Hating to have to wait!

Eigna

Hello, I cannot take this anymore. Since May 24th I feel like my life is on hold. Cannot feel joy and cannot relax and cannot sleep well. I went for a mammogram. Was called back two days later for an ultrasound. The US report was sent to my doctor. My films were sent to the breast centre for further evaluation. They saw a intramammary lymph node with irregular margins. I have a second US next week on the 19th of June. They will decide then if biopsy is needed. I hate waiting. Why aren’t they sure what needs to be done???

djmammo

Eigna

If you can obtain copies of your reports, you can post them here for clarification and for the members to answer your questions.

Eigna

Thanks. I will. Hoping everything goes well on Wednesday. 🤞🙏🙏🤞

Eigna

The first ultrasound report said the following: ultrasound shows a hypoechoic nodule at 3:00 measuring 7.6x5.4x5.5 with irregular margins. No hypervascularity. There's probably a fatty Hilum. This may represent an intrammamary lymph node.

Did anyone have a similar report? Any thoughts, comments? I don’t know what will the second ultrasound will show. No other findings just that node.

djmammo

Eigna

It's a bad idea to use the words 'never' and 'always' in breast imaging but it would be unusual to have fat in the center of a cancer. Is it an abnormal node? Possibly but when a node becomes abnormal it does not develop an irregular outer margin, unless they are referring to the margin of the fatty hilum?

It would also be unusual to have a metastatic intramammary lymph node show up without seeing the primary cancer. Could it be abnormal and unrelated to the breast? Yes.

Let us know what the next set of images show and if they plan to biopsy it.

Eigna

thanks Djmammo. Okay abnormal and unrelated to breast. Could be but related to what? The irregular margins I think they are referring to the node not the fatty hilum. Could the second ultrasound show something todifferent?

Eigna

Djmammo, do you mean enlarged node when you say abnormal?

djmammo

Eigna

Here is a good explanation of what makes a lymph node abnormal: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/83/topics...

Note that there are no images of nodes with an irregular margin, so it may not be a lymph node.

Lymph nodes can enlarge from infections or systemic cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

If the US machine, the sonographer, and the person reading the scan are different from the first, then yes you may get a different reading.

I assume they will eventually want to biopsy it.

Eigna

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Djmammo

Yes I did consult that article about abnormal nodes and couldn’t relate to any of these images. I’m curious to see what the radiologist will tell me on Wednesday. I’ll keep you posted. I went to see my family doctor and showed him the US report. He told me not to worry. Every doctor tells me not to worry but I am worried. 😐

PS how do you put the other person s name as a link ?

Eigna

And still have to wait more... they changed my appointment for two weeks from now because of some conflict. When will this end

jp18

Eigna -

I know the EXACT feeling you are struggling with right now. I fought for a year to try and determine what was growing in my right breast. Rather than repost all of my info, I will say the last term used for my growth was 'possible intramammary lymph node'. It was hypoechoic and had some minor changes over the year. I finally had a biopsy and it was a benign growth - still not sure what the growth itself was - not labeled - but the path report stated that the portion of lymph node removed during the biopsy was benign. I am still healing from the biopsy with a large hematoma, nasty bruising, and some tape burns. All totally worth it to have a more definitive answer. For me, looking back over the last year, it was the unknown and waiting which were the most difficult. Due to my history and this experience, I will be monitored more closely and have a mammogram every 6 months as opposed to once per year at least for a while. I know there are no words I can share that will make you feel better, but please know that eventually you will get to a solution. Distraction, education, and more distraction are very beneficial. Be your own advocate and do what you need to do for yourself to get through this time of struggle. I hope all goes well for you.

Eigna

Jp18

Thank you jp18 for replying. Finally I can relate to someone who has more or less the same issue with me. The first few weeks were hard emotionally. I was a total mess. As time goes by I’m learning to live with the unknown until the time will come to learn what is this thing which they have identified as possibly intramammary lymph node. What kind of biopsy did you end up doing? FNA? I’m so scared of the complications after the biopsy. Thank you once again for replying and I will keep you posted with my results.

jp18

Eigna -

I had a core needle biopsy done. The 'after' was not that bad at all at least for me. I bruise super easily (anemic) and am also a 'bleeder' so my biggest issue was the huge bruise. I was not prepared for that but it is fading quite well. I wore the 'wrap' for the first 48 hours and then also when ever I felt really sore. I would suggest getting a very supportive bra as you will need to wear it constantly - even to sleep. My hematoma seems to be a bit smaller already and am just watching it for now. To me, it was all well worth knowing that it was benign after the longest year ever. My doctor - a breast specialist - was very supportive of my situation. Please do keep me posted.

Eigna

Jp18 yes I will keep you posted! 😊 Thanks.

