Waiting For Biopsy Results

Anonymous

Waiting For Biopsy Results

Faye31

A little back story:

Back in November I noticed a small breast lump, about the size of a pea. I figured it was likely to be a cyst. I’m “only 31”, it wasn’t a big concern... then

Took a mental note and moved on. In December my next self exam I noticed it was significantly larger. About the size of a quarter. I waited until my next menstrual cycle to note any changes. It didn’t fluctuate at all, before during or after my period. At this point I was going to give it some more time but I just couldn’t stop thinking about it so I made an appointment with my gynecologist. He was able to easily find the lump and attempted to drain it (like a cyst) but nothing was pulling into the syringe. He ordered an ultrasound and referred me to the BS.

2 days later 1/26 I had the ultrasound. They wanted additional imaging so mammogram time. I have “extremely dense” breast tissue. (I’m still trying to come up with the perfect joke for this term lol)

The radiologist said that it was very likely a fibroadenoma. But they want a biopsy to be sure. They put me in the schedule for biopsy on 1/30 and I’m starting to think, woah this is so fast!

Results from ultrasound and mammogram below.

I’m feeling nervous. But I’m also feeling like, ok they said fibroadenoma at least 5 times. Trying to keep positive through the weekend and hoping for answers Monday!

FINDINGS: Sonography of the right
 breast was performed including all 
4 quadrants of the retroareolar region.
 In the area of palpable concern at the 
11:00 position of the right breast, 
approximately 3 cm from the nipple, 
there is an elongated hypoechoic nodule 
measuring 2.8 x 0.9 x 3.0 cm. 
The there is some internal color Doppler flow 
within the nodule. The configuration and mildly 
heterogeneous echotexture is suggestive of a 
fibroadenoma. This area is surrounded by 
dense breast tissue and appears equal to breast 
density on the corresponding mammogram. There are 
few additional tiny scattered cysts in the right breast. 
These include a 6 x 2 x 4 mm cyst at the 11:00 position 
near the larger palpable abnormality and a 3 x 2 x 4 mm 
cystic focus just lateral to this. At the 12:00 position 
is a 5 mm anechoic cyst. At the 3:00 position adjacent 
to the nipple is a 3 mm cystic focus. No additional solid 
or morphologically suspicious right breast nodules are shown.

 IMPRESSION: 3 cm hypoechoic nodule at the 11:00 position 
of the right breast corresponding to the area palpable concern. 
While the sonographic appearance favors a benign fibroadenoma, 
given that the nodule is newly palpable as well as the 
nodule size, ultrasound-guided core biopsy is recommended for 
more definitive diagnosis. 
Findings and followup recommendations were discussed 
with the patient at the time of the ultrasound. 

BI-RADS CATEGORY 4: Suspicous Abnormality - 
Biopsy Should Be Considered 


FINDINGS: Digital CC views of both breasts were obtained.
 Bilateral digital breast tomosynthesis was also performed 
in CC and MLO planes. CC and mediolateral magnification 
views of the right breast were also obtained. 
CAD was utilized. The breast composition is extremely dense 
which can potentially obscure breast nodules and lowers the 
sensitivity of mammography. There are no spiculated masses,
 areas of architectural distortion, or suspicious clusters 
of microcalcifications. A few scattered punctate calcifications 
are seen within the central right breast. 
The oblong hypoechoic nodule at the 11:00 position in the right 
breast shown on ultrasound is not well depicted at mammography. 

IMPRESSION: No mammographic evidence of malignancy. 
The newly palpable nodule in the right breast at that ultrasound 
is not well-seen mammographically. Please see the dedicated 
ultrasound report from the same day. 

BI-RADS CATEGORY 4: Suspicous Abnormality - 
Biopsy Should Be Considered 

Georgia1

Thanks for posting and sorry this is such a stressful time for you; the uncertainty and waiting is the worst. However, all of that language certainly points to a benign finding to me. Hope you can try to enjoy your weekend and I'm thinking good thoughts for you.

Faye31

Thank you Georgia1

It does seem very likely benign. I’m trying to keep a lid on my anxiety. Just being in the “what if” point, and trying not to “what if” too much. I’m a planner, if I don’t know everything there is to know, I can’t make a plan.

I know 3 women personally who have had benign biopsies, all at different ages, 20s, 30s, & 50s. It seems so common.

The radiologist recommended removing the mass even if it is a fibroadenoma because of the size and rate of growth. But that’s probably a conversation better to be had with the breast specialist.

