Biopsy on "good" breast. Can this end well?

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krcll
krcll Member Posts: 343
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

July 2009 I had a Mx and axillary node disection of my left breast. A biopsy supposedly also showed cancer in my right breast so they did a lumpectomy and took the sentinel nodes on that side. It turned out that the right side didn't have cancer after all.



Fast forward to 3 1/2 years later. I had a mammo today. All fine but because of some lumpy, bumpy stuff that she could feel she did an ultrasound. She saw something very small that could be suspicious so did a fine needle biopsy. She had a look at it under the microscope and said it looked a little irregular, but wanted the pathologist to look at it, since it isn't her field.



So help me out here. I know that there can be no answer before the pathology comes back, but do any of you have stories of biopsies that came back negative?? I have a week to wait for the answer and I am afraid that they don't do a biopsy unless they are pretty sure it is something. I told the doctor that I've been through this one time and I can do it again, but I'm feeling less cocky now...

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited March 2013

    I had 3 things in my "good" breast, 2 remained after chemo and were biopsied, and both were benign. Hope this helps. (P.S. Am making summer plans to visit your city.)

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2013

    Firstly, I just want to say I am so sorry you have this going on. I can only imagine the stress and the fear. It sucks.

    Secondly, I had a biopsy on my "good" breast that was b9. So it does happen!

    Hang in there, I will be thinking of you!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2013

    krcll, we're sorry you're dealing with this worry.

    As for stories of biopsies that came negative, here's a quote from the Biopsy section of the main Breastcancer.org site:  "In the United States, only about 20% of women who have biopsies turn out to have cancer."

    We're all sending you best wishes!

    • The Mods

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    Me too. My good breast was b9



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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited March 2013

    Hoping all turns out NED!!!! It's not unusual to have lumps and bumps if your breasts tend to be that way anyway.  It just stinks that you have to be put on that waiting game ride again.  Keep us posted on how things are going!

    Sharon

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  • krcll
    krcll Member Posts: 343
    edited March 2013

    Thank you, thank you everyone!! You all are stars!! That was exactly what I needed- to hear of other stories of benign results. Now I am just going to assume it is benign until otherwise proven wrong. I'll deal with any bad news only if it comes. I really don't know what I would do if I didn't have all you wonderful stage III women:-)

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited March 2013

    When I was diagnosed after 1st set of biopsies, I had MRI...lots lit up on both breasts so more biopsies.....in breast cancer breast there was more cancer, but in the other breast, the biopsies came back benign....so yes, biopsies can come back with good news......lots of gals have biopsies that turn out NOT to be cancer....so sending good thoughts your way....

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited March 2013

    When do you get the results? We're thinking of you.

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited March 2013

    I had a benign biopsy in my other breast as well! Hope it all turns out well for you!

    jackie

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  • krcll
    krcll Member Posts: 343
    edited March 2013

    I get the results this week. If I don't hear by the end of the week, I am supposed to call them. As the doctor that took the biopsy said, "since there are several departments involved, the results sometimes don't go where they are supposed to." Hmmmm......Thanks for even more good stories of benign biopsies. And thanks to gillyone, pupfoster1, karen1956, KerryMac and everyone else waiting with me and sending good thoughts. I know you all know what it feels like....

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2013

    Well I would be firmly in the "no news is good news" frame of mind. :-)

    Hope you get the all clear soon!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2013

    When I build my world-famous breast cancer clinic, no woman will ever go home after a mammogram or go to bed after a biopsy without knowing the results.  

    There will be no paper gowns.  No breezy, disrespectful physicians, no cold examining rooms, no "take a number, honey...NEXT!"  

    Compassion will be the cornerstones.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited March 2013

    Waiting to hear the GOOD news!!!!

    Sharon

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited March 2013

    Elizabeth, I am with you. I have to say though that at my hospital, they are really good at getting the results to you speedily when you are a cancer patient. The other day I had some bumps on my chest checked out. Normally you need to wait 2 days for the ultrasound report, but they got me mine in 40 minutes. Same thing happened when I had a heart ultrasound. The doc asked me to wait while he prepared the report.

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  • krcll
    krcll Member Posts: 343
    edited March 2013

    Hi everyone. The results were BENIGN!!! Yahoo!! I didn't think I was all that worked up about it all, but I have to admit I had myself a little happy cry when I got the news:-) Now I get to plan my summer vacation, which I put off until I heard from the hospitial. Instead of chemo, it will be Greece!!

    Thanks everyone for being there for me!! What would we do without BC.org??

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited March 2013

    Krcll, Hurra, hurra! Skynd dig til Grækenland (eller kalder I det Grekland?)

    We need your money down here ;) Glad to hear the excellent news.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2013

    Excellent, excellent news! So happy to hear.

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  • krcll
    krcll Member Posts: 343
    edited March 2013

    Momine- Greece is Hellas in norwegian. i promise to spend lots and lots of money in Greece:-)

    KerryMac-Thanks:-)

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited March 2013

    Congrats!  Glad to hear the good news.  Enjoy Greece :)

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited March 2013

    YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!

    and...YAY!

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited March 2013

    Whooo Hooo!!!!!!

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited March 2013

    Happy Dance!!! Happy Dance!! Yipeeeeeeee!!!!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited March 2013

    So glad!!

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited March 2013

    Hi ladies, I am also waiting to hear about biopsy on "good" breast. I had an MRI 2 weeks ago and got a call that there was a suspicious spiculated mass. I had the MRI biopsy on Monday and will hopefully hear tomorrow. My family is convinced it is benign because they think the odds are so low it is cancer. Is it that rare? I wanted the MRI because I want to catch any new cancer early, but it s very stressful. I keep reminding myself that worrying about a false positive is worth it if you catch a cancer early. But, I am wondering!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited March 2013

    Really? Nice to know, thanks!

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited March 2013

    Yeah....good news :)

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited March 2013

    Awesome news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)



    Sharon

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited March 2013

    I think I missed all the worry part...but I'm here to celebrate the good news!  Congratulations!  

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  • krcll
    krcll Member Posts: 343
    edited March 2013

    Wow! Thanks so much jennyboog, sbelizabeth, caaclark, Momof2inMe, gillyone, karen1956, pupfoster1 and bugs for your cheers! It is so nice to celebrate with others that know exactly how it feels! What makes me especially happy is to see so many of you "old-timers" still in the stage III forum. My plan is to grow old and grey right here in stage III :-)

    Mamalou-I think it is fairly rare for cancer to appear in the other breast, but it does happen. And I do know that MRI's show alot of false positives. Good for you for being extra cautious. I think it is worth the worry, in the long run. Please keep us informed of the results. We're rooting for benign!

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