mri results showing a suspicious area

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katehudson25
katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467

I have a 4mm idc tumor, well differentiated and grade 1. I am scheduled for re-excision surgery and a sentinel node biopsy on Monday. Today I had an mri which showed a suspicious area in another part of my breast. I had mammograms and an ultra sound and they did not find anything. The radiologist told me that this area could be dcis or it could be a vein Has anyone had these findings. With a suspicious area in another part of my breast will I eventually need a mastectomy and chemo? Right now I am just scheduled for re-excision surgery and radiation tratments.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    I had one area which biopsied as bc and 2 suspicious areas showing on MRI that they couldn't get at to biospy. The surgeon removed them all in 2 lumpectomies on the same breast and the 2 suspicious ones came back as ADH. She wanted to get them out just in case obviously because one had already been tested and the risk was too high. A point to note is that those 2 spots could not be seen on mammo or US either.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi SuzaieQ58,

    If you don't mind me asking when you are talking about these areas was your bc in one spot and the 2 suspicious areas showing on the mri in another place in your breast? Also, if you don't mind me asking did you need to have chemo?  Another question I have, and again if you don't mind me asking, does your breast look ok after 2 lumpectomies? I have had 1 lumpectomy already. I am having re-excision surgery and a sentinel node biopsy on Monday. I am small breasted, and the doctor said that my breast will be noticably smaller after this surgery. He said I may or may not need plastic surgery. I don't think I will be able to have a 3rd lumpectomy to get rid of the suspicious area, but I can ask him.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    Kate - yes, the cancer was separate from the other 2 spots. All were deep in however, in the lower half. I have big boobs and you can hardly see the scars. The cancer was only 5mm. I didn't have chemo for that cancer, I had chemo the year before for the lobular cancer in my left breast which was a nasty one. The later one (in my right breast), looks like it was there the year before but missed when they did the mammogram. It was a lower grade and seems to have been unaffected by the chemo but it might have been controlled. The surgeon did want to do a BMX because I had it in both breasts but I resisted and she was lovely in actually doing 2 lumpectomies at once. I just wish I had had her the year before as my scar from that one isn't so nice. I sacked my first surgeon as I couldn't handle his manner. I have had radiation on both breasts but will not have a choice in the future as you can't have rads more than once.

    Hope this is helpful. It would be difficult with small breasts. I hope the re excision goes well.

    Sue

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi SuzieQ58, Gosh you have been through so much, and I hope all is well for you now. Thank you so much for telling me about your situation. Unfortunately I have small boobs, and my doctor said that my breast will be noticably smaller after this surgery. I don't like his bedside manner either, but I think he is the most skilled surgeon to clear my margins. My tumor is small also 4mm. I am praying for no lymph node involvement and clear margins. The appearance of my breast is secondary. If all goes well, then my next step will be dealing with the shadow on the mri. Be well! I will post again after I get my next pathology report hopefully Wednesday or Thursday. 

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    Kate - glad that what I told you is helpful. The only way they can check those other spots you have is MRI guided biopsy - you could ask about that. Good luck with the surgery!!!

    My first surgeon was well known and competent too, but far from human - he actually had a go at me because I made an appt with the oncologist before I went back to see him. Well, I already knew an onc - he treated my DH twice, so why can't I make my own appt? When I met the second surgeon - she said "Who put your port in?" After I got to know her, I asked her why she had asked me that and it was because it was a big scar. Females are so much daintier and she is human. She had a baby at the end of last year and happily showed me photos - I'm sticking with her.

    Sue

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Sue, Thanks for letting me know. I will ask my doctor about an mri guided biopsy. Thank you for your concern, and I will post again after my surgery.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    ((((((((KATE)))))))))) - all the best for Monday!!!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    MRIs show false positives all the time. When I had my MRI it showed 4 suspicious areas in my "good" breast. Granted there was only one that my BS was worried about. He did mention that I would need biopsies/MRIs every year to monitor these spots since my breast tissue was so dense. In my case I had to get an MX on the other breast so I opted to get rid of them both. Didn't even do a biopsy on the suspicious areas. Ended up being LCIS. I think my BS/Radiologist new it was LCIS.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    Hi Lago - it's interesting, I was supposed to have left over LCIS in the left one and it didn't show on the MRI. If there's cancer in a breast and suspicious spots as well, they really have to check them out as best they can.

    Hope you're well!!!

    Sue

  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited July 2011

    Hi Kate - sorry you had to join the club, I had mammos and US for years and it never got picked up until I had some pain and insisted something was there plus you could feel it...My initial tumor was 9.25 mm and well differentiated. I was scheduled for a lumpectomy but my BS wanted an MRI to get a clearer picture. I was glad I did. I had three more tumors ranging from 5mm to 1mm. I had an MRI guided biopsy on all but the 1mm as it was too small. My BS said if I wanted a lumpectomy he would do it but it would not be pretty afterwards. I opted for the mx and I was glad I did because all were well differentiated except the 1mm one they couldnt biopsy. That stupid little poorly differentiated 1mm F^%$ing tumor is what led me to do chemo. My first tumor was grade 1, the others grade 2. My BS and Onc thought the smallest one being more aggressive was not a good sign so I did 4 rounds of TC. When I only had one tumor grade 1, chemo was never a thought. I would also ask your BS about the oncotype dx test. It's a genomic test that will help determine if chemo would benifit you. Most low grade tumors don't benefit from chemo since they are so slow growing and chemo kills rapidly dividing/growing cells.

