The Ruler

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grizzly
grizzly Member Posts: 5
edited April 2015 in Waiting for Test Results

So, to start. I'm a guy, hopefully I'm allowed to post outside of the topic for men.

Anyway, had an ultrasound today of a small lump under my arm and the left breast next to it. Tech did the small lump in the arm pit first then asked if the doctor found a lump in my chest when doing the exam. I said no and the tech went ahead and started the scan of my breast.

Shortly after, she let out this sad sounding sigh and excused herself from the room. She came back with something in her hand and started fussing with the blankets on top of me. Thinking I might need to move or re-position myself, I asked if something was wrong. She said "No, I just had to get a ruler." Which instantly scares me, why does she need that? Then, as if she caught herself saying something she shouldn't, she snapped at me and told me she can't be telling me anything about the exam so I should just relax or go to sleep. Yeah, okay.

So now I'm really starting to freak out. Something must be up. She starts taking some measurements over my breast with the ruler then spends a long time scanning a particular area of my breast over and over. She asks if I've had a mammogram before. Nope. She asks if I have had pain in my breast. Why is she suddenly asking me these questions? She didn't ask these before the exam. Now that she needs a ruler, she has questions.

At the end of the exam she says she just needs to show the results to the radiologist. She is gone nearly ten minutes.

She said my doc might have results today, probably tomorrow.

I came home and of course googled "ruler during ultrasound of breast" and found several posts like mine of people asking why a ruler was used during their exam. I found a couple manuals of how to perform an ultrasound of a breast and it seems that a ruler is used if a tumor or lesion is found so the distance between that and the nipple can be measured.

Ugh. Doesn't sound like good news is coming my way.

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

    Hi Grizzly-

    First, we want to welcome you to our community here at BCO, and assure you that you are more than allowed to post outside of the men's topic. We hope you find the support and information your're looking for during your time with us.

    It's important to remember that the majority of breast lumps turn out to be benign, and in males, breast cancer is very rare (it's estimated that it makes up less than 1% of all breast cancers). You didn't disclose what prompted you to seek medical advice and ultimately an ultrasound, so we're not sure what other symptoms you may be experiencing, but just know that the odds are definitely in your favor.

    Also, please keep in mind that the tech who performed your ultrasound is just that: an ultrasound tech. Their (extensive) training is in performing ultrasounds, not reading or interpreting the results. We know it's difficult not to focus on her words and actions and try to decipher them and find meaning in them, but we encourage you to wait for the report from the radiologist and your doctor.

    Please keep us posted on your results when they come back, we'll be thinking of you!

    The Mods

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited April 2015

    grizzly,

    I do not remember a ruler involved, but different centers do things others do not. Try not to assume bad news. Did she say anything about a biopsy? the radiogists that did my US told me right then that he was going to order a biopsy

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

    Usually if they find something concerning the radiologist comes in and takes the wand & looks for him or herself & talks to you & shows you what they are looking at & why they think it is concerning. The fact that the doc didn't come in is probably a good sign

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  • grizzly
    grizzly Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2015

    Thank you, everyone. I've had this small lump under my armpit since around the beginning of the year. I didn't think too much of it at first until I started having really itchy breasts starting about a month ago. I googled "itchy breasts in men" and of course the first thing that came up was breast cancer. Then I also saw one of the symptoms was a lump under your arm and I started to become a little concerned.

    I told my doctor who said it was probably a sebaceous cyst. Another doctor said it felt like a lymph node.

    Anyway, I suppose it might be positive news that they just sent me on my way. The exam wasn't just done in some ultrasound clinic, it was in a hospital. If they needed to perform more testing it would have been very easy to do so.

    I'll post again when I get results. Thank you again.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2015

    There was no 'ruler' brought in. I would really worry that they did not have modern equiptment that would calibrate anything found.

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  • Fakeboobs123
    Fakeboobs123 Member Posts: 92
    edited April 2015

    ruler was out,tech was out if the room calling radiologist...sending radiologist at another location my pics... Her face changed from relaxed to worried, she was super concerned for me and nice, remembered me when I popped back in with a question,mr sport from radiologist came with "suspicious abnormality " on it.. Nodule etc went as far as biopsy, it came back benign. I think if anything anything that deviates from completely and utterly normal comes up they have to run and ask radiologist if they're taking the right pics and if they need more of other areas etc.. Breast cancer is very rare in men als

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  • grizzly
    grizzly Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2015

    Well, I was hoping that since there was no sense of urgency in terms of completing a biopsy during the ultrasound or even getting results back to me quickly that I was in the clear.

    I just got the results of the ultrasound today at the doctors and they are going to go ahead and schedule me for a biopsy. The doctor didn't understand why they didn't just do the biopsy while I was there on Tuesday.

    Anyway, I am going to write out some of the results and see if anyone here can offer any insight. It doesn't mean much to me..


