Anyone ever had a Dr. not want to biopsy?
I have extensive family history of BC including 1 relative who got it at age 40. None of my relatives had genetic testing. I have other personal high risk factors (menstruation started very young and I've never had children) and I'm in my 40's. I have had masses show up on my images and both times the radiologist did not want to biopsy. One mass shows up only on MRI and cannot be found with ultrasound. Again the radiologists did not want to biopsy. I find this unacceptable and surprising. I insisted and it is being biopsied. Is it common for doctors to not want to biopsy even if the high risk patient does want to biopsy?
Comments
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Yes, IMO this is unacceptable and negligent considering your family hx. I would insist on biopsy and not accept any excuses. Too often patients are ignored with a watch and wait attitude from some physicians. Make him/her do their job. I would also consider taking my medical records and going else where.
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I agree with cp, the wait and watch crap is what got me to IV at dx.
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I saw 4 doctors before I had an excitional biopsy, no lumps, mammogram and ultrasound negative, no family history of any cancer, not a high risk behavior[ birth control pill, hormones].
My family doctor was the only one that believe that there was a need for a biopsy, I had a sharp pain in my breast from time to time.
I gave up and a couple of months later I was reading Dear Abby and there was a letter of a woman that was terminal because nobody listen, Her symptoms were similar, I cut the letter from the newspapers, called my family doctor and made the appointment, I walk into the surgeon office and hand her the letter, and demanded a biopsy, had one cancer was found, I also wanted a mastectomy and chemo, I was told by the oncologist no need for further treatment, the surgeon agreed with me , when she did the mastectomy they found a larger different invasive cancer.
Because of my experience I became and activist and advocate for breast cancer, even went back to University to work in the medical field.
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Thank you, everyone who replied. Since it is my life that is on the line and not the doctor's, I will always have the biopsy as it is the best way to know for sure whether the mass is malignant. I will also be on the look-out for a proactive doctor that cares more about saving my life and less about the insurance company's profit.
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I have to agree with the others who have responded to you. 3 years ago, my mammogram found a small mass. The radiologist advised that it was inconsistent with a cancerous lesion and did not authorize biopsy. Instead,they monitored by U/S every 6 months. In August I was released from the every 6 month U/S regiement and told I was good to go on normal annual mmamograms. In january I found an additional lump and returned. The mammogrammed and U/S'ed, and again told me it was not consistent with a cancerous lesion. I questioned further, and they agreed to biopsy...came back "atypical". Met the breast surgeon, who couldn't believe the first lesion was never checked and removed both lesions by EBB. Both lesions are cancerous and I'm now having a bi-lateral mastectomy in 2 weeks. I'd sure like to have those 3 wasted years back right now.
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I have/ had ADH my 6 month screening is in may in feb the MRI saw a few areas of concern, they didn't want to biopsy they were birad 3. Well see what this screening show if there is growth ot change. I wanted everything biopisied unfortunately the radiologist said that at the moment it wasn't necessary.
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