Everything is happening so fast

Taddyallen

Hello! I am so glad that I found this forum. Everyone is amazing and the positivity and encouragement prompted me to tell my story and share my fears. Although I am not diagnosed, I feel anxious and I have a few questions.

I had my routine 3D mammogram on Friday April 6, 2018. I received a call back for a diagnostic mammogram and possible ultrasound on Tuesday April 10th. I was able to get an appointment on today, April 11th. Both breasts needed to be redone and they ruled out problems with my left breast. A nodule was found on my right breast and I was sent for the ultrasound. After the ultrasound tech discussed it with the radiologist I was sent upstairs to my OB-GYN.

When I arrived, the nurse sat me in a room and told me she was on the phone with another Doctor and she would explain it in a sec. I knew deep down that something wasn’t right. When the nurse came in she’s told me that my DR was sending me to a breast specialist/surgeon to get a biopsy done. She had an appointment scheduled for me for tomorrow April 12th.

As I was driving home, the breast DRs office called and rescheduled me for earlier in the morning tomorrow.

Is it concerning that all of this has been scheduled right away? Or do y’all think I have been blessed with good fortune? I know women that have had to wait weeks for biopsies.

I was told that they couldn’t determine exactly what we were looking at and that it had irregular edges. It’s very small and I think they will do a needle biopsy. Of course I am worried and scared right now. I am just wondering if what I went through today was “normal”

Egads007

Hi Taddy - I’m sorry you’re going through all the worry, it really does make your head swim! The speed that you’re being put through isn’t an indication of cancer. It most likely is simply a case of luck (your wait is very short) and scheduling availability. Perhaps they had a cancellation after you left the office so they filled the spot with your name. My first tests went very quickly and slowed down once I hit the MRI stage. Keep those numbers in mind...80% of suspicious findings are benign. I saw a member here just come out of a birads 5 US as benign. The docs can’t tell for sure until the pathology report is in. Consider yourself lucky to be seen so quickly and try your best to remain positive. Please let us know how things go tomorrow....I’m sending positive vibes your way! Hugs

Taddyallen

Hi Egads007! You have touched my heart! Thank you for easing some of my fears. I am truly grateful for your insight! I consider myself very lucky...its just hard to not read into things right now! I will definitely post about my day tomorrow!

The support here is amazing! ((Hugs))

tsoebbin

Hugs to you Taddy. Sending positive thoughts your way!

Egads007

Taddy - you’re right, this community is an amazing source of support!

Thinking of you and sending positives your way for your appointment today...deep breaths!

zephyr35

Hi Taddy, I am in a similar situation. The waiting is making my head spin. I was scheduled to have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound today. I am 35 and found a pea sized lump in my breast three weeks ago. After the mammogram the technologist said that I did not need an ultrasound and to followup with my family doctor in a week. I am not sure what that means? Anyone have a similar experience? I am so scared

Egads007

Zephyr - When I went for my diagnostic three weeks ago they explained that they would do the mammo again (3d this time), have the Radiologist look at the images and only if they felt the area needed further investigation would they proceed with an US, otherwise all is clear. This is also routine at screening mammograms in my centre. This sounds like what you're experiencing, and if so from all appearances you might be clear. The only way to be sure of this however is to call your PCP and ask how long the wait for results are......my doctor gets the results next day, so you may luck out and get answers earlier.

Taddyallen

Hello everyone! I had my biopsy today and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I had a great team of ladies that did an amazing job explaining everything, holding my hand, and wishing me the best. They put a small marker in after my procedure for future reference.

Thank you all for the virtual hugs and encouragement. Now the waiting game begins. I probably won’t hear anything until next week because pathology doesn’t work on weekends.

I met my breast specialist’s nurse practitioner today and she was wonderful. I wanted to put her in my pocket and take her with me to my procedure! I truly felt a little more at peace when I left the office.

I’ve noticed some of you ladies in this community are survivors and fighters and have already been in the position of not knowing and waiting. I appreciate the time y’all have put in to respond to me and others like me that are not diagnosed, but scared and worried

Egads007

Very happy to see the biopsy went smoothly and that you’re happy with your NP! My NP is a doll and my lifeline! Try to keep yourself busy this next week, and post if it gets overwhelming (or for any other reason) Waiting sucks monkey butts! You have us all here to help with the fear! Got my fingers and toes crossed for good results on your biopsy! Hugs

Rrobin0200

I had my mammo/ultrasound AND biopsy done all within a 5 hr time frame. The radiologist and her techs rearranged their own lunch schedule to fit me in. Unfortunately, it's not the norm, but it can be done. They suspected DCIS and when the results came in, I was notified immediately.

Taddyallen

I just wanted to post an update...my test results came in yesterday evening and my dr said that what the pathologist saw says benign. BUT he wanted the radiologist to look again and if he wasn’t matching with what the radiologist was seeing then I would have surgery...He didn’t go into detail and I was stunned that he actually called me on a Friday after hours so I didn’t ask the questions I’ve thought about AFTER I talked to him! It will be around Tuesday or Wednesday next week before I hear something.

Has anyone else heard of this or had this happen? I am cautiously optimistic at this point and I am at peace with whatever will happen...

djmammo

Taddyallen

After the path comes back from a biopsy the radiologist who did the biopsy reviews your images from before and after the procedure and decides whether the path results match their prediction of B9 or malignant. If the results match the prediction then the results are "concordant". They are "discordant" if the prediction is malignant and the results are benign, and this usually requires a tie breaker. The rad then issues an addendum to the biopsy report with recommendations of either come back next year, recheck in 6 months, re-biopsy or surgical resection.

You want to see a copy of this addendum report from the radiologist when it becomes available to see what is recommended you do next.

Taddyallen

I appreciate the fact that you took the time to explain this to me! Thank you so much! I tried reseaching it but wasn’t sure of the correct terms so not much came up.

Sjacobs146

I wouldn't over worry that things are happening so quickly, just be glad that they are to reduce anxiety for you. Mine went very quickly as well, I had the biopsy right after my diagnostic mammogram and US, in fact the radiologist did the needle biopsy while I was still on the table for the US. My doc also called me late on a Friday to go over the results of the biopsy. I went for re-do of annual mammogram with not a worry in the world on my part, to US to biopsy within two hours. I'm very thankful that things moved so quickly and I did not have to wait weeks as some women do. Good luck to you, keep us in the loop.

Taddyallen

I’m just posting a follow up...I received my report AFTER my tests and biopsy and my BIRADS was a 4...with suspected malignancy.

That is why the dr didn’t feel comfortable about just saying it was benign. After doing more comparisons, the drs office called and set up a six month appointment for my next mammogram. I am assuming that is a good thing! I did put a call in for more info...

mommakat

hi Taddyallen, just wanted to let you know that I had this happen last year. Freaked me out! I ended up with a surgical biopsy, and those results were b9. Best of luck