Stereotactic vaccuum assisted biopsy - waiting for results

Jess9395

What a wonderful site and a group of amazing strong supportive women! I've been reading for about a month now while going through my process and finally decided to post. I can't figure out enough search terms to look for people with similar issues to mine.

My background is I have heterogeneously dense breasts. I know this makes things more difficult to see sometimes. I get 3D mammograms annually. To complicate things I lost a lot of weight several years ago and had a breast lift with silicone implants two and a half years ago. I'm 48, post menopausal.

So, screening mammogram in December, phone call later the same day to schedule a follow up diagnostic mammogram. Didn't think much of it. Came back in and they said they wanted to do magnifications of a developing suspicious cluster of micro calcifications with a nodular density. They did the magnified views and an ultrasound. (couldn't see it on the ultrasound). They had me wait and the radiologist came to talk to me. Basically told me I needed a biopsy but they weren't sure they could access the site safely because of the implant, the little amount of native breast tissue and the location (outer lower quadrant but close to nipple). They sent me back with two techs to sorta manipulate thing in the mammogram and check but they decided they couldn't do it. So they sent me for an MRI. BRADS 4 (but no letter).

The MRI was about a week later and apparently that didn't do much to clear things up. But that radiologist (different facility) thought they could perhaps do the biopsy. At this point my GP says he doesn't want them arguing back and forth and sends me to a larger medical center to consult with a breast surgeon. Long story short (too late I know) they decide they can do the biopsy there at the larger center. Had a sterotactic vacuum assisted core needle biopsy today.

4-5mm cluster of microcalcifications--took them a long time to adjust and readjust. I had a (artery?) nearby too and they were worried about bleeding and a hematoma. They took two series of samples because when they brought the samples to the pathologist they weren't satisfied with the amount of calcifications they got. Third try they rearranged things to try again for a bigger group of the calcifications. Still didn't get as much as they hoped, but then they did the mammogram picture again and they couldn't find them anymore...they "washed" the area inside with saline (which I think was even more unpleasant that the needle) and then they decided that perhaps they were in the sample after all, but hadn't wound up under the microscope. So they inserted a clip and said they would go back through the sample and decide what part to send to radiology.

So now I wait. They said Friday. I know this is always one of the harder parts, but I feel so confused. If they moved the calcifications when they put the numbing agent in (which they said was possible) or when they inserted the core needle, where did they go? If they were malignant and they spread them around, could that spread the cancer?

I know that in general most biopsies are benign. But I have been struggling with some neurological issues for about two years I now have two neurologists working on. They have been suspicious of paraneoplastic syndrome, so this just feels like it might be what they've been looking for. So of course I am worried. And about how the implant will impact the course of treatment.

Anyhow, thanks for letting me share! And if anyone has any idea about the disappearing micro calcifications (I mean if it were a cyst that would make sense) let me know!

Moderators

Hi Jess, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're so sorry for the worry you're experiencing, although we're glad to hear you've found our Community a helpful place to share and vent while you wait. Till you get responses here from other members, you may want to read what Dr. Brian S. Wojciechowski, medical adviser of Breastcancer.org says in his blog: What My Patients Are Asking: Can Getting a Biopsy Spread the Cancer?

We hope this helps. Good luck with results, and please let us know how you're doing!

The Mods

EV11

Jess-

I have a neurological paraneoplastic syndrome (a form of neuromyotonia called "Isaac's syndrome"...) it was the prompt for a long diagnostic odyssey that ultimately ended up with a de novo stage 4 MBC diagnosis in May of 2015...I had symptoms for about a year before a bone marrow biopsy found MBC in my bone and bone marrow.

Mostly I'm here to say that I hope you got some answers from your biopsy and to say "Hi"...