Just told today....

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  • edwsmom
    edwsmom Member Posts: 346
    edited August 2015

    Thanks Jackbirdie!!

    So a little update. The breast surgeon's office called. They cancelled the bone scan/ct. Apparently they just saw that the oncologist already scheduled the PET scan and I only need that. So fine.

    So, the MRI results... They gave me the MRI even though I wasn't at the right point in my cycle. I think that since I am triple positive they are interested in seeing the breast at the highest hormone level and the lowest (Monday). So.....with Friday's MRI they saw nothing in the left breast (side the impacted lymph node was on). They saw something very small in the right breast. So on Monday they are going to do a biopsy of the something in the right breast guided by MRI...so they can look again at the left while biopsying the right. The MRI also showed no other nodes seem to be impacted.

    Sounds like they are wondering if it might be occult?? (Is this bad, good or neither?)

    She also didn't seem very concerned about the small thing in the right breast being cancer, but then again I feel like that was said by someone else after the mammogram found the node. (They told me I was likely looking at rheumatoid arthritis or lupus). I dunno.

    So, I don't seem to be any closer to an answer. Just more questions at this point.

    I can't tell if they are being so positive because they always are or blowing smoke until they know for sure. She volunteered that this was likely "very early stage...probably stage 2"... Would they say that if they weren't fairly sure?




  • Hopeful56
    Hopeful56 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2015

    I had a mammogram which showed up what turned out to be a malignant lymph node. No tumors showed up on the mammogram. After a biopsy the round spot on the mammogram turned out to be a malignant lymph node. I remember asking my breast surgeon "what if you can't find the primary source?" He responded that he would find it. I had a breast MRI which showed 5 tumors in various areas of the right breast. Also showed more malignant lymph nodes. I had yearly mammograms! Was totally shocked and I know that horrible sick feeling you are describing. I had a PET scan after my surgery. MO was upset it wasn't done before surgery as everything lit up on the right side (where surgery was done). After chemo I had another PET scan and thankfully nothing lit up. I know what you are going through and want you to know I'm thinking of you. If there's anything I can do to help you through this just ask.

  • edwsmom
    edwsmom Member Posts: 346
    edited August 2015

    Thank you Hopeful!

    I'm so puzzled. I really expected the MRI to find something in the left breast since the lymph node with carcinoma is on the left. It showed nothing!

    So I guess now we will do the PET scan on Thursday and the MRI/biopsy is on Monday.

    Is it common to find a malignant lymph node and nothing in that breast? Dr said it may have gone away, it they want to check a few more ways


  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 794
    edited August 2015

    hi edwsmom - I'm by no means an expert, but my understanding is that it is not "common" but it is possible. Praying for the best for you. All the uncertainty makes you batty! I always wonder how they can know so little with all the testing, examining, poking and prodding.

  • edwsmom
    edwsmom Member Posts: 346
    edited August 2015

    It feels like it's taking forever to get to my diagnosis,

    I had a PET scan early Thursday morning and haven't heard anything back. It was done in the same facility as my breast surgeon/oncologist. I'm trying to convince myself that if they saw metastasis elsewhere they would have called me right away. Praying its confined to the breast and the one node that they found and which lit up on the MRI.

    Tomorrow afternoon I have a second breast biopsy guided by MRI. This is a result of them seeing something small on the last MRI.

    I had a really busy weekend so it's easy to forget that this is actually going on...especially since I haven't told anyone besides my husband and best friend.

    I also just realized this will blow up my September. I have a very important business trip during Labor Day week and we are booked for a Caribbean vacation at the very end of September. ;(. I have been waiting and waiting for this trip...first vacation since last year...and we will probably have to cancel and lose money. I don't know enough about what treatment entails to make any decisions on this so its just hanging over my head.

    Sorry for the rant I'm just feeling frustrated

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited August 2015

    hang in there dear. Hopefully you'll get answers soon. I hope you can work your vacation in somehow. Don't cancel it in your head yet. If you have to, deal with it later. You could never have forseepn this.

    At least the work week starts tomorrow and you can call your providers up and bug them for information. I'm thinking of you. Hugs.

  • farmladync
    farmladync Member Posts: 20
    edited August 2015

    Please don't panic . You need to take a deep breath . Don't make a hasty decision before consulting and getting a second opinion. You have time to research and make a decision you can live with. I was rushed into surgery without giving a second thought. Now I am taking my time and going to my last second opinion next week before taking any treatments . There are a lot of side effects and problems to deal with emotionally and physically. My prayers and thoughts are with you as it can be overwhelming .

  • edwsmom
    edwsmom Member Posts: 346
    edited August 2015

    Thanks for the support ladies!

    I was diagnosed with breast cancer after my mammogram saw a single enlarged lymph node, left side. That was biopsied and was found to be carcinoma. Nothing else was seen on the mammogram...no primary....though I've been told my breasts are dense.

    I had an initial MRI that saw the enlarged left lymph node and something small and apparently suspicious in the right breast.

    Today, I had an MRI/biopsy on that suspicious something in my right breast on the first MRI....now we wait for that result.

    Heard back today that my PET/CT scan came back clean with the exception of the node in the left breast that we already knew about.

    What I don't understand is that the PET/CT didn't see anything in the right breast. They still saw something in the right breast on the second MRI today, so they did do the biopsy. How can nothing come back on the PET/CT, but be seen twice on the MRI? Could it be benign? (Hoping too much?)

    I was just booked for a follow-up appointment with the breast surgeon on Friday morning. The right breast biopsy results should be back by then, so I'm really hoping I get some clarity around what's going on and what we do about it. This is very confusing and frustrating!

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