An experience I would like to share

Two weeks ago my wife went in for her routine yearly mammogram. The findings were "asymmetries" in both the breasts. The locations in either breast were specified but no other details were mentioned. Her breast category was 3 ("heterogeneously dense") and she was given a BI-RADS score of 0 (Incomplete). What this meant was, she had to go in again a week later for a diagnostic mammogram.

The findings of the repeat mammogram the following week showed that the right asymmetry did not persist, but that the "asymmetry on the lower left breast may persist." Again she got a BI-RADS score of 0 and was scheduled for an Ultrasound exam right away.

The Ultrasound findings were: "spiculated hypoechoic structure with posterior shadowing measuring up to 1.9 cm." A BI-RADS score of 4 (suspicious abnormality) was assigned and a biopsy recommended.

Next morning - last Thursday - I accompanied her to the clinic for an "Ultrasound vacuum assisted" biopsy. We were told to expect the results the following Tuesday (5 days total, given the weekend). Well, today is Monday and her PCP (a very capable lady doctor of Indian origin) called us this evening and conveyed the news that it is benign. The official report will be released tomorrow but the findings are: "Benign nonproliferative fibrofatty mammary tissues, needle biopsies of left breast at 6:00; 4-5 cm from the nipple."

From the time of the Ultrasound finding until today, I - the husband - was virtually on pins. My wife is the nonchalant sort. Not that she was indifferent, but she can handle these situations better than I.

What is the purpose of my writing this post? Well, I have a few observations to make and some suggestions that may perhaps help those in similar situations.

1) In this day and age, I strongly feel that biopsy results should be made available BY LAW within 24 hours (if not sooner) unless there are special circumstances. There is no reason why people should be put through this agony of waiting. It is beyond excruciating and the medical community seems insouciant about it. I know that the sample has to go through a process before it is presented to the pathologist. But there are clinics now offering results within 10 hours. So why hasn't the fast track process been made the norm in this the most advanced nation on the planet is beyond me. It is a disgrace.

2) My wife's ultrasound had 3 red flags for malignant mass: spicular, hypoechoic, posterior shadowing. I knew nothing about these terms until her Ultrasound exam but when I turned to Google my hopes sank. I researched it sufficiently enough to find out that benign lesions can also have these signatures. But I would have been much happier if the keywords had pointed to "most likely benign" (like well rounded margins etc). So - my suggestion is, stay away from Google. If you must, talk to a doctor friend. But for a person not trained in medicine, Google only offers an incomplete picture which can set off unnecessary alarms. My anxiety levels peaked due to this penchant of mine for digging as much information as possible.

3) Despite advances in recent years, imaging technology still has ways to go. So many false positives result in unnecessary biopsies and stress for thousands of women.

4) The debate on the mammogram screening frequency - whether to do it yearly or bi-yearly, or at all - still rages.

5) A malignancy diagnosis is no longer a death sentence and tremendous advances have been made in breast cancer treatment just in the past 20 years. Still, the word cancer induces dread in most. Hopefully, in the coming years that will be mitigated.

Reading posts in this community was a great help. The sense of belonging, warmth and affection here is commendable. Thank you, ladies! May you all find strength and joy and happiness in your lives!

[Edited to add: clarifying my remark about about "tremendous advances made" - I do not, for a moment, wish to imply that we are where we ideally would like to be. Even a single death from cancer is one death too many. Like everyone here, I pray for that day when we will have comprehensively beaten breast cancer.]