    If you opt for a lumpectomy I would most definitely still consult with a Plastic surgeon. Mine was going to do fat grafting to fill the site where the tumor was removed so I didn;t end up with a divot.

    Good luck to you Monday and keep us posted on how you are feeling.

    I will be thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way for a smooth procedure and speedy recovery!

    Diane

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Suzieq58, Thank you again for your support.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Lago, Thank you for your post, and letting me know about false positives. It makes me feel better.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Diane, Thank you for letting me know about your situation My God you have been through so much. I asked my doctor about a biopsy for the suspicious area on the mri. He told me he asked the radiologist about it and that it could not be done. At that time I knew nothing about an mri guided biopsy, and I did not ask him why it could not be biopsied. It also could not be seen on mammograms or an ultrasound. The radiologist said that I would have to watch it carefully and have another mri in 6 months. He said it could be dcis or it could be nothing. My tumor is well differentiated and a grade 1. I am having a wide lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy Monday. If my nodes and margins are clear I will be stage 1. If my nodes and margins are clear my medical oncologist said that I won't require chemo. When I saw him I had not had the mri yet, so I am hoping this won't change. I have seen a radiology oncologist and I will need to do 4 weeks of radiation. My doctor said that after this surgery my breast may or not be noticably smaller. I am small to begin with so this will be a problem. If there is a problem I will consult a plastic surgeon. Thank you so much for your support. I truly appreciate it. 

  • MRDRN
    MRDRN Member Posts: 537
    edited July 2011

    Good luck Kate

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Cindy,

    Thank you for telling me about your situation and thank you for your support.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    hi mrdrn,

    Thank you so much for your support. I need all that I can get, and I appreciate it.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Sue or Diane, Can one of you tell me how an mri guided biopsy works? Do you need anesthesia to have it etc.

  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited July 2011

    Oh they don't put you under but they give you a local to numb the area. I think they injected lidocaine into deep into the tissue and I didnt feel a thing.  I took an Ativan beforehand to be relaxed. You lie on the table face down like a massage table and honestly I could have fallen asleep...they bundled me up with blankets and pillows since it was so cold in that room.  I wore yoga pants (no zippers or metal rivets so no jeans or other pants) and socks cause again it is cold in there. they put a gown on your top half. They also put earplugs in so you can't hear the CLANK CLANK CLANK of the MRi machine...as much. They put you in the MRI get a good look...mark the spot...put you back in the MRI..pull you out...biopsy...put you back in to make sure they got the right spot pull you back out. It takes about 45 mins..but I had two spots biopsied that way so it took doublle the time. ALSO I was glad someone came with me 1. I was high as a kite on Ativan and 2. I was like so shakey from the lidocaine that I couldnt even dress myself let along drive.

    I had no problems just kept ice on it (even though they tell you know my BS said it was fine). I had the results in two days and that was the second call to change my life.

    It really was less painful than the Core Needle..maybe just because the doctor was so much better.

    Hope this helps

    Diane

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Diane,

    Thank you so very much for taking the time to let me know. You are a doll.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    Kate - I just remembered. Even though they couldn't biopsy the 2 suspicious spots - they were able to put in titanium marker clips using MRI, so they could use them (they can see the clips on mammo) to put wires in to point to the spots for the surgeon to know where to cut. The breast clinic I go to are not proficient at doing MRI guided biopies yet as it is quite new over here.



    Sue

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Sue, Thank you so much for telling me about this. I will discuss this with the radiology dept of the hospital before my surgery.I am arriving at the hospital at 9:30 am. At 11:30 I will get the dye for the snb. Does the radiology dept. do the dye? My surgery is not till 2. So hopefully I will be able to discuss this well in advance of my surgery.You are an angel for taking your valuable time to update me about this.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    Usually its the nuclear medicine department that does the dye. Make sure they are giving you lydercaine shots before they inject the dye.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Lago, What are lydercaine shots?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    I might have spelled them wrong. This is numbing medication that they inject. I also got them before my biopsy. If they don't do that maybe the can freeze the area to numb it. Most places do lydercaine but I know a few places don't.

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Thanks so much lago for letting me kniow. I appreciate it.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    Kate - the first time I had the dye injected I was stuck there for 6 hours and nothing lit up!! The surgeon also injects blue dye as a back up so it worked out ok. The second time, the girl got me to massage my breast and it lit up first go!!! Now she was smart. Wait and see what they do, it will be interesting if they get you to rub it disperse the dye. Don't do it unless they tell you to.

    Lago - it's linocaine I think

    Sue

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Again Sue, thank you for lettingme know, You are an angel, and I so much appreciate your support. Be Well!

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited July 2011

    Kate - your case is SO similar to mine except for the grade 1 bit, so of course I want to share with you and help you.

    Sue

  • katehudson25
    katehudson25 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2011

    Hi Lago, Thank you for letting me know. Is this procedure painful?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    It wasn't for me but I got 4 shots of linocaine around the nipple. First one stung a litte for a second. Really that fast. Never felt any of the dye going in.

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