Anyone else? Developed lump after core biopsy.

Gigibozo

Hi all. I am almost a year post final chemo. Back in early June a had my yearly breast MRI. A suspicious small area (6m) was found in the 12 o’clock area of my left (cancer) beast. My original cancer was in the upper outer quadrant borderline axial area. The new area was deep and a mri guided core biopsy was done. Thankfully it was benign. A ruptured cyst and some changes caused by radiation.

Toward the end of July, I noticed a larger lump in the area of the biopsy. It’s between 12 and 1 o’clock. I googled it and saw that core biopsies can cause lumps and swelling. The lump had persisted, so I waited till my scheduled check with my oncologist. She feels it too. She said she’s not terribly worried about it, but we should know what it is. I was able to get a diagnostic mammogram (useless inmy opinion. I have extremely dense tissue) and a diagnostic ultrasound within 2 days. The radiologist came in and said that mine is a difficult exam and he cannot tell from the ultrasound what the mass is and since it was not there before, he recommends an ultrasound guided biopsy. Right now that is scheduled for the 13th, though my oncologist will try and get it sooner.

Hoping I would have gotten an answer from the imaging. Any one else have a similar experience? Hoping for some scar tissue as the answer.

MikaMika

Hello, I got a huuuge hard lump after my first core biopsy last year. I had very dense breast tissue as well. My pathology report after BMX (it was two months after the biopsy) mentioned a lot of scar tissue.

I also suggest you to do a research about diagnostic mammogram substitution in your area. In the USA, for example, each state has its own rules. As I learned from this forum, sometimes 3D mammogram or something else should be offered for women with dense breast tissue.

Good luck with your biopsy!

MinusTwo

This is something that would likely be seen with an MRI, but maybe they're hesitant to so another one so soon??

Gigibozo

Mika,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I worried a lot when I had the biopsy back in June. This time I’m more annoyed with the whole thing. The “mass” is right below the biopsy clip, so scaring makes sense.

As far as imaging goes, I do get 3 D mammography. That is supposed to be once a year, with the MRI six months later. I think I’m going to press for an routine ultrasound as well. I used to get one a few months after each mammo because of the density. At least I need a better explanation as to why it’s no longer in the mix.

Gigibozo

Minus Two,

Exactly. The biopsy will determine what it is.

buttonsmachine

Hey there, I developed a lump after my biopsy. It was between my tumor and the scar at the entry point of the core biopsy. Initially it was dismissed as fat necrosis, but then it started to grow. A biopsy confirmed that it was my original cancer, which had been dragged through my breast by the needle core biopsy. My doctors at the time were not concerned because needle seeding is "rare," but it happened to me.

Here is an article about needle seeding from MD Anderson: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10549-017-4401-7

I hope you have benign results, but I definitely think it's good to have the new lump checked out. Keep us posted and best wishes.

Gigibozo

Had my biopsy and my results are benign! Biopsy showed radiation changes and PASH. I looked up PASH. It seems that it occurs primarily in premenopausal women as it’s believed to be hormone driven. So seems strange to me since I am post menopausal and also on AI.

Will have follow up ultrasound in 6 months.

Very relieved!

buttonsmachine

That's great news! Glad to hear that it was benign. Yay!