New Here.. Waiting for results.. Have questions

Momto3Teens

Hi everyone! I've been reading your posts for days, with great appreciation for your stories and experiences. I have been hesitant to create an account or post because I'm "just waiting". But, here I am. My quick story looks something like this (I'm so sorry it will be long, but I figured it's best to put everything in one post):

Background: I am 43. Married for 20 years, and we have three teenagers. No immediate family history of BC, other than a great aunt and a second cousin. My mom died young of esophageal cancer (She was 60). My stepmom has stage IV BC with mets. My MIL also has BC, different types in both breasts, DCIS in one and triple-negative in the other. She is currently in remission.

For some time now, I've been experiencing pain in my right breast (like, deep inside) with no palpable lumps that I could feel. The pain often radiates into my back/shoulder blade, and sometimes into my arm and armpit. I have a history of endometriosis, and lately my cycle has been off (not normal for me, even with the endo). I had my period for 3 weeks straight in December, very heavy, and nothing since. I finally decided I should see my OB last week. He felt no lumps in my breasts, but sent me for a mammogram because I haven't had one since 2012.

So on Tuesday 3/27, I had a screening mammo. I got a phone call the next day saying they saw a suspicious nodule in the right breast and wanted additional views and a bilateral breast US. The report read: The breasts are composed of extremely dense fibroglandular elements, which limits the sensitivity of mammography. No dominant masses, worrisome clusters of microcalcifications, or areas of architectural distortion are demonstrated. Questionable asymmetric nodular density 2.5cm directly posterior to the right nipple on craniocaudal view. A spot compression right craniocaudal view and bilateral breast US are recommended. ACR Density D. BIRADS: 0.

On Monday 4/2, I had a diagnostic mammo and bilateral US. It should be noted that those tests easily doubled the pain in my right breast, at least for a few hours. After the US was finished, I was sent to wait, and the US tech had to call me back in to repeat some of the pictures at the request of the radiologist. Then, I was sent out to wait some more. Eventually, the radiologist came to talk to me himself. He said that in addition to the suspect nodule seen on the original mammo, they found a second larger solid nodule that was suspicious. He was puzzled that the larger nodule wasn't seen on either mammo. He said they could be fibroadenomas, but he wasn't convinced and kept saying it was puzzling him. He then said I should have an US guided biopsy. I scheduled that with him for Friday 4/6, but he kept hinting that my OB may want me to see a BS and I could then cancel the biopsy with him.

When I got home that day, my OB office called and said the radiologist had called them and they wanted me to see a BS. They put me on hold and scheduled an appointment for Wednesday 4/4. The diagnostic mammo report read: Small nodular density about 2cm from nipple 12 o'clock region right breast persists on additional views. US performed for dense breast tissue and nodule. The US report read: The right breast at 12 o'clock near the nipple there is a 1.2 x 0.7 x 1.2 cm well defined homogenous solid nodule. Biopsy recommended. Also 12 o'clock right breast about 2cm from nipple there is a 0.5 x 0.4 x 0.5 cm solid nodule, aspiration or biopsy recommended if possible. Also, at 11-12 o'clock, there are 2 adjacent simple cyst 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.4cm and 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.3 cm. ACR Density C(3). BIRADS: 4 Suspicious Abnormality.

On Wednesday 4/4, I saw the BS. He did not appear super concerned, but scheduled me for the biopsy at the Breast Center downstairs the same day. He told me to call him Friday for the results. So I had an US guided Core Needle Biopsy done that day. The very experienced radiologist decided to use the same cut to biopsy both nodules, despite some distance between them, and apologized for how bruised I would be afterward. Understatement. He took multiple samples of the larger suspicious "mass", he called it, the one they only found on US. It was definitely solid, and a struggle to sample. When he went to sample the smaller nodule further from the nipple, the one first found on screening mammo, he found it to be fluid filled with debris. It pretty much deflated when he sampled it, and I guess he did an aspiration on that one. He put titanium markers at both sites. It took the nurse almost a half hour to control the bleeding, and then they sent me on my way.

As an aside, the radiologist was pretty flippant before the procedure, talking about how small the nodules were and that he wasn't terribly concerned. However, after the procedure, he took my hand, squeezed it tight, and told me everything would be okay. Weird. I couldn't tell if he had changed his mind about what he found, or if he was just being kind.

Yesterday at 5pm, I got a call from BS's assistant. She told me the results were benign, and that they recommend a followup US in six months. Okay, great! However, she then called back about 10 minutes later. She sounded weird, and apologized. She said she hadn't realized they'd biopsied more than one area. She said the tissue results for the larger "mass" were not back yet. Actually, what she said was something like those results "hadn't been signed yet" - what does that mean?! She then said she didn't think they would be today, since it was already after 5:00. She apologized like ten more times, said we should know more on Monday, and told me to enjoy my weekend.

