Fibroadenoma - remove or not

Well, so many of us have had bad experiences with waiting, that we mostly agree that the only good lump is in a jar.  There is no way in this world that anyone knows for certain what is in the lump until that tissue is inder a microscope.

That being said, most breast cancers, certainly not all, have been there for 8 to 12 years, so tiny they could not be found by any means.  So the 6 months is not unreasonable, but they were positive that my lump was nothing because it had "smooth edges".  Well, I had a small sub-type of breast cancer that is characterized by "smooth edges", called Medullary.  I remained undiagnosed for 2 years by the "wait and see approach".  Also, I was a Triple Negative, which made me more at risk than normal breast cancers, this type being more aggressive.

Maybe you could go back in 3 months, split the difference.  

Other women will be along soon, with different ideas and opinions.

Just know you are very welcome here and come anytime and we will help all we can.

Gentle hugs, shirlann

I had a fibroadenoma the size of an egg removed when I was 18 - 26 years ago.  At the time, I mainly wanted it out because it hurt, but I'm glad now that I did.  Here I am on this forum 26 years later with a bc diagnosis in the same breast. 

It's a personal decision, but I would just feel more comfortable having it out and knowing for sure what it is, because they told me then what they're telling you now, "we can't say 100% what it is without looking at it under the microscope".  Also, back then and through the years, several doctors told me that this really didn't increase my risk for getting bc.  Today, they are saying that if the cells are atypical, your risk may be slightly higher.  I don't know if that was the case with my lump, but I would put money on the fact that they were atypical.  In my mind, any information you can gain that will arm you for your future health decisions would be extremely valuable.     

I hope this helps and good luck with your decision.

Sherrie

Also - I think Beesie presents a good option with a needle biopsy if you're really against going the more invasive route.   

I am going through a similar situation right now, so I can understand how you feel.  I found a small lump back in mid-July.  I didn't worry too much at first because I've had 2 surgeries back when I was around 20 years old to remove some fibroadenomas.  I'm 40 now.  I called the doctor and had a mamo and ultrasound right away.  The radiologist said it looked like another fibroadenoma, but just to be safe, I should get it checked with a needle biopsy.  I thought that was a good plan, since the lump wasn't really bothering me, and I didn't want to have surgery if it wasn't necessary.  I got a biopsy scheduled for the end of July and waited until the first week of August for the results.  This is when I found out that I had 'atypical cells' present, so the recommendation was to have a lumpectomy to remove the whole thing for testing just to be sure there is no cancer there.  So next, I scheduled an appointment with a surgeon and then scheduled the surgery for 9/9.  I had that surgery a couple days ago, and now I am waiting again for results, but I certainly feel better knowing the lump is gone.

If I were you, or if I had the whole experience to do over again, I would just get the lump removed and skip the biopsy if possible.  In the long run, you don't want it there anyway.  I feel like I wasted a month setting up appointments and waiting for biopsy results, only to find that the lump had to go.  That's frustrating, and certainly wasn't good for my mental state!  

In my case, the surgery was just about as easy as the biopsy anyway.  I had some light general anesthesia which luckily didn't make me sick.  I got some Motrin before I left the hospital and never needed to take anything after that.  

Good luck with whatever you decide to do! 

I found a lump while breastfeeding my youngest, had a probable diagnosis of a fibroadenoma from the mammo and u/s.  I was 36.  After talking with my aunt and uncle who are doctors, I got a referral to a breast surgeon, who offered two options - needle biopsy or removal.  I chose removal.  To me, I wanted it OUT.  In the ensuing weeks between when I first found it and when I saw the surgeon, it grew bigger, to what felt to be about the size of a plum pit (I later found out it was about the size of a large pea).  

 The surgery and the process were nerve-wracking, because you never really know what it is until it's been tested, and even a core needle biopsy is not 100% certain.  But the surgery was easy.  I had a "cocktail" IV, no general, but I didn't know that the drugs they gave me would make me sleep.  I woke up at the end, was woozy and had some pain but it was relatively minor.

You need to decide for yourself what is best for you.  I'm so glad I had it out, I have no visible scar but I did have complications - I was breastfeeding so operating on a lactating breast is hard.  I developed a fistula (a pocket of milk that was quite painful) and then about 6 mo later started having aches in the breast where the lump was, and some dimpling, but that was found to be just scar tissue.  Just so you know, you might have minor things down the road even if you do have it removed.  And I have to have annual mammograms from here on out, according to my doctor.

Good luck!! 

I would definitely get a needle biopsy done (for all of you concerned).  I believe they gave me lidocaine & then did a needle biopsy.  I am not going to say it was positively painless because I didn't think it was.  However, everyone now says that it is painless.  Perhaps they are using better numbing stuff before they inject the lidocaine?  It was sore for maybe a few hours.

When I was 15 I had a fibroadenoma removed that was the size of a tangerine.  They were sure it was a cyst but never did a needle aspiration to see if it had fluid.

When I was in my 20's I had another one the size of a marble which I had a needle biopsy on that confirmed it.  However, it continued to get larger so I had it removed.

At 45 I had another huge one that just kept growing & growing so they removed that one as well.

All in all, I really had no pain at all from the surgeries (except the first because I had a drainage tube & a doctor that just didn't know what he was doing.

The two large ones were in my L breast (which I am having problems with now) and the other the R breast.

Good luck!

I was going to post the same question! So glad I saw your question. Mine has not been determined as fibroadema. The mammo and u/s showed nothing!!! But surgeon, primary care, husband, mother, myself can all feel them (I have two different sides on same breast). Surgeon literally left it in my hands. No needle biosy offered. Take it out or watch it. So I'm in same boat!!! Good luck to you! Take care of yourself. My grandmother died at 45 of BC. I'm 41. But he kept saying nothing showed on mammo or u/s so I'm going to wait. I have no reasoning except for money really. And I don't want it to look like Im a hypochondriac (I had gall bladder out this year too, unnecessarily- the radiology report was wrong!!!!). I'm not a doctor, I wish he had just told me what to do!



Take care!