10 years since original dx now BIRADs 4

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saluki
saluki Member Posts: 2,287
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Apparently, after 10 years I have two new small microcalcifications in the incision area.  Between the mammogram recall and the appointment date 2 weeks later I've lost 10 lbs with crazy fear---Every ache has a new meaning nevermind my LFT's which have always run high although not in multiples.

Saw the breast surgeon today and he would prefer to have me get another diagnostic mammo of the breast in 6 months.  He says he'd rather do that then biopsy an irradiated breast if its not needed.  He says if it is cancer it would still be an early although, but if I understand correctly because of the previous radiation the breast would come off. (I had a lumpectomy, Adriamycin/Cytoxin and radiation) plus 5 years femara stage IIB ER+/PR+

Don't know whether I can deal with the fear till November.  

Can anyone tell me what makes a surgical biopsy on a previously irradiated area more problematic??

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited May 2012

    Mastectomy if recurrence in irradiated breast because they can't to that again. I would request a biopsy anyway....I never heard of that (being difficult on an irradiated breast) but a diagnostic mammogram missed my breast cancer! MAybe an ultrasound? If it were a recurrence, a mastectomy would be your best bet and it doesn't mean that the cancer has gone anywhere else either.

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  • sushanna1
    sushanna1 Member Posts: 764
    edited May 2012

    Susie,

    No clue why he is reluctant to do a biopsy.  I had 4 or 5 [So many that I can no longer remember, but 3 were excisional biopsies] on my radiated breast over a 7 year period.

    Hang in there.  Have you considered going for a second opinion? It is my understanding that microcalcs can be associated with DCIS; however, is it possible that your doc is fairly confident that the microcalcs are not indicative of cancer? 

    Sue 

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited May 2012

     Sorry the delay in getting back here but, I can't remember the last time I slept or ate more that a mouthful for that matter since the initial report.  So, on the way home from the surgeon I took an aciphex and stopped at Five Guys....... treated myself to their small burger----( red meat is a rarity for me) Came home and took a Clonazopam-----Rip Van Winkle......ZZZZZZZ

    Laugh at me ........I was so panicked and beside myself, that I went into a tizzy because I had a message from another Doctor I didn't know........ Doctor Carpet--------Took me an inordinate amount of time to realize who "Dr Carpet" was.......SurprisedWink

    G-d knows I needed the sleep and was too scared to take the meds for fear it would effect any Liver Function Tests as my tests are always mildly elevated.........

    These microcalcifications could still represent dystrophic benign calcifications from the previous lumpectomy.  The surgeon showed me the two barely visable spots on the mammo.......

    I do have absolute trust my surgeon's wisdom so, I'm confident in his reasoning. 

      My sister however, asked her husband (a Doc) about getting a second opinion and he seems to be of the opinion that anyone I'd see at this point for a second opinion would be seeing me from a CYA perspective....... Actually, I could tell that just from viewing the mammogram center follow-up letter.

    Sue-  Thanks for easing my mind a bit regarding the excisional biopsy since if there is any change in Nov it will be a surgical biopsy--and that's really the only kind I'd trust with this.

    I was wondering if there were healing issues with an irradiated breast.
    After they took out my port the skin started breaking down---turns out I'm allergic to adhesive.....crazily sensitive skin.....and additional medical issues unrelated to cancer.

    bluepearl - Knew from the 1st dx that there was a 1-2% a year risk of it returning in the area and in that case the breast would have to come off---didn't realize that they couldn't use rads again.....

    If the fear is too great for me my surgeon is willing to do the biopsy earlier but, as I say he'd rather hold off.

    I see my primary this week and maybe he'll have a written report from the surgeon and maybe shed a little more light on this......

    In the meantime went to Dark Shadows and laughed and laughed------Good medicine.  I know the picture got panned but as long as you are not expecting a horror picture or are not a Dark Shadows purist---its campy fun----and the first distraction I've had

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  • BocaCiegaBabe
    BocaCiegaBabe Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2012

    I'm two years out from original diagnosis and have just been through the same thing as you!  Had my 6 mos mammo on Monday, expecting nothing but the best, but they then wanted an ultrasound, put a BB on a spot and went back for another mammo.  Then they had me speak with the radiologist who said there was an area behind the nipple, about 7mm at its largest, perfectly oval shaped, but "because of my history" she felt it should be biopsied.  I silently freaked out.  One tear fell out of my eye, and I must have looked pathetic because she said perhaps we could do it that day.  Asked me what drugs I'd taken, no asprin, called my oncologist for an order, and they did it right then.  That awful staple gun sounding thing.  I'd had radiation as well, and that did not seem to be a factor, but perhaps that's because of the way mine could be biopsied, that it wasn't excisional??  The only good to this is that it all happened the same morning, no waiting!  

     I won't know my results until Monday.  I'm hanging onto the radiologists words that she really doesn't think it's cancer, but she wants to be safe.  Had it not been for my history, she'd recommend waiting 6 mos for another mammo.  Ugh. I couldn't have that hanging over my head for 6 months.  This one week is bad enough.  My original cancer was small, less than a cm, stage one grade one, ER and PR positive,  Never had chemo, just lumpectomy and radiation, and on Arimidex.  Just the week before I was thinking of quitting that devil of a pill, but this is like a lightning strike.  No quitting for me! Laughing  Like you, can't believe this is happening, but trust it will be nothing.  The thought of a mastectomy scares me to pieces!!

    My best to you saluki!!!  Hope it is nothing but do come back and let us know how it goes! 

    PS...LOVED your Dr Carpet story!! 

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited May 2012

    I'll be thinking all the good thoughts for you on Monday Boca............

