Excision biopsy...and a new lump

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pegasus68
pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
edited June 2014 in LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)

I guess my story actually started last fall when I started to have sporadic (but noncyclical) pain in two spots of my left breast which caused me to finally schedule my 7-mo overdue annual mammogram.  I have problems with fibrocystic changes and pain, but this feels very different.  Fortunately, Lefty got the all clear (although mammo on that side was quite painful), but I was called back for more imaging leading to core biopsy of Righty, which found (probable) fibroadenoma but also ALH/LCIS.  For personal reasons I put off the excision biopsy of the ALH/LCIS for a couple of months, which is coming up on Tuesday.  In the meantime, Lefty has developed a thickening and oval-ish lump in one of the painful spots.  I informed my BS (who found nothing during exam in Dec.), who has now scheduled Lefty for US on Tuesday prior to the needle localization and surgery on Righty.  I am hoping Lefty will just show more fibrocystic stuff, but I am almost more worried about the US now than the surgery... Not really, I guess I'm nervous about both.  :-(

I think this 'high-risk' thing is going to drive me batty, with all of my lumps and bumps...

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2014

    Of course you are worried.  Who wouldn't be worried?  

    While some breast cancers can present as breast pain, most breast pain is NOT from breast cancer.  

    Since you are going to have Righty excised, and Lefty's lump is palpable, and you will be under anesthesia for the excision (I presume), maybe they will want to sample Lefty while you are under for Righty.  I don't know if you or the surgeon are open for that, and maybe it depends on your US results. 

    As you probably know, LCIS women are likely to have bilateral spots of LCIS, and LCIS women, if they go on to get worse breast cancer, are more likely to have ILC than the average population.  ILC is normally slow growing, but is also called 'the sneaky one'.  

    Any biopsy can cause scar tissue, which can make future mammograms harder to read, so whether or not to have a biopsy is a risk - vs - benefit call.  If I was in your position, I would personally lean for a biopsy of some kind (not necessarily a surgical excision) on Lefty's lump at some point.  But we are all different, and I am not a physician, let alone a breast surgeon.

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2014

    Hi leaf,

    Thanks for your response.  I guess I know in my head that breast pain is more likely to be caused by something other than cancer, but I can't help but worry...  now that I know I have increased risk, I may be getting a little paranoid.  It doesn't help that what I can feel is different from my usual cysts and fibrocystic pain... but still hopeful that is what it will turn out to be.

    I am actually not exactly sure about the timing of the US prior to the excision biopsy, i.e. whether it is just more convenient for all since I'll already be in the imaging suite, or whether they might consider sampling it during the excision biopsy if the US happens to show anything concerning... I'll have to let you know how it goes. 

    Gonna go finish off the last of the Girl Scout cookies and find a fun movie on Netflix to pass the time.... :-)

    -Peg

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2014

    So - good news on the US!  Although the area of thickening did not show anything, they did find 3 small cysts in the area.  Thankfully nothing more, just have to go back for repeat imaging in 6 mos.  Now, let's hope the pathology on the ALH/LCIS biopsy is favorable as well... 

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2014

    Crossing my fingers for you, Pegasus! Of course its natural to worry.  You are _not_not_not_not_not being a wimp.  Its how we learn.  We learn by touching a hot stove that its not good to touch hot stoves.  If they found something worrisome, then its natural to be more sensitive to anything going on in that area.  If we touch a hot stove and it burns us, then we are much more wary of hot items.  You are not crazy.

    They will be watching you closely, especially the first several years after your initial ALH/LCIS diagnosis, and will be more prone to biopsying anything of concern.

    Let us know how it goes, OK?

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2014

    Thank you so much for your kind and reassuring words, Leaf!  I'll try to take it one day at a time.  Will update when I get my results. 

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2014

    No news yet from my breast biopsy, but I need to vent....

    Had to have a thyroid US yesterday just to keep tabs on an itty bitty 3mm "incidentaloma" nodule they just happened to notice on an ER CT scan after I got whacked on the head by a falling board a year ago. The dr just called to tell me that the nodule has grown to 11mm in 13 months, has irregular borders, and needs biopsy.   Didn't really need this right now...

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2014

    I'm so sorry, pegasus!  Not just one body part but two needs biopsy!

    If it helps any, many years ago I also had a thyroid nodule, though I don't know if it was irregular.  It was about 3 cm in diameter.  I had that half of my thyroid removed, and the nodule ended up being a benign T3 secreting adenoma. (I heard this is unusual, like many of my diseases.) I just take thyroid hormone.

     A co-worker of mine did have thyroid cancer, had it removed, and she's totally fine.

    I know an N=2 is not a big group, but its certainly possible to be A-OK after thyroid nodules.  Crossing my fingers for you!

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2014

    Nurse called with my excision biopsy results - no upstaging!  Yay!!!!!!   Don't know much else, except that fibroadenoma diagnosis was confirmed, she had no information about the ALH/LCIS so I don't know what that means (maybe they removed it all with core biopsy? They took 12 cores total...).  Will have to discuss with my BS.  Anyway, that's one thing off my mind for now.  (Happy dance!!!)

    Thanks again for your comforting words, leaf.   The thyroid thing really just threw me for a loop, since I was already worried and stressed about the breast biopsy.  We'll deal with it, one day at a time...

    Definitely gonna spend the weekend playing with and hugging my kids (including the teenager who is anti-hugging)!  :-)

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2014

    Woo-hoo!  I'm so glad your excision is totally no increased risk!

    Of course it threw you for a loop.  All these 'what ifs' are terrible to go through.

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  • iammommy
    iammommy Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2014

    Great news, Pegasus! So happy for you!

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