I need help..no one to talk to!

Cjzach10

I'm a mammo tech of 16 yrs. Had my mammo 6/30 and have a .9 cm spiculated mass with microcalcifications. I have a strong family history..mom and sister diagnosed at 39 and brother awaiting prostate bx. Ive never been so shocked than when i saw that thing in my own breast this time. I couldn't feel it and my dr couldn't feel it. Well 3 wks later and that tissue has changed. I can definitely feel it now. Doesn't feel like a hard rock like so many do but it's a distinct mass now. Which has me even more worried since its only 3 wks. I know what i want..bilat masectomy with dflap reconstruction. I know this thing is small but ive seen alot in 16 yrs! I don't want to do this again. And to add complication..i had a small strokw 2 yrs ago of unknown cause except high blood pressure that's now controlled. And since then have epilepsy.. simple partial seizures..not big ones. Thise also controlled with medication. Since it's taken so long to get in to the surgeon on 7/31 i would like to feel pretty confident in what i want as far as surgery. Im so used to surgeons discouraging women from having both removed. Am i crazy for wanting to do it this way! I feel like I should be a good candidate for that. Please help me..i need some feedback before i loose my mind!

Jadedjo

Has it been biopsied? I suppose being a tech you know what your looking at though?

I don't know much about this yet as I'm just diagnosed but I can totally get where your coming from. Even though i just got confirmation Friday.Ive already made decisions myself. 

One would think that with your family history the doctors would probably agree to do a Bmx. I have read a lot of posts on here and many of them say if you have a family history of BC , bmx  is encouraged to reduce ones risk.i think the only issue would be your previous health issues as keeping one under anesthesia for too long ups the risks.

The doctors aren't the ones who are living with the risk if you keep one of your breasts,you are. You have to do what you yourself feel will work. Trust your gut,if it says do a bilat. then tell them that's what you want but I suspect they will tell you with the risks already there it's suggested.

I don't think your crazy. You have already had close family members go through it. If you ask me,it's proactive.

Cjzach10

Im so sorry your going through this. I have a supportive husband but its still a very lonely place to be in the middle of all this. Thank you for responding! Did you just get biopsy results? Are you scheduled for surgery? I could tell from across the room what i was looking at. Then sono just confirmed it. No biopsy yet. I think its about a 4 percent chance for spiculated masses with microcalcifications to be benign. Ive always said since ive been in this profession uf it ever happened to me this is what i would do. But of course when it's you its different! I have a sono friend ive worked with at several places and a good friend remind me what we've always said about what we'd do. Ive seen so much recurrence and breasts that have ended up with lots if scar tissue..inside and out. I just keep second guessing myself because i'm scared of the surgery, recovery and risks. Im hoping you have support and someone to talk to about what you're going thru. I wish you all the best!

Jadedjo

@ cjzach10

Thanks

I'm wishing you the best too and that you  have the best and quickest recovery from whichever path you choose.

It's human nature  to second guess and you don't have to make an actual decision until you have all the facts but if you are like me you want to be as fully prepared as you can be especially if you know there is going to be resistance on the doctors side.

No local supports but a dedicated friend who lives a distance away and this community. I see the surgeon in august. One week before my 44th birthday.

Considering it's low grade, surgery probably won't be for a couple months after that. Maybe more.i live in Canada. Your at the mercy of the healthcare system here. 

I have the added "bad patient" trouble when it comes to doctors with the fact that I will not do chemo and tamoxifen.i already have a low quality of life due to other health issues that are mildly similar to chemo and tam and to have them magnified and more then likely more permanent and worse  is not worth it to me. I'm even on the fence with rads. I know the risks are higher for mets if I say no. 

And as far as I know nobody else in my family has had breast cancer.im the first.

They've had colon cancer. And a cousin had brain cancer due to asbestos but not BC.

Here's hoping your one of the 4%.