KR75

Waiting is indeed so hard. One minute I'm fine, the next a nervous wreck. I had my first mammogram June 10th, back June 11th for diagnostic, the a "tentative" date for Core needle biopsy July 16 (certain approvals/paperwork from insurance required). They just got all the approvals, so if there are any cancellations they will put me in sooner.

My doctor prescribed Xanax for when my anxiety gets the best of me...primarily at night. My job keeps me busy during the day. Now that almost two weeks has passed I seem to be calmer. 3 more weeks till the biopsy, but realising it is what it is, worrying won't help it at all, will just rob me of enjoying time with my family. So focusing on vacation planning, spring cleaning, finishing my degree, helping my son with his college classes...anything to keep me focused on positive things. And this site is wonderful for support and encouragement! Just knowing that you are not alone or silly in feeling so anxious is such a relief. At felt initially that I was overreacting, felt bad even mentioning my fears to people I know who did have breast cancer. My worry over nothing yet seemed trivial compared to what they went through. But knowing a site such as this has a section dedicated to us who are in this wait and worry stage validated my feelings. And all those who have been through it yet take their time to support and encourage all of us at this stage put me at east enough to talk to my sister in law (who had a masectomy before I met her). And I worried for nothing...she has been so supportive.

Sorry for the book! Long story short, don't be afraid to voice your fears, worries and concerns. Even if you don't know someone to talk to in person, this site will help put you at ease. (((Hugs)))

Here's wishing all of us peace and positive outcomes!

Kim

bubblesper

Hi Eligna, just curious to know if your biopsy results came along? Mine is same as yoours and I am getting my biopsy this friday.

bubblesper

In detail,

6 months back when i went for a bilateral US as my . OB-GYM found a small lump on . my right breast, the . US found a small 8x4x5mm measuring lump. That time the radiologist told me that it is probably an intra-mammary lymph node and asked me to come back for a follow up in 6 months. They assigned a BIRADS-3 for this lesion.

After my 6th month US, radiologist says that it has grown from 8x4x5 TO 8x4x9mm. She still thinks that it could be a intramammary lymph node or a fibroadenoma.(possible). She recommended a biopsy only because I told her that I am too anxious and I cannot wait anymore. My code biopsy is scheduled for this friday and I can't wait for it to be done. Waiting kills me but I think it is ok to get a more definitive answer.

Eigna

hi Bubblesper,

At this point they don't know if they will do a biopsy. I was scheduled for a second ultrasound on June 19th which never happened. It was rescheduled for July 10th. So I am waiting patiently for this appointment to come. I have a feeling that thwill ask me to come back in 6 months. We shall see. I'll keep you posted. Did your report say anything about irregular margins? I wish you that your biopsy will go well and that you will have good results. Please write back to let us know how it went.

Eigna

hey bubblesper! How did your biopsy go ? Hopefully you will get results soon. Keep me posted.

Eigna

This is it. Tomorrow I go for my second ultrasound. I am hoping I don’t need a biopsy 🙏. Please God give me good news tomorrow. 🙏🙏

Eigna

And it’s confirmed. I need to do a biopsy as they don’t know what it is. They are not sure if it’s nodule or a cyst or a mass. BI-RADS 4a. Any words of support at this point are welcomed. I’m overwhelmed with fear at this point.

Alicethecat2

Eigna

So sorry you are going through this. The waiting is the worst in my humble opinion. But at least tomorrow you are one step nearer to getting an answer. You may get benign results.

Good luck

Alice

Beesie

I'm sorry that the ultrasound didn't clear things up and that you need a biopsy.

Now, as reassurance, you should keep reminding yourself that BIRADs 4 biopsies are not done to confirm the suspicion of cancer, but to confirm that whatever is seen is not cancer. Most BIRADs 4 biopsies are benign, and this is particularly true for BIRADs 4a, which presents a risk of cancer of 10% or less.

Good luck with the biopsy!

Eigna

Thank you Beesie and Alicethecat for your support...! ❤️😊

CGLion

Beesie- you are awesome! As soon as I saw eigna's last post I was thinking of that chart, and you were already on top of it

Eigna- I just got home from my biopsy. The samples were all taken from the retro areolar area. They told me it is the most painful area to have a breast biopsy done. Honestly it hurt when they started numbing, but was not as bad when they took the samples. It felt like a strong pinch. I watched the US screen as they did it and it helped keep me distracted.

Now that the numbing wore off it hurts more, but is manageable with tylenol. I highly recommend wearing or bringing a sports bra with you. The extra support helps it feel better. When I got home I put a second sports bra on and placed the ice pack between the two bras. As long as I stay on top of the icing, as they instructed, it has helped to keep the pain level down.

I'm sorry you are going through this waiting period also, it just stinks. I'll be sending calming thoughts your way!

Eigna

Thank you ClarissaRae! Hope you get benign results from your biopsy.