Why would I have half the results, and not the other half..? Why would half the results be signed, but not the other half..? What does that even mean? Do they have the results, and she just wasn't telling me? Or are the tissue results not back yet? So, now I'm confused, and still waiting... but I thought maybe some of you wonderful, experienced folks will have some insight for me. Thanks for reading/listening!!

Kirstin

Georgia1

Hi Kirstin and so sorry this is all so stressful and painful. Usually tests like US and biopsy need to be reviewed by at least two experienced radiologists, so I'm guessing the simple answer is what you were told: by close of business one was done and one wasn't. And the reason seems likely to be some dumb human mistake, like not labeling them as needing to be done together so they just ended up separated in the queue. Good news: "well defined" is a term that means it's probably ok, although of course I'm not a doctor. I do hope you can stay busy this weekend and that Monday brings you good news.

moth

I believe some pathology labs are filing reports digitally and then there are electronic reviews/signatures attached to them. Sometimes initial documents might be posted that aren't final yet; my guess is that is the case here.

The sample that was aspirated would have been handled differently than the solid tumor - different procedures for a cytology smear than a fixed tissue - so they wouldn't necessarily have been done at the same time.

The BS's assistant made a stupid mistake. I think we all probably want to kick her but I'm imagining she's kicking herself too.

Try to distract yourself as much as possible this weekend, stay off google & here. I hope your biopsy site is not too painful.

And when you do get results, insist that they prepare a paper or digital copy for you and pick it up so you can read it yourself.

Best Wishes

Momto3Teens

Thank you so much for your responses!! To be honest, I'm not overly worried and wonder if I should be more worried than I am. Even with the BIRADS 4, everyone seemed to minimize what they were looking at. Primarily because of the "well defined" thing, I'm guessing?

I am really only concerned at all because of the radiating pain I've been having behind that breast and into my arm/shoulder, and the fact that I haven't felt great for some time now. The pain doesn't correlate with my cycle, it's always there. The docs messing with my breast over and over again this past week didn't help things. It reminds me of nerve pain when it really gets going, like after the US. That gnawing, deep, nauseating pain. But usually it's just an annoyance.

The biopsy site was super painful on day 1. Not much less painful on day 2. It's more tolerable today, just really sore. Very bruised. Strangely, under my arm and into the side of my breast is particularly sore, and nowhere near the biopsy site.

Thank you again for responding! It's much easier to talk these things over with folks who understand.

Momto3Teens

Reposting from my other thread for the sake of consistency and keeping everything in one thread:

How much pain is normal four days after a CNB? Generally speaking, I have a pretty high pain tolerance. But I just tried to really touch it for the first time since the procedure, and it actually made me nauseous it hurt so much. I have a good sized circular bruise from the procedure that is about 3 inches wide by 3 inches tall, but it hurts like heck even beyond the bruising, no matter where I try to press on it. Is this normal?!

Thank you to those who responded to my other thread. I will keep everything here from now on!

Momto3Teens

My youngest performed in an All District Chorus concert today. I was approached by an old friend (our children have grown up together, and I also grew up with her husband) before the concert. When she asked how I was doing, I replied, "Oh, fine. I either have cancer, or I don't, you know." We both got a chuckle, I'm well known for the fact that I don't mince words. I am feeling a little frustrated that I don't have answers yet, and I have no real outlet for that other than this board. My husband is more worried about this than I am, because his mom has been fighting BC for a few years now, so I'm trying to keep it low key with him right now. I just keep telling myself that everything has to be fine, because it doesn't even make sense for me to have BC. Whatever that means.

Georgia1

Mom, that does seems more painful than I remember. Things to help: changing bras so the same places aren't rubbed or pressured, ice, Tylenol. I think I iced off and on for three days. Best wishes for you and it's good to be optimistic!

Momto3Teens

Georgia, thank you. I can't even wear a normal bra. I'm wearing a stretched out sports bra. I haven't been able to comfortably wear a real bra for a while now. Though I couldn't even tell you why. But the sports bra has been okay. It actually helps to have something holding it still. It's not bad if it doesn't move and I don't touch it. lol

Georgia1

Yep, I wore a sports bra too. I just found that after awhile it was pinching a nerve or something?? So I made a point to switch back and forth between different bra styles and it helped a lot. Sending good thoughts your way.

moth

Mom, if you got a huge bruise there, that might be the cause of the pain. Have you been keeping ice packs on it since the start? That seems to be the key. It's also possible they irritated a nerve - if so that will just take time for the nerve to heal & settle down. I'd try gentle arm & upper body stretches & massage yourself as much as you can. And ice it 20 min on/ 20 min off.

& fingers crossed for you for your results today.