Fibroadenoma - but a little confused?

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any12c
any12c Member Posts: 8
edited April 2015 in Benign Breast Conditions

Ok here's the scoop: I'm 31 and in great health. Until 2 weeks ago, No breast or ovarian conditions, just painful and irregular periods. No children -yet! I've been on the nuva ring for about 3 years. Anyway, 2 weeks ago at my annual women's health checkup, the doctor found a lump. I have felt this nodule for several months but i brushed off because I heard a lot of women have cysts and at my age is "probably nothing". I casually mentioned it to my doctor during the 5 minute visit. She found the spot right away... And as I anticipated, her response was... "its probably nothing, but let's just be safe." I had lost one grandmother to breast cancer, and the other to ovarian cancer and melanoma. My sister has neurofobromitosis and suffered a severe mastisis (sp? - a painful breast infection with a golf ball size black/puss filled cysts) while nursing with baby #1. So as you can expect having that knowledge, my situation was quickly escalated. Within 3 hours, I had a full mammogram, an ultrasound on the affected breast, and was scheduled for a core needle biopsy for a 2cm tumor. I want to point out that during the ultrasound, they kept going back over a few lymph nodes but never directly said anything about that. The doctors said the tumor was most likely a fibroadenoma but the biopsy is the only way of knowing for sure. On Good Friday, I had the core needle biopsy. It went surprisingly well. no pain until after the local wore off. Tomorrow marks one week later and the steristrips are still in place, although i'm so ready to scratch them off! I kind of feel like my breast shape has changed but it could be how the strips are in place. There is significant yellow bruising and weird pains every now and then... and the sporadic itching... oh my gosh. Its like ants crawling inside, outside, everywhere. Can't wait for it to heal up.

Anyhow, The results came back 2 days ago as benign / fibroadenoma. (relief)
But the nurse explained a few things that don't really make sense.

She said it was a "grade 5" or "Class 5" tumor. ??? The next step is to speak with a surgeon. And they want to run some more tests on my lymph nodes.
I didn't have a chance to ask her any questions, but I'm supposed to expect a call from my doctor soon. I'm still waiting... I don't want to be negative nancy or that annoying paranoid "let's google everything" person, but-- I guess I kind of am :)

My questions are: What should I ask the doctor and surgeon? Does anyone know what a class/grade 5 tumor means? and why all the attention on my lymph nodes if it is benign?

I am really apprehensive to talk openly about this. I am not as close to my family as most are, and asking support from a few people for this situation has been a humbling experience. I'm sure there are plenty of women that can relate. So any advice is welcomed.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited April 2015

    It sounds like possibly she is saying that the benign results are discordant with how your imaging looked, that your imaging looked more concerning and they just want to do more checking to be sure that it truly is just a fibroadenoma. That happens sometimes. Your doctor will fill you in on any further testing they may want to do. You should get and keep copies of your mammogram, ultrasound & MRIs & reports for future comparison. I think maybe she was saying that your mammogram or ultrasound had a Birads 5 rating. Sometimes things look like cancer but truly are not

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited April 2015

    Dear any12c, we are glad you found this safe site and are getting feedback like from MelissaDallas. You have a logical reason to be concerned having just lost your grandmother and other family issues. Your medical team are being careful, and that is good but we can't help much until you find out more info on your situation. Remember that a BIRADS is only a score to indicate potential tests required, but is not a diagnosis like you got from your biopsy. With your family history the may just want to be sure they have not missed anything.

    In future please do not dismiss any changes to your breasts but have them checked by your doctor.

    Wishing you all the best

    'The Mods

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    thank you for the advice and your attention to my post. I didn't even think to ask for copies of the reports... :)

    The doctors did such a great job at keeping me calm and making it sound like it's nothing to worry about. And even joked with me about "googling it" after I leave the office. I understand the importance of positive thought and how quickly stress can make things worse. So typing this out helps me go through that gamut of emotions.

