biopsy benign but discordant now MRI

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dbRN
dbRN Member Posts: 17
edited November 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi!

The past 4 weeks have been crazy with waiting, something new each week. I found a lump, went to MD who ordered an ultrasound. Went in for ultrasound and ended up having that and a mammo. Malmo showed segmental micro calcifications, so immediate biopsy recommended. Next week Stereotactic vacuum assisted biopsies done (not so bad!), the week after that I had an appt with the surgical oncologist - results benign discordant BI-RAD 4c after correlation conference. Surgical excision to be scheduled after breast MRI. Has anyone had a breast MRI? I'm clasterphobic so its a bit unsettling - this will happen tuesday. If MRI shows "worrisome" areas more biopsies will be done before surgery. Only the micro calcs were biopsied not the mass.

Has anyone had a breast MRI - how was it?

~D


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  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Hi dbRN, are you a nurse? I am a nurse. I also found a lump a month ago. Did a mammo and US. The lump was a cyst. But mammo showed a focal asymmetry on my other breast. So to MRI I went. I had it 2 days ago. Im not going to lie to you it was uncomfortable for me. Im a bit claustrophobic too. I didnt take any med. However, it was not the claustrophobia that was the problem but my position during the test. They will put a PIV on you for the contrast. You are going to lie down on your abdomen, with your head on a donut pillow, your breasts in two holes. Your arms extended up. I am heavy so my whole weight was on my ribs. They will then put you inside the machine . Will take several pics without the contrast. The machine produces very loud noices and vibrations, I requested earphones so I can listen to music. It took 25-30 mins for the first part of the test, then the tech came in and administered the contrast. Another 7 more minutes after the contrast was given and the test is all done. The entire test was around 40mins. You cant move during the test, thats most difficult thing for me. I used deep breathing to relax coz I cant afford to have the test re-done coz i will have to wait for another menstrual cycle. Dont move coz it will make the test longer. They will give you a squeeze ball, you can squeeze it to signal to the tech that somethings wrong or youre not feeling well. Some people say the contrast feels cold but I didnt feel anything. I just had pain on my ribs after the test. Tips: If you have long hair, request for hair cap. Ask if you can have a thin cushion below your breast for support. Practice deep breathing. Make sure you wear socks and they put a blanket on your back coz it is damn cold inside. Take an Ativan or a Benadryl if you think you will need it. You might feel scared the first few minutes of the test but just think that it'll be over soon. Goodluck to you. My results will be out either tom or Wed.

  • goldie63
    goldie63 Member Posts: 117
    edited November 2016

    I've had 2 breast MRIs now. I was just a little bit stressed at the beginning of the first one, so same as AnxiousRN I practiced my deep breathing, and I slsosang songs in my head. They will give you some time references if you ask, so they told me when 10 minutes was up etc. I did feel the contrast as a little bit cool but didn't mind as it also meant halfway done. I didn't need any relaxation meds but I know lots of people do so ask your doctor to prescribe something if you think that will help. I also had a discordant radiologist / pathology result, on the core needle biopsy, so am going for surgical / excisional biopsy next, Dec 9th hopefully. Waiting sucks, and unknown tests suck, and are stressful, but I'm glad they follow up so diligently. I hope your MRI goes well. Take care.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    Thanks, I really appreciate the reply - google has freaked me out in regards to results etc. its nice to hear from a real person.

    ~D

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    Yes, in the surgical/interventional/peri-op arena - you? Thanks so much for the reply - they prescribed me valium - here's to hoping it works! I had a knee MRI a few yrs back and that freaked me out - ugh I hate tight spaces. Sending you good thoughts for your results. It is really hard being on the other side of the fence (i.e. nurse being a pt), I'm used to being the caretaker!

    ~D

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Thanks Goldie and dbRN. I will be praying for good results for you too dbRN. I work in the Adult Psych. I teach Psych nursing too. Yeah, it is hard to be on the other side of the fence. Let's stay positive. It is easier said than done. But Im hoping we would be out of this hole soon. Prayers for you and all of the ladies here in this forum. This forum has been my strength for the past 5 weeks.

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    Hey - another RN here with a very similar history. I had BIRAD 4, then biopsy was negative and they said it was discordant and I had further testing. My MRI was SO FUN! I had this hair hanging down and the air was blowing the end of it up into my nose. It was after they'd already injected the dye, and they told me I couldn't move an inch no matter what! My nose started dripping....and air was blowing from the fan onto my butt and making it vibrate! PLUS - when the MRI guy asked what kind of music I wanted to listen to, I said Tech N9ne. I'm middle aged and white but when I'm stressed out I love love love ganster rap music LOL. The MRI guy got mad and said "Oh, I hope you ain't sayin that on MY account!" and I realized he was black (which I hadn't noticed before). and remembered that I'd just moved back to my home area where racial tensions are pretty bad right now. I was like "No! Seriously! I know I'm a boring middle-aged fat white woman but I seriously love Tech N9ne. So do all of my sisters. We have every single one of his albums!" Then he was like "yeh my girlfriend's cousin is Tech N9ne" and he stomped out and turned on Lionel Richie elevator music which I had to listen to the entire time. Totally, totally sucked :) Plus it's really fun having your boobs hanging down through holes.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Lol that was a funny story Sue. Yeah I already thought bout my hair causing me problems during the test so I requested for the hair cap before hand. Were you able to continue working while on treatment?