    I did hang in for the five years of femara--- In fact, had to move to one floor from a split level cause I couldn't negotiate the steps but, the AI pain did get better over time.......Sleep deprivation another matter.......

    I know it does no good to second guess choices made but, I did have the chance to continue in a Femara trial for an additional 5 years.......which I turned down.   Then, there is the matter of Zometa Infusions I was getting every 6 months for osteoporosis probably AI related....... I was glad to get it as I thought there was a possible anti-tumor benefit.   Three months ago the Doc switched me to Prolia (Denosumab) which supposedly has less side effects for the kidneys.  I knew nothing about Prolia. I don't think it has been proven to have anti-tumor activity.  Probably has nothing to do with anything-----Just can't stop those little thoughts from creeping into my head.......

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  • BocaCiegaBabe
    BocaCiegaBabe Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2012

    Mine turned out to be benign, thank heavens. Saluki, hopefully yours is just that as well. Have you made any decisions on second opinions or waiting? The worry is awful, I know, and despite knowing full well the majority of these things are benign, our minds tend to go to a dark place. I'm hoping you get some answers and peace of mind. Sending good thoughts your way. Please let us know!

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited May 2012

    So glad to hear you are fine---Looked for your name hoping you would post. Cool

    I'm going to go with my surgeons plan.----Diagnostic Mammo again on Nov 8..........See him election Day......Dark Places??? At this point I'm so scared of what any scans they order may show...... I was already asking my primary whether the mastectomy would make my RSD/CRPS spread........He tried to reassure me that I could only take it one step at a time.......

    Yes, I have runaway brain and probably should go back on effexor. Undecided

    One thing I will tell you that I would have done differently if I was starting from the beginning, I would pick a comprehensive breast center.

    Because of the HIPAA my primary doesn't get my labs because its being done in the oncology suite.  He's not thrilled nor Am I. 

    My primary gets my Mammography results but, my Oncologist doesn't---Real mystery as to who will get the surgeon's report, although he's always been very good in communicating with Docs..........And its not like I'm not requesting that these Docs get the results.......Why should I be the one trying to get the results of the mammography faxed to the oncologist when he is the one who ordered it????

    Additional anxiety and stress which is unneeded----

    So for now I wait......... and try not to think about the what ifs................

     

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  • BocaCiegaBabe
    BocaCiegaBabe Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2012

    Saluki, we all can empathize with those dark places minds tend to wander. It's natural...BC is a traumatic event, and I don't think we ever completely get over that original trauma! A hint that something may be wrong sends us right back there. The day before I was to find out my results, I got out of the shower and skinned my just washed hair back to see what I would look like with no hair! :(. (bad!)



    I would rather my oncologist see my mammo/ultrasound results than primary care, too. Their training and constant exposure to such results gives them an edge on interpretation, IMHO. Because its the ordering physician who gets results, can't the order just come from your oncologist? Oh wait...maybe you are no longer seeing yours? I'm still on an every 6 month schedule, so while I'm there she sends the order to the mammography center for the next 6 month check-up. I guess I answered my own question tho as to why yours does not. You are past that phase. You are right tho...it should not be you running around making sure everyone has what they need, once you've given consent!



    Seriously, I hope you can put this in the back of your mind until your next test. Constant stress is no good! Try to keep in mind the word "micro"they used. Teeny tiny. My very best wishes that this is nothing. Remember, most are benign!

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  • CurlyGirly
    CurlyGirly Member Posts: 547
    edited May 2012

    Hi

    It's been 9 years since my dx. Had a unilateral mastectomy, chemo, tamox and still on aromasin (done in a couple of months). Stupid me did a breast exam last month and found a lump. It was time for my yearly mamo but I cancelled it. I know I shouldn't have, but I'm going to go Wednesday morning for one (if I don't chicken out). The first time I put it off for 9 months! This lump is smooth and oval shaped,unlike the original one, but in my mind it's cancer. Whether it is or not, I'm probably going to get another mastectomy. I can't handle all this worrying and yearly mamos. I know it doesn't guarantee no future cancer, but I just want it gone. I keep putting it off because I figure it's all going to start again, and I can't even imagine going through chemo again. Ok, I'll stop blabbing now.

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited May 2012

    Boca--I'm still seeing the Oncologist every six months---was hoping to graduate to yearly.  .....

    The Oncologist was the one who ordered the mammogram!....   When my Primary's office first called me they asked if my Oncologist's office had called me yet.   I didn't hear anything from their office until I'd already  had the diagnostic mammogram and seen the surgeon (but before his report).  That's when I get their alarmed call........  Never even occurred to me that they didn't send the reports to the Oncologist......So, I only got their call after I picked up the films to take to the surgeon and found out they didn't send them to the Onc----

    Then to follow that with the Primary appointment only to have him just as frustrated with the lack of info. 

    By the way, since I was seeing the once every 6 months.   I let the surgeons follow-ups lapse after seven years---- Surgeon was not thrilled Frown.  I won't do that again.....

    Meantime, I'm truly going to try to put this into the back of my mind .  Need to remember to breathe......

    Thanks so much for the support.......

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited May 2012

    Curlygirly- Our posts crossed.  Don't even think of chickening out of the mammography.  You may have a simple cyst.  I remember even at the first dx the waiting was the worst-- worse than the chemo---- chemo was taking action.

    I know what you mean about the mastectomy.  Come November if the surgeon takes one, I want them both gone.

    Hoping that you get good news and quickly.  Keeping you in my thoughts.

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited November 2012

    Went for the six month diagnostic mammogram ---no change according to the radiologist-----I can breathe again for another 6 month as long as my surgeon agrees with the reading.........Have to stop putting my life on hold with each scare and LFT............

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2012

    Great news!

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