Faye31

Results are in: Benign. Mild fibrocystic changes.

Pathology isn’t posted to the patient portal. I called and spoke with the physician’s assistant. I have a follow up next week with the breast specialist.

momto3sons

That's great news! Let us know how the follow-up goes.

Georgia1

Terrific!

Silbar

Congrats on B9 results

Veeder14

Wonderful news!

Faye31

My pathology reports were finally posted to my portal.

MICROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS: RIGHT BREAST "MASS", NCBXS: - BENIGN BREAST TISSUE WITH MILD FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES AND PSEUDOANGIOMATOUS STROMAL HYPERPLASIA.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing the breast specialist on the 15th. I like having a plan. I googled, of course and it seems the routine thing is excision.

Faye31

Update:Will be having a lumpectomy.

Georgia1

So they recommend removing the mass even tho it is not breast cancer? That seems like a fine recommendation and I hope it feels that way to you. Thanks for the update.

marie5890

Georgia,

Yes, the normal protocol for PASH (PSEUDOANGIOMATOUS STROMAL HYPERPLASIA), which is what Faye has, is removal. It's what I had, though I chose not to have it removed as sometimes PASH will go away on it's own. Mine did.

Faye31

My surgeon said that had it been smaller we could leave it and monitor but since it is as big as it is and growing rapidly the protocol is to remove. And the whole thing gets to go to pathology for thorough testing to be sure that it is what it is supposed to be and nothing more serious is hiding.

Surgery makes me nervous but I will be glad to have this thing out for sure.

illinoismamma

Hi!

Great to read other stories of PASH. I too have been having anxiety the past few months. My mom had invasive lobular cancer stage 3 just five years ago. My biopsy showed PASH January 29th and I’m going to the breast surgeon tomorrow to discuss about excision. I’m definitely glad it’s benign but for my peace of mind and with my mom’s history rather remove it. The web has so much conflicting info about removing it or not. I’m finding ithard to come to a firm decision on what to do with PASH.

Faye31

illinoismamma

It is hard I think because every case is so different. My surgeon said they used to remove pash every time. But now it is case by case. It depends a lot on different factors. Like, since mine grew so quickly in such a short period of time, plus the size, and it is presenting as a mass, it is just best to remove.

I decided before I got my results back that if it was fibroadenoma I’d just watch and wait. But if it was anything else it would be best to remove if that was what the dr recommended. Worry is a big factor.

I have some random shooting pains now where the mass is. I think it might be pinching a nerve? It happens usually when I lift my arm. I hope that stops after it is gone and I am healed up.

Let us know how your appointment goes!

illinoismamma

Faye31!

Thanks for sharing your background with PASH. It definitely helps put things into prospective.

My surgeon said that removing it right now would not be necessary but she would do it if I wanted. She felt that 95% it would come back the same as the biopsy results and everything will be benign. Mine is not too big and itdoesn’t present as a mass. She is going to watch it closely with 6mo mamo with ultrasound and then 6mo later MRI due to my high risk factor with my mom. I feel okay with that for now. If it does grow I told her I want to remove it.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery!!

Teilaj

Hey Ladies!

Sorry to jump in here. I just got diagnosed with PASH. I had it removed on feb 2. Three weeks later it was back and 5 weeks later I had a second lump the same size as the first removed. I am awaiting the patholgy on the second mass. Since there are not much info available. I am wondering if either of you have had a similar experience, or have found any useful information that you can direct me to on PASH

illinoismamma

Hi Teilaj!

So sorry to hear you had to get your PASH removed twice. May I ask what size was it and did it re-occur in the same breast. Same spot or different area? I’m on a wait and watch to see what my PASH does. End of January my PASH was 1.3cm. If it grows in the next 4 months, then my surgeon will remove it. She was going to remove it now but said it can re-occur anywhere once it’s removed so she was hesitant to remove it too quickly. She also said if it’s not bothersome then you don’t really need to remove it and just closely watch it. So not sure what your PASH is like. Hope you have no more reoccurrences

Teilaj

Hey Illinoismamma!

Sorry I am just seeing this. So mine has recurred twice, and it looks like it is back for a third. It's in the same spot every time, I've never personally heard of it growing back in a different place, but I'm super new to this as well. My first tumor was about 2 square inches, my second about 1 square inch. At this point I am seeking a specialist since this is so rare, did you know there are less than 200 documented cases since 1986? Because of this and the persistence of this tumor I'm going to try a cancer center and see what treatment they recommend. I would love you hear any updates on you! Good luck!