Multi-focal now unifocal???

Taralynn

When I had my mammogram and ultrasound, the radiologist noted separate masses in the same quadrant. One at 9:00 is around 3 cm, and two at 11:00 very close to each other are about 2 Cm and 1 cm. In between these is dense tissue that was marked as such on The report. So here I am thinking Im dealing with a multi focal situation.

Fast forward to my appt with the breast surgeon this week and she's considering the whole area as one mass (masses at 11:00 + density + mass at 9:00) So now that changes the size of course. What was originally “multifocal" with the largest being 3cm is now an “area" of 7ish cm. This originally upset me but maybe it shouldn't. Are multiple masses any better than one large one? Maybe not but what do I know. I wish I would have asked specifically but she kept telling me not to focus on the size and I do trust her. As far as she can tell the lymph nodes look fine so I'll try to focus on that.

This is probably a long shot but has anyone dealt with something Similar? This density is what stood out to me from the start of all this, originally feeling very fibrocystic and then getting gradually firmer.

Her recommendation is an MRI next and then surgery in 4-6 weeks. Mastectomy due to the size.

she also said she was going to speak to the tumor board this coming Wednesday. Is that standard?

ETA - she also said I’m stage 2A. Seems strange to me given everything I see about 2A fallsbetween 2-5 cm. Ugh I hate feeling so confused and not knowledgeable about my own body....

kathabus

If you are ER+ and PR+ and HER- you can be over 5cm and still be stage IIA. You kind of get “points” if you will for those factors.

I was confused by this as well. I kept being told I was stage IB with a 2.5cm tumor...but it was because of my ER, PR and HER2 status.

FYI—there is a chart for pre surgery (clinical prognostic stage) and one for after surgery (pathological prognostic stage).

Taralynn

Thank you Kath! I'll read more about that! :

Rah2464

Taralynn you truly won't know all the details until the mass is out. I imaged about twice as big in the MRI versus final surgical pathology. The most important thing is you have found it, you are on the pathway to treating it and it sounds like you have a great doctor guiding you. Wishing you well on your surgery and recovery.

Taralynn

oh wow Rah, that’s interesting! So once they removed everything they saw it wasn’t all “bad”? I considered that also.

I feel this strange sense of guilt almost that something this size has grown inside of me. But, Idid get to the doctor fairly quickly for an exam once I noticed something wasn’t right, and I know I’m being silly.

MinusTwo

taralynn - NO GUILT. You didn't ask for this and you didn't do anything to welcome it. You're under enough stress so drop the guilt. Good luck