suspicious mammo, follow-up mammo and US

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ReadsBooks
ReadsBooks Member Posts: 3
edited August 2015 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi,

Intro: New here. I'm in my early 60s and my husband died from brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme) last year. It was devastating, of course and I've been on an emotional rollercoaster. Just sold our house (more stress) and can't yet live in my new house due to renovations (more stress). I'm staying with friends now.

Situation:

I had 3-D mammo in mid-July; followed-up with more images and ultrasound. Radiologist also came in to look at US and do her own views. Decided she didn't want to "leave it in there without knowing what it is." She described it as "tiny, solid with irregular edges, but no blood flow."

I have an appointment on August 18 for yet another diagnostic mammo at the cancer hospital, then an appointment with the surgical oncologist.

I've had biopsies in the past, but was never sent straight to an oncologist appointment. Is this new (my last surgical biopsy, negative, was eight years ago)...or, does it mean the radiologist thinks this is cancer?

Thanks

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  • 614
    614 Member Posts: 851
    edited August 2015

    Dear Reads Books:

    I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. 

    You stated that the radiologist said that she doesn't want to "leave it (the lump) in there without knowing what it is."   It sounds like your radiologist is concerned that the lump may be malignant but the only way to be sure is to have it biopsied.  "Tiny, solid with irregular edges" sounds suspicious but "no blood flow" is a positive sign.  It sounds to me that the radiologist is sending you for another diagnostic mammogram so that more images can be taken at the cancer hospital where they have more experience.  The appointment with the surgical oncologist would be to discuss/schedule/plan whether you will have a core biopsy, an excisional biopsy, or any other type of biopsy.  You will only have answers once the pathology report comes back from the biopsy.

    If you have the pathology report from your diagnostic mammogram, it will/should give a bi-rads category.  Yours probably states bi-rads 4 which means that there is a suspicious area that should be biopsied.  (Bi-rads 4 is broken down into A, B, and C with C being the most alarming.) Bi-rads 5 means that the lump is almost certainly malignant. 

    Please be aware that approximately 80% of lumps are benign.  I am wishing that your biopsy will go well and that you will have a benign finding.  Regardless, please get your pathology report rather than just relying on the letter that the hospital will send you.  The pathology report will give you the specific information that you will need whether the lump is benign or malignant.

    Good luck with the biopsy and with all of the other stressors that you have been enduring.

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

    Hi ReadsBooks, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry for the worry that has brought you here... but glad you reached out!

    Please keeps us informed on how your further tests and appointment goes! We're here for you!

    The Mods

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  • ReadsBooks
    ReadsBooks Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2015

    Thank you for the response, 614; and the welcome, Mods.

    My online chart has two entries for my two mammogram results, but NOTHING is given at all for me to see. The "details" section is totally blank. The official letter said only "suspicious findings."

    It's especially stressful doing this without my husband's support and that's why I reached out to this forum. It's been a difficult time...in spring 2014, in my husband's last days, I had to have a needle biopsy to my right thyroid. It was benign. I had MOHs surgery on my right nostril last August to remove a basal cell carcinoma. I also have a bone spur in my hip that popped up and makes walking difficult. It's been an avalanche of health problems for me ever since my husband's diagnosis in October 2013. I know caregiving and grief are stressful, but I never imagined that my body would start falling apart on me! I've never been on any meds, not overweight, nor too thin.

    Thank you!

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  • 614
    614 Member Posts: 851
    edited August 2015


    Dear Reads Books:

    My good friend/colleague's fiance was diagnosed with bile duct liver cancer in June of 2014 and he died in September 2014.  It was so traumatic.  I know what she endured/is still going through.  Also, I knew Chris, and there are no words to describe how badly I feel regarding his illness and death.  I can sympathize with what you are experiencing with the loss of your husband. It is difficult to go through health issues alone, especially when you are used to relying on your husband as a support.

    I had Moh's surgery too for basal cell carcinoma.  I'm glad that at least, all of your health issues were not found to be serious so far.  I wish you well with your hip bone spur. That is painful and I wish you a speedy recovery from that.

    Are there any support groups for care givers and for grieving spouses in your area?  That may be a help to you.  Good luck.

    I would put in a written request for your medical records so that you can obtain a copy of your pathology report. At least you have an appointment on 8/18 with a surgical oncologist so that you can create a plan.  It is also good that you have a strong support system and that you are staying with friends.  Hopefully, the lump will be benign.

    Good luck.

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  • ReadsBooks
    ReadsBooks Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2015

    I had my half-day appointment at the cancer hospital.

    (I'd had a 3-D and follow-up 3-D, and ultrasound at a radiology-only clinic and was referred to the hospital for a biopsy).

    The hospital informed me that they couldn't compare 2-D to 3-D images, so those 3-D images were worthless to them and that's why they did a 2-D mammo today.

    Then, the radiologist did an ultrasound. She said she couldn't find the "suspicious area" in her 2-D or ultrasound images. She concluded that there was no suspicious place now, it was gone, and told me to come back in a year.

    Next, I saw the NP for surgical oncology. She did a breast exam and read the radiologists conclusion. Nothing to biopsy.

    So...now I have two different types of mammograms from two different radiologists with two different conclusions.

    Were the 3-D and ultrasound both showing a false positive? Or, was there a cyst that disintegrated since July 27?

    To me, there was a difference in the way I was imaged.

    At the radiology clinic, there was much more compression and more views compared to today's mammo. First time I'd had a mammo without pain was today (but, I took an Excedrin Migraine tablet for a headache before going).

    Also, at the radiology clinic, the radiologist pressed down into the breast during the ultrasound to manipulate and locate the spot shown on the 3-D image. Today, the radiologist lightly glided over the skin.

    Should I be happy and let it go until next year?

    Thanks for listening.

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