Breast Biopsy and Brain/Head MRI - Support Needed Please

Humblepeace

Hello All,

This has been a very intense month. I hope to explain in such a way not to confuse you all, but I must say, I'm kinda all over the place. So, I was on Anastrozole (Arimidex) since June 2018 and Tamoxifen for six months prior to Anastrozole. While on Anastrozole I developed dizziness, joint/bone pain, weight gain and tinnitus in my left ear. I recently went off Anastrozole a month ago and I have been taking Femara/Letrozole. Well, let's side step a bit. I developed two fibroidadenomas in my remaining breast (left) about 10 months ago. It was seen on an ultrasound in my breast surgeon's office. I had two additional ultrasounds and finally I asked to have them removed in November 2020. Pathology returned benign and all clear. So, now last week I went it for my mammogram, which breast surgeon also asked for an ultrasound. I completed mammogram and was told that it was clear but due to surgeon ordering an ultrasound I was asked to move to that room. The technician seem to take longer than what I was use to so flags went up! She took the images to the radiologist.......and my thought was now I can leave. Since we have all done this for some time, we know the drill. When she returned and asked me to get dressed to take me to talk to the radiologist, my heart dropped and I wanted to refuse. He stated that he had a concern with what was seen and wanted to biopsy. He also stated that it could be scar tissue due to the recent removal of the fibroidadenomas and the biopsy was to prove that. Biopsy on Monday, March 29th.

Though the dizziness has improved while waiting for the MRI I have continued to have neuropathy and a slight twitch under my nose on the left side. I was on 200mg of Gabapentin for 6 months up until last week. I reduced it to 100mg every day and then 100mg every other day until the end of last week. As I reduced the dosage, I could feel the neuropathy getting worse and then the nose twitch began during this time. I had neuropathy during and after chemo which got better (didn't go away, just got better) then returned. My body is feeling all sorts of stuff and ANXIETY!! I would love support and stories of "Scares that turned out to be nothing" lol. The MRI is on Friday, April 1. Thank you all for being great!!

Humblepeace

LW422

Bless your heart, I wish I had a magic wand to take away the anxiety. Cancer just SUCKS. I hope all goes well for you and there's no more bad news. Take care and hang in there; we are all in your corner.

Humblepeace

LW422-Thank you so much for your support. I feel like a ball of nerves. Yesterday my left eye started twitching which also freaked me out. It calmed a bit into the night, but is back this morning. I’m trying to stay away from the ER as I had a head CT scan a year and a half ago and heard too many are not good. Just trying to hold out until MRI.

How are you feeling with your treatment? This is recent for you. I pray you’re enduring well.

Humblepeace

2019whatayear

First of all, I would like to say that you are doing an amazing job taking care of your body post-treatment. You make sure to get the fibroidadenomas taken care of in the bast way for you and got the recent mammogram. It's very very stressful, to be sure, however getting the biopsy is the surest way to make sure no funny business is going on :-)

Your MRI is right around the corner, I hope you can take some big breaths and find some space where anxiety is a bit quieter. Our mind are super tricky and whenever a scan is coming up we really put ourselves through the ringer.

Maybe check out the thread called like scares that turned out to be nothing

Suburbs

Hi Humblepeace. I am sorry that you have to deal with all these issues. Sounds like you are on top of everything and that proper tests have been ordered. I have dealt with dizziness as well and had two brain MRIs. Both came back normal. The waiting is the hardest part and to be told to take it easy is easier said than done. Sending support and good thoughts for good results. Hang in there.

LivinLife

Just want to send support Humblepeace! Well wishes for the MRI as well! We often read too much into what is happening during appointments and tests though your gut feeling was correct unfortunately. I hope you have some helpful ways of distracting while you wait and good support at home? Your biopsy is right around the corner with MRI soon to follow - that helps minimize the wait some.... You will know soon even though it involves more waiting first.... Best!!

LW422

Humblepeace--I'm doing pretty well, thanks. I went through the major meltdown phase but since treatment started I've settled down some. (It's not like we have a dang choice.)

I hope you can manage your anxiety and relax a little until the MRI. So sorry you are going through this.

Humblepeace

Thanks everyone for the supportive responses. You are all so kind. I'm really trying to find some quiet peace and not drive myself to the emergency room for a CT scan. Yesterday, my eye began to twitch a bit, I'm accustomed to this since chemo and being sensitive to medication. This time it feels more like a sticking feeling though in the mirror it looks fine. I tried eye drops, not too much help.

I have not started anything new other than Letrozole to replace Arimidex. I started last month. I also weaned myself from Gabapentin 200mg over a couple of months. Last pill about a week ago. I really want to calm down. I had a CT scan of my head about a year and half ago and did not want to have too many. Though I would hope to get some answer more immediate. I'm again so thankful for you all taking time from your weekend to support me.

Humblepeace

AliceBastable

Hi Humblepeace, just wanted to tell you that I had a PET scan in 2019 as a follow-up to a nephrectomy for kidney cancer in 2018. A suspicious area was found that required a biopsy. I had a MONTH between the scan and the biopsy - worst mental month ever! And, it turned out to be scar tissue forming in one of the surgical areas. So that is a common result. As for your eye problem, boy, does that sound like stress/anxiety twitching and pain! Especially since it started after your mammogram and ultrasound.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you get clear results quickly.