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    I had a lot of stuff going on - I had already resigned from one place and was in the process of moving when I got diagnosed with breast CA AND got thrown from a horse and had five pelvic fractures! So I was off work for 6 months. BUT - I did not have any trouble finding a new position when my pelvis healed, even with the new cancer diagnosis, and it wasn't any trouble at all to work with the tissue expanders in. I'm off work again nowfor a couple weeks recovering from getting my implants. There's a 10 lb weight restriction for 6 weeks after mastectomy and again after tissue expander exchange. And NO vigorous excercise!! I didn't listen to that advice because I thought I was superwoman, which resulted in me getting large seromas. Plus I went on fosamax and femara, which made me sweat like a mad woman for a while until we figured things out. So when I started my new job I was dripping sweat during dressing changes, which made it look like changing dressings made me nervous LOL. It's not an easy journey but it's actually not nearly as hard as it sounds. I'm in home health now and there's really not much lifting at all in home health. Hospital work would be a different story - plan on taking some time off if your results are positive. Where do you work?

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    Oops - just saw you work psych....you shouldn't have much trouble going back to work if you can get assigned non-violent patients.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Yup that's what I thought too. The only problem is if there are any on contact precautions. But my job and the ones who lead us are very accommodating.

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    You have to be careful because your whole chest is numb and when you can't feel pain you can injure yourself and delay healing. I'm not sure if that's what caused some of my problems....my two-year-old granddaughter can get a little rough and I was playing with her. So - seriously, no physical activity. No putting on restraints! I had a friend who went through medical school with breast cancer. She had rads, chemo, mastectomy and tissue expanders - got pregnant and had a baby! - and was chief resident. Toughest woman I ever met. I also worked with some other women who were working during treatment.

    Sometimes work is what gets people through life. You can't think about your personal problems at work. I sure am glad to be back at work. In fact, I called my boss today and asked if I could do some admissions or something while I'm "off," just to stave off the boredom and try to stretch out my PTO a little. She said that would be fine. I'm off the pain meds, just can't do any lifting or vigorous activity.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Thanks for the advice Sue . I hope my results are in by tomorrow. All this waiting is torture. I feel like my life is on hold. The radiologist said she disnt find anything from the ultrasound. So Im hoping and praying that focal asymmetry they saw on Mammo will just turn out to be normal breast tissue.

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    Oh wow - nothing on the ultrasound! Well.....it doesn't sound like you'll be missing much work at all :) I'm looking forward to hearing your results tomorrow and hope you get great news!


  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2016

    I hope you have good news. The waiting is torture.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    StaceySue, I just cut all my hair off - short cute bob, Ahhh now I don't have to worry about hair blowing up my nose and face! I enjoyed your post!. I will ask for some rap and flo ri da ~ ! Did they biopsy you after the MRI. My surg onc said as of right now even though my bx were b9, it is still a 25% chance of ca.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Thanks! I have a question, if one has fibrocystic breasts, I know it can cause pain during menstrual period or before, but what if you are still experiencing pain after? I keep having this intermittent pain on my breasts and sometimes on my underarms. The pain is mild though. No redness or swollen nodes, no knots. It is just weird that I keep having these pains even after my period. I have a small fluid filled cyst on my left breast that is also painful at times.

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    Deb, they did biopsy me after the MRI but not the same day. Hang onto your 75% that's great odds! They'd told me they were 99.9% sure it was cancer before and after my first biopsy results came back negative. Anxious, I had fibrocystic breasts and when I was in my late 30s my hormones started going haywire and mine were sore a lot more often than before. I'd have times when they weren't sore but the soreness would last at least 2 weeks every month. My ovaries were just secreting estrogen overtime I think. I had bad endometriosis, maybe that had something to do with it. I ended up having to have a complete hysterectomy and was put on estrogen right away to avoid osteoporosis. Ironically, it was very shortly after I stopped taking estrogen when I found the change in one of my fibrocyctic lumps. The estrogen was keeping my breasts nice and plump and they rapidly deflated when I got taken off estrogen, so the lumps and bumps were more palpable. I'd been paying attention to them and noticed the lump on the right was now larger than the one in the left, and they'd always been the same size before. The cancer was under the lump, pushing up on it. I guess it had been there for years and was very slow growing.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    The MRI sucked because it was so so loud - I couldn't hear my music! No it wasn't that bad, the IV was though 3rd time was a charm. I looked at my report and 2 more masses showed up, in addition to the palpable mass. Rad suggests all three should be biopsied...so more waiting till I see my surg onc. My segmental micro calcs light up to.

