Excisional Biopsy Thursday and Really Nervous

You won't be able to drive home and they put me completely out. I was told i could go back to work the second day after surgery with lifting restriction.

I am sending you positive thoughts and prayers.  Good luck.  So sorry about the diagnosis.

Girl, just checking in to see how things went with your results?

Hi. I agree with the oncologist that hates the LCIS Dx it really leaves you uncertain with many statistics to sort through! I was Dx with LCIS in 2014. After lots of research and soul searching I decided to take myself out of the line of fire, take control of my situation because I had the choice, I had a PBM in 10 months of being Dx . The cost of surveillance and the constant worry of "will this be the time they find its now INVasive vs in situ" I could not deal with. Not only that , I am 45 and decided that every 3-4 months of testing was just TOO MANY YEARS of TOO MANY TESTS! TAmoxifen made me nervous and I didn't not want the side effects. I do not regret my decision and I am so grateful for the choice that many do not get. Good luck and God Bless.

I am 56 and have been in menopause for about five years.

My excisional biopsy is scheduled for October 6th. My right nipple started bleeding on July 12th and has continued throughout the ensuing weeks. I saw my GYN a week after the bleeding started (it started the day before I left for Mexico with my daughter-in-law) who sent me for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The mammogram show some small microcalcifications in both breasts (the radiologist said without the bleeding, they probably would not look at them), which made him decide to do a stereotactic bilateral needle core biopsy. The day of the procedure, he decided the blood vessels were too close the the calcs on the right, so he only completed the procedure on the left. The biopsy revealed ADH on the left.

After visiting with the oncology breast surgeon, he conferred with the radiologist and they decided I should have an MRI with contrast (is that the same thing as staining that I keep reading about?). The surgeon had to fight with the insurance, but he finally convinced them and we proceeded. The MRI revealed two areas the second radiologist found suspicious. I was then scheduled for an MRI guided biopsy. This biopsy revealed an ALH and an atypical papilloma.

My follow-up visit with the oncology surgeon revealed that all of the samples were atypical, which I was told means pre-cancer. Because all the samples were the same, the surgeon now needs to find either clear margins or determine if anything has progressed to cancer. He told us he is very concerned with the papilloma; the bleeding is significant, not just a discharge (dripping on the floor, puddles on the mammo equipment).

There doesn't seem to be any urgency in everything we are doing. On the one hand, this is almost comforting, but, on the other hand, it is frustrating.

I am scheduled to have three wires inserted into my right breast and one into my left early the morning of my surgery. My surgeon has explained he will be making at least three incisions on the right breast (maybe four) and one on the left to complete this procedure. The office has said that I will probably be able to go back to work quickly (if not the day after surgery, then the next). I have a follow-up appointment the following Monday (six days after surgery).

I am prepared for a cancer diagnosis (at least I think I am) but I am concerned about this procedure. I'm ready to tell him I'm good with bilateral mastectomy, but I'm no looking forward to this dimpling he tells me will be the results of this latest biopsy. I know that sounds shallow. :-( I had my first mini-meltdown this weekend but it was all about clothes. I'm sick of sports bras and figuring out my daily outfit based on what works with these bras. I know it has the potential to get much worse (so maybe it's good that I've had this come up now), so I'm doing a lot more thinking about this now.

Sorry for rambling, but I appreciate everyone listening.

Thanks for your comments, Mrs. Green Jeans. I appreciate knowing how you reacted to the excisional biopsy. I haven't really known what to expect. The procedure is on a Tuesday and I thought maybe I would go back on Thursday. Maybe I will just plan on taking Friday off as well. Give myself an opportunity to rest. Maybe my surgeon will be able to prevent much scarring, but, since he told me to expect dimpling, I'm not holding out much hope of that. My breasts are not full, which makes me think the dimpling will be even worse.

I'm ready for mastectomies. I know that sounds drastic, but, after the last few months, the uncertainty and craziness makes me just want to put this to rest. I know it is no guarantee that nothing further will show up in the future, but it would reduce the risk.

I hope your visit with the plastic surgeon goes well tomorrow. Let me know how it goes.

Cynthia

Yes, I had my excision for LCIS many, many years ago. They took out about 2 tablespoonfulls of breast tissue. I have a B cup. Initially, I did have a dimple, and a pink scar about 1 inch long. I had a huge hematoma; my breast turned autumnal shades of black, purple, blue, green, and yellow. The colors took several months to resolve. Over time, the dimple filled in completely. By about year 2, I had trouble in locating the incision site. It took some time, but I really can't tell where it is now.

Different people have different amounts of breast tissue removed, have different excision lengths, and heal differently. But, depending on where your incision is, and whether you enjoy wearing low cut necklines, over the long term, there is hope that your incision will be virtually indistinguishable from your normal skin.

Of course you're anxious! You've never been through this before. While I can't guarantee that your results will be, whatever happens, you will not be alone.

Dear Leaf:

How long did it take for your giant hematoma to go away?  What did your hematoma feel like.

I ended up with an 8cm hematoma after my MRI guided biopsy on 5/21/15.  I still have the hematoma but it has gotten smaller.  It seems to me that it is probably 4cm now but I am not sure.  My whole breast feels weird so I wonder if it is a combination of the hematoma and the after effects of radiation???  (I completed my radiation almost exactly 1 year ago, on 10/3/14.)  My oncologist told me that the hematoma may never go away. 

I am scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram, sonogram, and MRI in November 2015.  I have a 1.5cm or 1.8cm (depending on which pathology report that I read - I obtained a second opinion) linear non-mass enhancement with rapid washin washout kinetics that was found in May 2015 but this suspicious area could not be biopsied.  I will find out more in November.  I am hoping that the hematoma will not get in the way of the suspicious area being visualized on my MRI.  My doctors tell me not to worry.  However, the hematoma is big and it is hard not to worry when I am currently in a 6 month of limbo (wait and stress) period since I have no information about this linear non-mass. (I am not worried about the hematoma.  I am worried that the hematoma might obscure the doctor from reading the mammo, ultrasound, and MRI correctly.)

Thanks for your help.

 

Hi 614!

Sorry about my delay in replying: I have had other medical issues to deal with...

From what I understand, my hematoma was internal (where the sample was taken), and I think it caused some scarring that shows up on mammograms. I get the impression that my 'area of concern' was about 1-2 inches in from the surface. I have never been able to feel anything deep. The lump at the excision or biopsy site felt like it was more at the surface (though of course I can't tell if there was anything deep because of the more surface swelling.) It took maybe 6 months or a year to resolve. Except for these external 'lumps' (the 'entry wound' for biopsies or excisions), I've never had any lumps. All of these external lumps resolved within about 6 months or a year or so. Its really hard to tell where I had my excision now; you have to really look and know what you're looking for.