Humblepeace

AliceBastable-Thank you for sharing with me and I’m glad that it turned out to be scaring in your case. I’m due tomorrow morning for the biopsy....I can think of at least 20 places I would rather be than there LOL 😂 I’m trusting God for a good report. I’m calmer this morning because you all are so kind. I thank God for all you.

Humblepeace

Trishyla

I noticed you have weaned yourself off Gabapentin, Humblepeace. Good for you! That is a very powerful drug, with a lot of side effects.

It takes time, sometimes months, for your body to recover from such a strong drug. I watched my mother kick a prescription valium habit when I was in my teens. Man, the twitches and tics and anxiety and panic she went through those first couple of weeks. It was hard to watch. But they did finally subside. I wonder if that's what's causing some of your issues. especially the eye twitching.

I hope you get some answers sooner rather than later. Good luck tomorrow.

Trish

ltrinidad

Humblepeace, I hope everything goes well and will keep you in my thoughts.

Humblepeace

Hello Trish and Itrinidad,

Thank you both for the well wishes. Trish thanks you sharing about your mom. This community is beyond supportive. The members here share from intimate place to encourage others.... thanks again.

Best wishes for you Itrinidad. We're here.

Humblepeace

ltrinidad

Thank you, Humblepeace. I hope you get a good night sleep. I hope we all do.

Humblepeace

Good morning,

I have arrived at the breast center and WAITING to be seen. Thanks again for your support all weekend.

I’ll keep you all updated

Hu

2019whatayear

Thinking about you! Hope the biopsy went well and that you are pain free and that you get B9 results ASAP

LivinLife

Hoping all went well for you today and you hear soon on results!!!

Humblepeace

Hello All,

I’m waiting and would like support. I went for MRI this morning and found out that the results are back when I called my primary about another issue. I asked to be contacted once he viewed them. I also called breast surgeon office and found out inadvertently from one of the receptionist that those results are back as well. I’m so tense that my eyes are twitching.

I want someone to call and give me a good report.

LivinLife

Oh that has to be sooo difficult knowing results are in and calls pending!!! Support and gentle hugs sent your way... I would hope you would get a call tomorrow for sure... If you don't hear mid-day (and I'm feeling certain you will) or so you may want to call them, esp. given the weekend.... Do you have access to a portal? And then the next question is do you want to look? I know none of my results (last summer) were posted until some days after there was discussion.... Deep breaths and maybe a walk depending on weather where you are....

AliceBastable

Are the results on your portal? Lately I always get mine as soon as they're available. I like to look at them before I talk to the doctor so I can get my questions ready. Good luck.

Humblepeace

AliceBastable- You are far braver than myself. I’m fairly sure that here in California or at least within my medical group, results are not available until after they are reviewed by the doctor. I don’t believe I could do that....I would be beside myself if I misinterpreted something.

LivinLife- I will definitely call back tomorrow if I haven’t heard back at the close if business. Thank you all so much.

BTW are either of you taking an AI? I just recently switched to Letrozole and had a question or two

moth

Humblepeace, as I understand it, in the US since Jan 1 this year all results have to be made available to the pt portal as soon as they're ready (I'm so jealous of that from up here in Canada lol - we have to go get paper copies usually) There really isn't much to misinterpret on rad reports - the diagnostic radiologist will usually write a section called "impression" and "recommendations" and those are pretty straightforward.

Humblepeace

Moth- Wow I had no idea! I have a patient portal, but don’t know if I have the courage!!

This may take a minute!!

exbrnxgrl

humblepeace

There is no law in CA that dictates when test results have can or cannot be posted to a patient portal. I belong to the largest HMO in CA and I often see test results before my doctors appointment. I usually read them but I am not a freak out kind of person. If there is something I don’t understand, I simply make a note so I remember to clarify with the doctor. I never try to interpret things, beyond the obvious, because elementary school teachers have poor diagnostic skills 😉. Seriously, don’t look if you don’t feel comfortable. We all deal with this stuff differently.

raymondaz

In the Us it is state by state. I can drive to center and pick up reports and cds from any office or image center or hospital but my portal needs approval. they release my cancer markers from oncologist bloodwork shows up 5 days later as to give drs time to communicate every state is a bit different

Humblepeace

I got a call from my primary about the Brain MRI and thank God it is clear. I’m so happy. I did muster up the courage with you all’s encouragement and my daughter sitting with me to look on the patient portal and for some reason the pathology report is pending until April 4. Perhaps the receptionist only thought the report had arrived.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks again for the information on the patient portal. I should have known that...

Trishyla

Awesome news, humblepeace. Here's hoping the rest of the results are just as positive.

2019whatayear

awesome news on the MRI!!!

Forgot to say. I had an eye twitch issue for a while- and it resolved when I started making sure I drank more water

Humblepeace

Hello All,

I got the call from the breast surgeon’s office and it was benign (fat necrosis). I appreciate you all so much. Thank for talking me through.

Humblepeace

tntnsd

That’s wonderful news, so happy for you Humblepeace. Now you can relax and enjoy the weekend:)

Rah2464

Yay Humblepeace what fabulous, fabulous news !!!!!