    I just finally broke the "good news/bad news" to my mom under the condition that she promise not to worry. And I found out that she has been avoiding her mammograms for possibly a decade now. So I'm going to be pressing pretty hard for her to start the regular screenings and proactively taking care of her self... Now I'm worried about her!!!! Wonder if there are places that offer free mammogram screenings?

    This whole experience has opened my eyes again to the very sobering reality of breast cancer. My grandmother "beat the cancer" at 70, got the thumbs up, high 5 and a cancer free certificate from radiology. and we all celebrated. I was often the one taking her to chemo appointments and put work and school on hold to give all the support I could... As soon as I started school again it came back mastisized in her lungs with a vengeance. her relentless fight ended 3 weeks later. In many ways her death was the most traumatizing experience of my life... She was the glue that kept everyone together. It's was the precursor to the collapse of my family. I repressed a lot of that and I know my mom did too. To the point that we embraced denial of cancers power like a baby with a sugar laced pacifier.

    As am typing this I'm realizing that a deeper psychological and emotional healing is needed... Cancer is real and it can consume our memories, mind and soul if we don't treat it.

    I know I'm rambling... I hope maybe it helps comfort someone. I'm so incredibly grateful that ( so far ) I'm "ok" in comparison to the upward battle so many women have.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited April 2015

    Check your local directory or talk with your mother's doctor's rooms for advice regarding free breast screenings, it varies by location and person's age. Cancer threats do deeply affect your attitude, repression is one way, obsession is another, but a healthy respect for monitoring any changes and having scans is the best balance. Rambling and venting is a big reason to post here as people understand and support, not judge.

    We hope you and your mother are fine but it is useful if you can have a friend/relative go with you for your appointment - both as moral support but also a second pair of ears and note taker, as it is so easy to forget what was said or miss a whole sentence after being told important news. Some doctors allow recording to your phone but ask first.

    All the best to you both.

    The Mods.

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    thank you I will take that to heart.

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    A quick update: I have been proactive trying to get a copy of the results and speak to a doctor or nurse or anyone. Unfortunately my phone has been sending calls to voicemail so we have been playin phone tag and they won't leave any personal info on my voicemail. Quite frustrating. I'll try again Monday.

    I received 2 letters in the mail from the breast center. One was a sweet greeting card signed by all the doctors that participated in my core needle biopsy.

    The other was a letter... And it said this:

    "Your mammogram shows that your breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue is common and is not abnormal. However, dense breast tissue can make it harder to evaluate the results of your mammogram and may also be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This information about the results of your mammogram is given to you to raise your awareness and to inform your conversations with your doctor. Together, you can decide which screening options are right for you. A report of your results was sent to your physician." and instructed me to call the office.

    There was no birad rating or scoring or even mention of the biopsy. So I'm incredibly confused if this means there is a separate finding from my ultrasound biopsy ordeal. Until I can hear from the office I'm just going to sit here and try not to worry. :)

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited April 2015

    That is a standard mandated message about mammograms. They are required to tell you your breasts are dense to let you know that ultrasound or other imaging may be necessary because mammos don't show everything well in dense breasts or may miss things. That is not your report. Just about every woman except for the elderly have dense breasts to some degree or another

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    ok thank you again :)

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited April 2015

    I'm very sorry about your grandmother. It's great the core biopsy showed it was benign. Don't be surprised, though, if they suggest an excisional biopsy anyway to be sure. I had one of those in 2009 and it was a quick 30 minute surgery. It was less painful than a core biopsy for me. I didn't have a fibroadenoma but I had calcifications and the core biopsy showed a radial scar. Ask yourself if it would give you peace of mind to have it out.

