!!!! Prayers for positive outcome!!

BonneChance4

Thank you DagnyT! Looks like we have company this Tuesday morning after Thanksgiving. Hello Shyann, NanPir, and stexas and Debadoo! I checked the forum yesterday, and no responses had showed up by then, but I should have hunted harder to find this thread again. My sister-in-law came with me to my appt, yesterday, and took me out to breakfast afterward. So good to have her by my side! I really like my doctor - just met her the first time yesterday - she radiates calm, competent and kind. Not at all alarmist, but she let me know firmly and gently that the lesion I had was abnormal and problematic. She performed a core needle biopsy, taking two samples, leaving behind a metal pin to mark the site. Very little pain during the process, and 3 ibuprofen before bed took care of any lingering discomfort. I brought home a pile of DVDs from the library to watch for the evening, needing a little escape. I'll have all the time in the world to worry once the diagnosis comes in. As soon as I post this message, I'm going to read over everyone's comments, and send you all my very best wishes for B9 outcomes, and that you will all be in good hands each step of the way.

cycling9210

I had my biopsy this morning, took 6 different sample out of my lymph node & 7 out of breast. Used two different machines, mine was deep I felt pressure on the breast. I was already sore from ultrasound I'm sure I will be feeling it later. I'm bound & wearing a good support bra until tomorrow. I was todl 3/5 Business Day to get results. I'm hoping for Friday my luck it will be Tuesday, I have family christmas with my cousins Saturday haven't shared with anyone except one close friend. I actually had them sneak me out the back door because a friend who I love dearly but would drive me crazy had her mammogram appointment today, I was told an hour & I was there for almost 2 hours slow Dr. The nurses were great, tried to help me relax. Dr was nice but left room after under arm & thought she forgot about me. I couldn't get them to give me any information, have to wait. Was told 87% of the ladies will hear good news. Personally I'm more worried about lymph node.

BI-RADS CODE: Category 4 - Suspicious
RECOMMENDATION: Histology Using Core Biopsy.
Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the 14 mm nodule at 7 o'clock position in the left breast and biopsy of the 2.5 cm thickened lymph node in the left axilla recommended for further evaluation.

DagnyT I turned 50 in February doing all the fun 50s testing

DagnyT

Hi everybody. I know none of us want to be here, but it feels helpful to connect with others who are in the same position and on the same time table. I know we all probably had this hanging over our heads during Thanksgiving, and the waiting for results is going to be hard. I’m waiting for my ride to pick me up at 2 (i’ve got PTSD issues, so I have taken some meds and can’t drive myself). I’ve got biopsies on both sides scheduled, plus a different nipple biopsy right afterwards. So I won’t be back on line til later tonight or in the morning.

My dr thinks she will have results from the first round of biopsies on Friday. Who else is supposed to hear on Friday and who has to make it through the weekend? Let’s stay in touch. I check this site pretty often and am happy to keep up with messages as a way to distract myself from worrying too much.

Prayers to all of us post-turkey gals!

BonneChance4

Hi again Dagny! I was interested to see that you are scheduled for a different type of biopsy than the one I had, most likely because of the calcifications, which weren't present for me. On the Healthline website, I read that the stereotactic biopsy is "less invasive than a surgical biopsy, requires less recovery time, and causes minimal scarring", which sounded fairly reassuring on the comfort score for the actual biopsy. Once it's over, I hope you treat yourself to something nice this afternoon. I'll be thinking of you, and checking back in later.

DagnyT

hi cycling, our posts just crossed. Welcome to the post-turkey club. I totally understand about the stress of keeping this all to yourself. I’m single, without kids or family. So my only support system is friends and co-workers. And while I truly consider some of them to be great people and I know they would want to be there for me, they would wind up making me even more stressed out! That’s one of the things I am finding the most helpful about this site...we’re all in the same spot, no judgment and no baggage. Once I have my results I’ll make my decision about what I share and with who. But for now my local bartender (I kid you not, ive known him for more than a decade) is driving me to my appt and an ex co-worker who won’t blab about anything to my current office is picking me up. But neither of them know much beyond I need a ride cause I have to take some meds...

