High Risk because of Benign Lesions?

Anonymous

High Risk because of Benign Lesions?

LirpaP

Hi All!

A little background. 3D mammo in January detected Architectural Distortion. Had a stereotactic biopsy that showed Radial Scar / Complex Sclerosing lesion. A week ago I had a surgical excision biopsy to remove lesion. Pathology came back the same Radial Scar but with FEA Flat epithelial atypia. Dr said that because of the atypia I'm now considered high risk. Follow ups every 6 months with an occasional breast MRI as well.

I've been doing research and finding a lot of studies that also say these findings make someone high risk. What I'm reading is that these benign lesions are high risk because malignancies are also being found within these benign breast lesions. What information I'm not finding is after these benign breast lesions (without malignancies) are removed, how many women are later diagnosed with breast cancer?

Either way I will be proactive to following up but it would nice to have some facts. Right now high risk makes you feel like you're going to get breast cancer. It's just a matter of when. Why else would like tell you to consider going on preventative medication.

Any input or experiences would be great. I always want to have the most knowledge good or bad regarding my health decisions.

Thanks!

April

42 years old today!

4 children (All born before I was 30 years of age)

Stherye

Dear Lirpa,

FEA is considered pre-pre cancer (yes, double pre). The scale is: benign - Fea - Adh - Dcis - Invasive bc

I wrote to Hopkins Hospital and they told me after removing these lesions the risk is between 20%-30% of having bc in the next 30 years. We need to consider that justo for being a woman we have 12% of risk of having bc in our lifes.

Last February 2018, I had my first mammo and ultrasounds. It showed a small lump and I had a biopsy, it came back as a papiloma wih FEA. I didn't know at that time what a papilloma was neither FEA. It took me a lot of time to find out about all of this. I had the papilloma removed and the final report said small amount of FEA.

Four months later, I had another ultrasound and another lump was found, this time they suggested me to have a mri to find out if I had more. But not, this time it was only a papilloma without any kind of atypia.

I am also 42 yo, I have twins (boy and girl, 6 yo) I have to admit I had a terrible time during all this process. As many of us here, I couldn't sleep, I was really terrified. I promised myself that if after the first papilloma with atypia removed something new appeared I would take an extreme decision. So I did. With the second papilloma I remember having the mri and promising myself again that no matter what results were. I was going to have a pbmx. And I did it last october.

I know it is really extreme and overtreatment, and I don't want to push anybody to do it, But in my case, it was the best decision for me. I am a worrier, I couldn't live like that every 6 months. And I have to say it is the best decision I have ever made in my life (except my children, of course ) The results are amazing, I had beatiful breasts before but know they are even better. No more worries. I know there are very few possibilities of having bc after bmx, about 2%-5%. But in my case, it was preventive because I didn't have cancer. My doctors told me my risk now is probably near 0%. I couldn't be happier.

But again, think that you are in the lowest scale, you don't have cancer. Maybe you could talk to an oncologist to reduce your riks. You probably know but some of these recomendations are: don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, don't use bcp, eat healthy, lose weight, exercise, etc.

Maybe I am wrong, but in my opinion bcp could be the reason for my findings. I have been using bcp for nearly 20 years. Now they know bcp is a risk factor.

If you search in these forums for FEA you will find people that have had it and they are doing great with no problems. I wish you all the best.