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    Juliecc, thank you. do you have any advice on what to ask the surgeon? I hear the term "peace of mind" being used a lot. And up until this point the doctors have been very upbeat, positive and quickly dismissed worry with "precautionary" lingo. And now I have the "good news" but vague info on what's next... I'm just waiting to talk to my doctors. And the worry (over what could be nothing) is building up. More Waiting = more worrying. If I play out the best/worst case scenarios... In both cases I have a lot more tests and screenings in front of me. I will probably go in favor of the doctors suggestions but isn't there risk with surgery as well?

    I also tend to over analyze things... could ignorance (not doing these extra tests or surgeries) provide a better quality of life and piece of mind?(That is the school of thought I was raised in) Awareness does seem better, but it causes you to go to greater measures in order to achieve peace of mind.

    The bills will be in soon, I don't know how I will be able to afford all this...

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited April 2015

    Any12c, you are probably fine because when a core biopsy is done, several samples are taken. You will definitely want to hear their recommendations on Monday. They may just want to keep an eye on it and recheck it in 6 months. One of the arguments against mammograms are unnecessary biopsies and surgeries. Still, I think they are important. I think the new recommendation is age 50 instead of 40. Are you uninsured or have high deductables? There is probably someone at the hospital that can guide you on where to find assistance with medical bills.

    I guess some things I would ask the surgeon are:

    Do you recommend it be removed?

    Do you recommend it be rechecked in a few months? What sort of follow up would there be?

    Do I need any other tests?

    Why was there a concern about my lymph nodes?

    Since I have dense breasts, should I be getting mammograms and ultrasounds?

    If I have it removed, how much of an area will be taken out? WIll there be any deformity in my breast? Where will the incision be?

    If you do decide to have it removed, it's an outpatient surgery where you go home a couple of hours later. You might decide you're ok with just waiting to see if there are any changes.

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    After another day of back and forth confusing phone tags between my GYN (who ordered the tests) and the Breast Healthcare center, I finally got a live person on the phone. I talked to the same nurse who gave me the original results after the biopsy. It's a benign fibroadenoma (and she slowly spelled it out like I was a 2 year old). She didn't see any thing else on the chart that mentioned further screening, any concerns with lymph nodes, referrals to the surgeon, or scores and grades of any kind. The radiologist requested a regular follow up in 12 months, but since i'm only 31, the mammogram is not necessary. Instead I can continue with the annual clinical breast exam.
    I swear, I'm grateful for good news, but wrong news or confusing news is probably the worst to have to deal with.
    Either they read the wrong report, are not documenting what they tell their patients, or I am completely losing my mind.

    I'm going to swing by the hospital tomorrow to pick up my films and a copy of medical records.

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  • any12c
    any12c Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2015

    JulieCC - i didn't get a chance to say thank you for your insight. At this point, i'm not sure I'll even meet with the surgeon (because the nurse denies telling me anything about that?). But i will keep all that in mind whenever I do have another appointment with the doctor.

    I picked up the results today and finally have everything in writing.
    BIRADS 4 - Suspicious. There were 4 "lobular hypoechoic solid nodules" detected. The largest one was the one biopsied. They took 7 samples of tissue and injected a ceramic clip. Those results came back as a fibroadenoma and benign. That's about it.

    I don't know what else to do except file this away. i haven't heard from my GYN office but they are usually slow following up with tests. I'm pretty much healed up but my breast feels kinda swollen and tight still. I'm guessing that's probably normal. so I'l stop worrying and get back to stressing over work and family drama :)

    Thanks everyone.

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited April 2015

    You're welcome! It sounds like you are fine and I am very happy for you. At least they now have a baseline mammogram for you so they can see if there are any changes in the future. And keep checking yourself every month. Most women, including me, find their own lumps. I had dense breast tissue and ALWAYS had a few lumps. They were soft and rubbery. The one that was IDC was harder so I was worried. My doctor wasn't concerned and I was due for a regular mammogram 3 weeks later anyway. That day, they did a mammogram, then a sonogram and core biopsy on the spot. Just always remember there will be times where you have to be your own advocate and be demanding if something worries you.

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