Got called back for a biopsy

Kim,

Your radiologist may be looking at your lymph node as a precaution. But even if you do have BC and it has spread to your lymph nodes, that isn't as bad as it sounds. Lymph node involvement is not uncommon in BC but it doesn't mean you have mets in the way most people think of them.

Also your lymph nodes can provide information about other diseases like infections which may be part of what's going on.

I know waiting for answers is incredibly difficult. Please feel free to rant, cry, freak out or whatever you need here. We all know the awfulness of waiting. You can get through it. Try to take breaks from your worry. I'm saying just relax -- that's not really possible. But you can take timeouts from the tension.

And remember, you aren't alone.

Best,

bride

Hi Kim

My first biopsy included a lymph node aspiration too and I think I was more scared of that than anything else. I convinced myself I was doomed. To make a very long story short, my biopsy was benign and although my nodes were enlarged, they did not contain any cancer either. Hang in there - the limbo period sucks. Try to stay busy. And by that, I don't mean researching breast lumps online! That's the fastest way I know of to make yourself crazy. I wish you all the best. Good luck.

Try starting a journal, in the found grateful and in the back

all the info and tests, so if the Dr say this and you know

the date is this you have proof. Prayers are with you. Debbie

my lump was at 2:00 in my left breast about 2" to the side of my nipple.

Surgery was January 23rd and I have no issues at the surgical site other than scar tissue.

My surgeon did an MRI to determine exact size of lump and boundaries, and she also took sentinel nodes at the same time. Also, if you are a candidate, she went in through the side of my nipple so I have a small scar in the brown area of my nipple rather than a scar on the side of my breast. You would be surprised how much they can stretch skin. She took a 3.2" x 3.2" x 2" chunk out, and my scar is about 2" in a circle at the side of my nipple. Now that it is healed, from a distance you can't even see it. That translates to 8 cm x 8 cm x 4 cm in size

Cancer found in the under arm lymph nodes does not mean metastasis. I think that is the question you were asking.

Any update on your surgery date?

Kimmer33 if your lump truly is 1 cm. with no other areas, then you would be a great candidate for a lumpectomy which is much less invasive. But it will probably involve radiation treatment to sterilize the breast tissue and kill any stray cells.

Did they see any other areas of concern in your breast tissue? Lots of women have a lumpectomy with small growths, and I believe 1 cm is considered small.

Try to not worry too much, you can't do anything until you get an official diagnosis. And there is still a chance it isn't cancer.

Dr. Google is so awful.. According to him I have had about 10 cancers and TB. Please keep us poste

Kimmer, just reading through this thread, it's been a week now since you got the news that a biopsy would be needed.  My experience of finding out that I needed actually 2 biopsies last March was right after completing an ultrasound and diagnostic mammogram.  The radiologist came in to tell me that I needed both a core needle biopsy on one side and a stereotactic biopsy on the other, and that I would need to find a surgeon.  Perhaps things are done differently in Canada, but I believe you would be better served by concentrating right now on consulting with at least one and possibly two breast surgeons.  A breast surgeon, I believe, is the very best choice to direct the evaluation and further workup of what has been seen on ultrasound.  The core biopsy is performed by a radiologist, and hopefully someone with further training in breast radiology. The breast surgeon is well trained and ready to direct the process of evaluation, biopsy, and treatment planning.  The GP is not.

After the ultrasound, I immediately went to work locating the best breast surgeon I could find within my network. As it turned out, the breast surgeon I chose and her staff have been wonderful, supportive, and really everything I could have hoped for.  On my first exam, the BS felt the lump in my left breast, which my GP had not just 2 months earlier.  The BS ordered core needle biopsy on one side and stereotactic biopsy on the other.  After those biopsies, an MRI was ordered, before treatment decisions were made. 

It sounds like you are learning to handle your emotions and anxiety much better, and I suspect you will continue to grow those skills. You can experience an emotional response, see it lose its edge and subside, and then recall that experience to help you deal with it the next time it happens.  I went through lots of waiting for results, waiting for appointments, waiting for next appointments, again waiting for results, before a treatment plan was formulated.  I believe it served me well.

Best of luck to you.  The process is not fun, but finding the needed answers, incorporating the information, is a process that needs time.  You will prevail, I have no doubt.

Hi Kimmer!

I will keep you posted on my ultrasound guided biopsy which is a bedtime story and a few hours away (July 9th 2pm). My twin sister is going with me.

Thank you for updating us and I'm glad you have your biopsy appt! I will also keep you in my prayers.

Clare

Kim

The biopsy I referred to a few posts back turned out to be normal fibrous breast tissue. The nodes were clear, although enlarged. I've had several biopsies since, both core needle and excisional, and results have ranged from more fibrous tissue to fibroadenoma to cyst. For some reason, my breasts were very prone to fast-growing lumps, some of which got very large (my biggest was 9 cm). After my PBM surgery (which included sentinel node biopsy and removal of several additional enlarged nodes), the pathology was varied - more fibroadenomas, multiple cysts, multiple PASH, sclerosing adenosis, hyperdense fibrous tissue....busy breasts, but all benign stuff. I never did find out what was causing the enlarged nodes. Some of them were very enlarged (>2cm). Actually, I had at least one "lymph node" aspiration that came back benign, but with no cells to indicate it was a lymph node. My doctor called it breast tissue that was in the axillary region. Some of the "lymph nodes" that were removed as part of my PBM surgery turned out to not be lymph nodes either, but more lumpy breast tissue. So although it's hard not to jump to worst case scenario, just remember that there are a lot of things that can cause an abnormal mammogram and most of them aren't breast cancer.

Hope everything goes well on July 24 and that you are able to stay positive and find some peace in the days ahead.

Best,

Sarah

Hi Kimmer33. I also had a biopsy this week and had BIRADS 5 with an enlarged lymph node so I know exactly what you are going through. Keep strong and keep calm. Whatever is going on you can and will fight this and come out of the other side a stronger person! I am in Canada too but further east.....I am a control freak but I also realised how much help it was to rely on other people for emotional support.....it is hard to do this journey on your own so reach out to whomever you feel comfortable with. From what I have been told we are in the hardest period now with the waiting and uncertainty. Keep in there!!!! I am literally a couple of days ahead of you in this stupid game and am on here way more than I probably

I Just wanted to reach out to all of you to say sorry you are here going thru this.  It is very scary and no one can tell you what or how to feel and really the onely ones who get it are ones who have traveled it. So you have found the right place.  Hang in there.. 

Diane