    "...ultrasound imaging confirms a hypoechoic slightly irregular solid appearing nodule, with mild peripheral blood flow, measuring 1.1 x 0.4 x 1.2 cm. This is located just below the level of the dermis. The lesion is indeterminate. Recommend ultrasound guided biopsy.

    One o'clock position 10 cm from nipple some lobular breast tissue is noted near the pectoralis muscle, without definitive lesion. Remainder of the upper outer quadrant left breast is unremarkable.

    Impression: area concern palpable is a solid suspicious 11 x 4 x 12 mm nodule, for which ultrasound guided biopsy should be performed."

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  • grizzly
    grizzly Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2015

    Well, today at 10 AM I'll be doing my biopsy at the hospital. I've been doing my best to try and come to terms with the fact that I may have breast cancer. Hoping for the best, expecting the worse.

    I can't sleep tonight even though I was exhausted all day at work today due to barely sleeping last night.

    I was told it takes about four days to get the biopsy results. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll know for sure one way or the other. It would be really rough to go through another weekend of not knowing.

    So, biopsy this morning and then a few hours to rest before heading on to work this afternoon. Stressful, anxiety filled day / week ahead.

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited April 2015

    Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way!

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited April 2015

    Hi Grizzly,

    Just sending prayers and good wishes this is a benign condition. Sorry for all the worry and anxiety. Your experience and reactions are all pretty normal but still it's very stressful. Good luck.

    Amy

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited April 2015

    Grizzly - hoping for the best possible outcome for you!  :)

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  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 147
    edited April 2015

    my first ultrasound, there was no ruler. During my ultrasound with biopsy, the ruler came out. It was used to measure the distance from nipple to mass, that's all! Good luck to you.

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  • PistolMama
    PistolMama Member Posts: 56
    edited April 2015

    Just wanted you to know I'm hoping for the best for you! I'll be watching for your results. I hope the rest of your week is busy and happy, so the days fly by!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited April 2015

    Hoping for the best for you, Grizzly. We all sympathize with how grueling the waiting can be...

    PS - Every US I've had has incorporated an electronic ruler in the system. I would be concerned about how up to date the equipment is if the tech needs to measure by hand.

    Additionally, I've never had a mammo or US tech react in the slightest way to anything they've seen. I'm kind of shocked at all the stories I read of techs 'telegraphing' concerns to the patient. That is, in my book, completely unprofessional.

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  • grizzly
    grizzly Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2015

    I made the trip to the hospital this morning. Checked in and was prompted to pay a bill for over 1300 dollars for the procedure. I thought it would only be a few hundred so I was taken off guard but paid up.

    Nurse took me back, asked some questions and went over paperwork and then we went into the exam room where the US tech was waiting. She started scanning and then the doctor came in. Doctor took over the scanning and told me that it's just a sebaceous cyst. He and the US tech then explained that they had reviewed my images from the other US facility and felt right away it was a sebaceous cyst. They showed me on the monitor the points of the lesion that made them believe it was just a cyst.

    Doctor advised against performing a biopsy. I asked if he felt certain it was just a sebaceous cyst. He said if I was his brother, son or father he would advise against doing a biopsy because he feels that confident it's just a cyst. He advised to either pursue surgery to remove it or just check in every six months to monitor it.

    He was confused why the radiologist at the other facility would suggest a biopsy but not meet with me first while I was there to go over the image and explain why he was recommending the procedure.

    I want to believe him and am very relieved but I can't help still worry a bit after having read some of your stories here of doctors telling you to ignore lumps and just monitor them, while cancer meanwhile is spreading through the body.

    Anyway, quite a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was refunded the 1300 and charged 170 for the US. Thank you to everyone for the support. You have a great community here.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited April 2015

    Dear Grizzly - Whew, what a day! I'm very glad you apparently are not facing cancer.

    If you're not comfortable with the 2nd MD's recommendation you might want to seek out a consult with a breast surgeon, particularly if you can find one nearby who has dealt with breast cancer in men. The nurse navigator in the breast cancer clinic at most any hospital could probably help you with that. Take all your imaging and reports with you if you do have such a consult. If you have a teaching hospital or major medical facility in the area that could be your best choice.

    Otherwise, perhaps following up in 3 mo. rather than 6 would provide a bit more of a safety net?

    Whatever you decide, good luck with it. I wish you the very best and continued great health.

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  • PistolMama
    PistolMama Member Posts: 56
    edited April 2015

    Grizzly, sounds like a roller coaster of a day!

    I agree with Hopeful82014. If you're feeling uncomfortable with letting it go, there's nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion or asking for a sooner follow-up. I am hoping the first opinion is right, though! Best of luck to you and keep us updated on what you decide to do.

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

    I's go to a dermatologist & have the sebaceous cyst removed if I were worried about it

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