Any advice?

Hi Azlisa - I had both ADH and ALH. My BS said if I only had ADH he would not be that concerned, but he sent me to a genetic counselor for the ALH because it can be a marker for breast cancer in both breasts. I also have the high risk family. You might consider talking to your breast surgeon about the HRT. I think there is a decent possibility they'll want you off of it, since many potentials cancers are fueled by estrogen. Best of luck! Hugs to you!

Azlisa... My opinion. You should have the MRI. You should have the papilloma removed, and all ADH and ALH assuming nothing else shows on MRI... I would stop HRT and if nothing else is necessary, take Tamoxifen.

Good luck, Lisa. We'll be thinking of you! 

lisa----glad to hear they got you scheduled for an MRI.  I was diagnosed with LCIS almost 10 years ago and my risk is further elevated by my family history of bc (mom had ILC and is a 25 year survivor!).  I do high risk surveillance of alternating mammos and MRIs every 6 months with breast exams on the opposite 6 months, I took tamoxifen for 5 years and have been on evista for over 4 years.  Fortunately, I have not needed any further biopsies or lumpectomies in all these years. (it is not necessarily a "given" with LCIS, as some say), but I would always be willing to reconsider the bilat mastectomy option if needed, in the future.

Hoping you get good results from the MRI and nothing more serious found. I would recommend trying tamoxifen and see how you tolerate it.

Anne

azlisa - I am sorry it sounds as though you will need additional testing.  However, thank goodness they are being so thorough so if they do find something menacing it can be dealt with sooner rather than later!  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lisa,

That is a report of the MRI results. It's not a diagnosis. Not sure why that is at the top of the report, maybe it's just to give a reason for why the MRI is requested (to check and see if there is cancer)

No, that report does not say you have cancer. What it is saying is that there are some areas that should be biopsied however.

Hang in there. Only a biopsy can give you an definitive answer

Lis,

You have had a great deal thrown at you. Take a deep breath. You dont need to decide "right now"...Or even "tomorrow"....

Get that second opinion. Try to quiet your soul so that you when make an informed decision, whatever that decision may be, it's based on being well informed, and not emotion (that includes fear and anxiety)

Gather the information. Weigh it, try to be detacted from the emotional aspect as much as  possible. 

Ask for an anti-anxiety meds if you feel that would be helpful.

The goal is always, health. Always. Biggest gift we give to ourselves, and our families and those we love. 

HUGGSSS

Since there is so much knowledge on this thread, I'll ask a question!  I had a surgical biopsy June 25, and both ADH and ALH were found.  I had my surgeon give me a copy of the pathology report, and I asked him to show me what most concerned him.  He pointed to the ADH, rather than ALH.  I have seen an oncologist, and am waiting for him to consult with my gynecologist because they have a difference of opinion as to which medication I should be on now: Tamoxifen on an AI.  (It seems to be a long process with one doctor then another being out of town this time of year).  No one has explained anything about the ALH and ADH except to acknowledge that both were found.  I did ask the oncologist how likely is it that there are more of the same kinds of cells in other places not biopsied, and he said rather than thinking of it like that, I should concentrate on taking the medication to lower my risk.  I wonder if that means he doesn't know, and it doesn't matter, or we have to wait and see if it shows up? 

Lis -- I wish you the best!

Charlotte

I say this all the time but I think how well your breasts image is crucial. The docs need to be able to see things that come up. With that said my yearly screening protocol post BC is yearly MRIs. Also if someone had told me about Tamoxifen when I was in my 30s or 40s (in hindsight) I would absolutely take it.

Charlotte... I was diagnosed with ADH when I was 35. At the time, no one offered me tamoxifen, just yearly mammograms. But I am now 50 and have learned a lot since then. First, mammograms were worthless for me in monitoring my breasts. Second, had I been offered tamoxifen, I may have been able to avoid a BC diagnosis and having gone through surgery and chemo, I would 100% have taken the Tamoxifen... (I am on it now and have no side effects) Third, without biopsies, there is no way for the doctor to tell you if every ADH cell is removed. But if you take the Tamoxifen, it will / can reduce your risk to the average person.

Liss... I understand your concern and interest in a mastectomy, but you need to fully understand the risks involved with MX before you do anything. First of all, it is a major surgery. Some women think they just take out the breast tissue and put in an implant. end of story. But not so. First of all, implants can be painful, cause lymphedema, and need replacing every ten years. I didn't have implants, but chose a flap reconstruction. My breasts look and feel good, but I have had a lot of surgery to get here. So just be forewarned that there isn't an easy fix, and a MX is a major undertaking... something I probably wouldn't do without a BC diagnosis or BRCA + diagnosis... Having ADH and ALH wouldn't be enough for me.

Aromasin can be taken when you can't take the others because of clotting risk. They've just offered it to me (I had a pulmonary embolism a couple of years ago) and new treatment guideline are recommending Aromasin instead of the other drugs as a preventative.