Second biopsy tomorrow, wish me luck

Still waiting for these last biopsy results. This time the breast is more purple and generally bruised looking. The radiologist who did it (she was the same one who did my first biopsies) said it did bleed more and it took the nurse longer to stop the bleeding when she was done.

I am really on pins and needles because from what my BS says this will be the decision point on being able to have a lumpectomy, versus having a mastectomy. And I'm two months out from initial diagnosis, during which time I've had the Drs all saying how early we caught this but then tests going the wrong way, and I still don't have any diagnosis or treatment scheduled.

I think I finally figured out what's been happening. I left a message for the social worker at the cancer center about my concerns over this dynamic, and she told me today it seems like its because I have dense breasts. And so I realized all the mammos weren't picking everything up. So when that's what the Drs were going by, it looked like it was very early cause all the mammos showed was the microcalcs.

It took the breast MRI to show the fuller picture, whereas the second area which was just biopsied barely showed up on the mammos at all.

Again, wish me luck.

"I think it always helps to have some sort of a reason!" That's for sure, because without even that I was imagining all sorts of worse case scenarios. But just got the good news this one came back benign, Thanks again for all the support

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water...

I went this morning for a 2nd opinion meeting with another well known cancer center in my area. I had already fedexed them copies of most of my images and radiology reports, and pathology reports from my three biopsies, as their nurse coordinator had requested. I self referred to this place just because of my round about trip so far with BC as I've already described, so just thought I'd get a 2nd set of eyes.

Their opinion was that my original IDC was extremely small (2mm) and given its characteristics it would be up to me to even have a SNB. I probably still would have, but it was nice to hear

My original BS and I were on track for lumpectomy and SNB after the 2nd biopsy in my left breast came back benign. And this last biopsy was because of a 9mm mass on my recent breast MRI as I posted here earlier

Except, the BS at the 2nd cancer then told me this morning that when their radiologist reviewed my images from the 1st place, they saw something completely "new" on the same breast MRI that no one at the 1st center saw on any of my images (diagnostic 3D mammo, breast MRI, etc)

I will describe what their radiology report says about the "new" area from the breast MRI,

"Deep to this [the 2nd biopsy in the left breast that came back benign] there is an additional area of enhancement measuring approximately 2.5cm. A targeted ultrasound of the deep left 12:00 position is suggested"

The BS at the 2nd place told me this was deeper in and closer to the chest wall than all the others. He then wanted me to get them a copy of the last mammogram I had right after the last biopsy since I didn't have that one oto give them, So I talked to their nurse coordinator this afternoon and she is going to get that from the 1st cancer place ASAP, so the radiologist at the 2nd place can review and compare to the breast MRI.

I am numb. And by this point am so weak from all this stress and super anxiety I am sometimes walking with a cane. Its kinda like my security blanket. (I do have a good psychiatrist who has already prescribed me anxiety meds)

If anyone has anymore thoughts on all this I'd love to hear. I may think of some specific questions to post tomorrow, hopefully by then my brain will start working again.

Thanks again for all the support

Jen

Just a quick update. I faxed a note to my BS office last night to give them this update. Of course he is on vacation until Thursday and my surgery he had planned for me is supposed to be next week. So I called the hospital breast center that did all my biopsies (the same radiologist did all of these) as well as my breast MRI. Their nurse coordinator was very nice and said she would bring this new concern to their radiologists' attention, Wish me luck.

My BS called yesterday, and told me the lead radiologist who (re)read my breast MRI said she thinks its just leftovers from my first biopsy. Haven't heard from the 2nd place where I went for my 2nd opinion yet, but wanted to give an update. Thanks again for all the support