Hang in there and I’ll hope you get results before the weekend

Sahicks

I had my mammogram beginning of November got the call back letter days before my birthday and could not schedule diagnostic till after thanksgiving so read this site and looked up clustered microcalcs in between Birthday and Turkey day. Had a diagnostic scheduled today with possible sono and dr came in after diagnostic mammo said they were going to set me up for biopsy but soonest is dec14 so you the time I get results will have been a 7-8 week wait....he skipped sono alsoreported I have very dense breast I am 53 premenopausal still...

Reading this site enlightened me to ask about groupings I have a small tight round cluster with lots of punctuated micro calcifications and another group that look linear lined in a duct I am Birad 4

I have read enough to know there is still a great chance of being begnign my only concern is: my family is doing a familial carcenoid cancer study with national institute of health we have 42 affected members and both my sisters were diagnosed this year my grandpa father and many others passed from this neuro endocrine cancer I was sent to do 3 days of scans and bloodwork specific to the carcenoid study that has loomed over my head for many years and deemed clear so far of that cancer however they found enlarged medastinal lymph nodes and some gynecological problems sent me home to my drs to test further on those things since it is not part of their study. I had a lung dr checked lungs and found no reason for enlarged nodes was sent for mammo And it came back needing diagnostic I am under the understanding that breast cancer would have to be invasive and metastatic before ever involving the medastinal nodes but on Monday have a Ct set up since it has been 4 months to see if they are still enlarged or larger so a year of worries and test confirmed negatives and now more waiting on Ct Monday and breast microcalcifications biopsies on 14 hard to enjoy the year waiting is harder than knowing so I am not getting news this week but understand what y'all are going through

After weeks of reading I felt it time to post thanks all for the wonderful info on this site!

Sherry

DagnyT

Hi Sherry,

A quick thought before I have to head off to my appt. since you have been involved with other medical studies, maybe someone in that group might be able to help you get an earlier appointment? The waiting is so hard and two weeks sounds like such a long time! I have been very proactive about lots of things with good success. So if that date seems like a long way off and the wait will be hard for you, please call around and see if you can get a sooner date on your own or try to resources in your medical study team to see if they can pull some strings for you.

Stay in touch with us

Shyann30101

hello nice to meet you and everyone here and prayers to everyone for a good outcom

stexas

I am hoping we all get our results quickly. I would like mine by Friday LOL.

The radiologist took 5 samples all from my tumor he said he does not see any node involvement. I did not feel any pain so I am grateful for that I am still sore from the ultrasound last week too.

Mine is located posterior between the skin and the chest wall.

Debadoo

prayers to all the waiting to have my UScore biopsy is literally driving me mad I can't sleep and dr google is not my friend!!!! I was originally a little nervous having the fine needle biopsy then read report an it's actually core biopsy not sure of difference....sending good vibes n prayers .... Friday can't come fast enough for me

AussieMum33

waiting on my core biopsy too. No thanksgiving (I'm in oz) but am a bit stressed as I'm taking the kids to an island off Brisbane for a week - limited internet and reception

stexas

AussieMum - That is a great idea to get away where there is no or little internet reception. I hope it helps you relax.

Debadoo - I took have found that google is a great source of information just make sure what your reading is from a reliable source.

DagnyT - I hope I have my results by Friday to I hate the thought of waiting through another weekend.

DagnyT

hi team. Well, I made it through yesterday. I am going to write a totally separate thread about the experience, so skipping the details here so we can stick to the central topic of getting ourselves through until our results.

Welcome Aussiemum. Glad you have a holiday coming, but totally understand the stress of possibly bad technology interfering with your communications. Maybe you could set up a specific time to call your dr’s office (or have them call you on the phone in your hotel room) while you are away so you don’t worry about missing a call?