    dbRN

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    Hang in there, dbRN. You just have to take it one day at a time and every day remind yourself to just pay attention to how you're feeling NOW, instead of the fear of how you're going to feel in the future. Not one single part of this entire ordeal was anywhere near as bad as I feared it would be.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Hi, my MRI results are in, they saw two lesions, one 5mm mass with non enhancing septa and one 6mm focal non mass enhancement. Both are in the inner quadrant of the right breast and demonstrate plateau kinetics. I dunno what that means. Im for US guided biopsy tom if they can find it through US. If not, an MRI guided biopsy. How are these two biopsies done? Anyone? Im scared to go through MRI again. I heard it can take more than an hour or two.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    Sorry to hear that, I'm in a similar boat! I have only had stereotactic biopsies, u/s they will locate the mass and pass the biopsy needle while using the u/s. Not sure of MRI bx. I have an u/s tomorrow to further evaluate the 2 masses found on my MRI both 5x8mm to see if they might be able to bx via u/s. Then I have a core needle bx by palpation on monday of my bigger mass 3cmx1.5cm that was orignally thought to have been biopsied during stereotactics but was not. The MRI kinda sucked, hopefully they can biopsy via u/s. Sending good thoughts.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Is the biopsy painful?

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    No just the local stung a little, I was a little sore when it wore off - so I took an advil.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    Thanks Staceysue!

  • StaceySue2U
    StaceySue2U Member Posts: 281
    edited November 2016

    The MRI biopsy involves laying face down on the MRI table for the biopsy, with your boob hanging through a hole. I was a little nervous for it so they gave me some ativan and I barely remember it. I ended up havingi tons of biopsies and there was only one time when it hurt - the time they got about 10 core samples from the 2 mass areas the lidocaine didn't work very well. It wasn't that bad though. Anxious RN I had a very large area of nonmass enhancement that didn't end up cancerous. The MRI is very sensitive and picks up some things that aren't anythinig to worry about.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    Okay help me understand this. I went to the medical center to have a second-look US of the lesions found on MRI. If found, I would have an US guided biopsy. Three radiologist and a tech performed the US and they all said they are not impressed with the MRI results. They didnt see the lesions on US and it look like just breast tissue so they are not going to do the biopsy. Although they told me I have fibrocyctic breasts. Also, doing an MRI biopsy is not reasonable at this point. From Birads 4 on MRI, I am now downgraded to Birads 3. I was adviced to return after 6 months.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    I had my second look u/s today at 2 to evaluate the two masses found on the MRI. On my initial u/s prior to Mammo and MRI they could not see the palp mass on u/s. Today they were able to find it, which is weird because they couldn't before and it's large - but a different team did the u/s this time or maybe it grew? The tech u/s'd me for 30 min then the radiologist did the same. Granted they easily found the masses that showed up on the MRI with the u/s, just took a bit of work to find the palpable mass. U/S masses don't look worrisome so no bx for me, but yes on bx of the palp mass. I would take this as good news especially since 3 rads took a look! Will you have another MRI in 6 months then? The masses on MRI were not easily found they had to do a lot of looking because I have fibrocystic disease as well. You could always get a second opinion.

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    The enhancements seen on my MRI are not palpable. The tech, radiologist and fellows who did my second-look US are different from those who did the first. My 2nd look US was done 4 times by different people. And they all said they are not convinced that it is worrisome. But they are forwarding all the results to my surgeon and will wait and see what she has to say. The radiologist said I can come back in 6 months they will do mammo and mri again to re evaluate if something changes.So right now I am waiting for my surgeon's opinion.

  • dbRN
    dbRN Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2016

    Good luck! My surgeon did 5 bx's of my palp mass in office today to evaluate for malignancy prior to lumpectomy, my u/s showed nothing worrisome but repeat u/s in 6mo of the non-palp masses. Hopefully you can get more answers from the surgeon, i think more than one discipline has to evaluate it to get the best idea of what is going on. Sorry you are waiting - I feel ya!

  • RNstrong
    RNstrong Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2016

    My BS hasnt called yet. I was rushed to the ER last night for severe lower back pain. Couldnt even move. I had hx of lower back pains before. Same pain but different severity everytime. I guess last night was the most painful I had to call 911. Now my mind is lurking in dark places thinking I have mets! Crazy me.

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