Debadoo, I find that there is so much helpful info on this site (both the community boards and also the regular site) which is reputable and kind. So, i stick around here and avoid Dr Google. my dr and I both think there might be a Pagets issue for me...and the Pagets thread on here is 32 pages long and took me hours and hours to read. So more than enough reading material on here to get you through the next week and then some!

So here’s the list I have on results timing for us gals (Nan, I didn’t know where to put you)

• Hoping for Friday - Dagny, Stexas, Cycling and Bonne
• Hoping for Monday - Shyann
• Later than that - Debadoo (biopsy Friday), Sherry (biopsy 12/14), Aussiemom

Hang in there ladies

Debadoo

DagnyTso glad you made it through yesterday you are a strong inspiration thinking of you and everyone during our post thanksgiving waiting game prayers all around I myself have switched to just this site and no more dr google just find this place I feel the love and connection all while gathering the info I need .....

BonneChance4

Hello ladies! Got my results this afternoon. Lobular, Grade 2 Cancer. The doctor asked if I wanted to go in for surgery next Thursday. All too fast for me...

Saying prayers that I'm alone in our Thanksgiving club.

Shyann30101

wow that’s super fast , I hope if I have to have surgery mine is scheduled fast like that. I hope you figure things out and I will say a prayer for you

Shyann30101

thank you , and I’m so glad you made it through, sending prayers your way

DagnyT

hi Bonne. I’m sure that’s not the result you were hoping for. My prayers are with you. Unless your dr is telling you that you have to move very quickly, please take enough time to ask a lot of questions and reach out for information and support with this new diagnosis. I am sure there is a lot of good stuff on the lobular thread and the newly diagnosed thread. All of us post-turkey gals will be here for you

cycling9210

Bonne sending Hugs & positive thoughts. Hoping you can get answers and not feel rushed. Big Hugs.

I was never told to ice my lymph node site, woke up feeling pretty sore there. My breast is swollen but doesn't hurt. Didn't take any tylenol yesterday today at work I took a few. My Dr. read the post biopsy report late last night, sent me a note he hopes to give me pathology report by Friday. Part of me wants to know before the weekend & part of me doesn't. My cousin called discussing our Holiday Party he could tell something was wrong I did tell him swore him to keep my secret which I know he will keep.

Has anyone thought about or getting gentic testing? BRCA1 or BRCA2? I have an Aunt fighting ovarian cancer, my mom's first cousin passed away from ovarian cancer. No breast cancer in my immediate/extended family. Personally I'm trying to stay positive but it is driving me crazy, don't do good with the unknown. Thanks for letting me go on.

DagnyT

Hi post-turkey gals,

I wanted to share a thought this morning. Before getting sidetracked for the last couple of weeks, I had been actively trying to incorporate “mindfulness” into my life for a couple of months I’m not religious or even particularly spiritual, but something about turning 50 made me want to examine my life a little bit. I had found a little book called something like 10 Minute Mindfulness and I thought, I’ve always got 10 minutes to spare! The book had lots of pretty basic suggestions about just stopping during your day and taking time to notice things around you, and it was even divided up with specific ideas for morning, daytime and evening. One was about taking the first few minutes when you wake up to notice and appreciate your warm, comfy bed (welp...that one put me right back to sleep!). But there was one that I had liked, and it was about taking the time to really feel and appreciate the hot water and luxury of your morning shower. So I tried to do that and to be grateful that I was so privileged to have hot running water at the turn of a handle while so many people in Puerto Rico did not.

This morning I finally got to take a shower after my biopsies...and when I first looked at my poor bruised body, it was scary. But then I got in the hot water and it felt so good, and I suddenly remembered that mindfulness exercise. So rather than worry about my test results or focus on my fear, I just felt grateful for the feel of the hot water. I can’t say I was virtuous enough to feel grateful to be where I was, as compared to those elsewhere without water....but I managed to find a few minutes where I could let go of thinking about what has already happened and worrying about what is going to happen, and just be there in the moment, in the hot water.

Here’s hoping that each of you can find a moment or two when you can just “be”.... there’s plenty of time for all the other crap.