Scared, yet eerily calm

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msminnie73
msminnie73 Member Posts: 11
edited December 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

I'd originally posted in the Not diagnosed, but worried forum. I can't link to the post, but I'll paste the text at end.

But here I am now almost two months later even more terrified.

Long story short, had bloody discharge from right nipple. (discharge would change colors between red, brown, light yellow.) Saw primary dr who ordered diagnostic mammo. Dense breasts so needed US. Plumpness/firmness on side of right breast, but no lump. Area found on right breast and US-guided biopsy done. Results came back benign. But still had nipple discharge. Referred to BS and she could feel the firmness in area. Due to discharge, she ordered an MRI. Had MRI done and now I'm told that there are some enhanced areas in BOTH breasts. I didn't even have any issues with the left breast. The impression on the results are suspicious of malignancy. (After a benign biopsy!!!! How often does that happen?)

I'm really not up to speed on this terminology at all. But here's what I think are the main portions of my MRI results:

Right: avidly enhancing, homogenous non mass enhancement (3.8cm x 2.1 cm x 2.2) in regional distribution ... persistent enhancement. Biopsy pathology result of "benign fibrocystic changes" appears to be discordant with MRI findings. Recommend MRI biopsy of the abnormality given the suspicious morphology seen on MRI.

Left: avidly enhancing, linear non mass enhancement (5cm x 1.2cm x 0.5 cm) with persistent enhancement. Similar appearing, smaller enhancing foci and 1.5 cm linear nonmass enhancement are also scattered in central left breast. Recommend MRI guided biopsy for diagnosis. Management of similar appearing, non mass enhancing foci will be based on pathology results.

MRI BI-RADS: 4c

I'm scared, but eerily calm at the same time. I just don't know what to think about all this. My BS called me this morning and said she was putting in the order for the MRI biopsy today and that I should receive a call within the next week from scheduling. I suppose I'd assumed that I'd know either way if this was cancer or not by now. I never thought I'd just be in limbo. I'm sure many of you know what I mean, right?


ORIGINAL POST

A little over a month ago, I was scratching the side of my right breast. I looked down and saw that there was nipple discharge. It was a clearish/yellow color, but has since been bloody to orange-rust-colored to yellow. Currently only a small amount leaks out by itself, but if I put pressure on the top of my breast, the discharge changes from clearish/yellow to red.

I made an appt with my PCP, who then immediately scheduled me for a mammo. Had mamma and US last Tuesday. My breasts are very dense. Of course the tech and the doctor were both telling me that this was probably nothing to worry about. Though I said I was still concerned about the discharge. Well, the doctor must have been a little concerned as she felt it was a good idea to have an US-guided biopsy. I had that done just yesterday.

I wasn't really too concerned until I read my US report. I read it through, but when I saw BI-RADS 4B - intermediate suspicion of malignancy, I freaked out. In part, the report read:

"There is a 2cm vague, hypoechoic area with an indistinct margin in the right breast at 9 o'clock posterior depth 8cm from the nipple. This area is hypoechoic with posterior acoustic shadowing. This correlates with mammography findings."

So now I'm worried. And though i've read through tons of posts about not using Google to look up everything ... I'm afraid I've done just that.

Well, I just wanted to really get this out. I haven't told anyone except my sister and cousin. My parents and brother are all deceased, and I pretty much keep to myself. Anyway, is there anyone out there has dealt with this along with the nipple discharge?

Comments

  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited January 2017

    msminnie, I do know where you are coming from. It does feel odd, that with all the high tech testing, you still can't really get a diagnosis until there is real tissue sampled and looked at under a good old fashioned microscope. The imagining that is available now really does let us find things that we weren't able to 'see' 15 or 20 years ago, though, and actually sample them (like you will have with the MRI guided biopsy) to get a definitive diagnosis. It can be a long and weary journey just to get a diagnosis (of benign or malignant condition), but once you get your biopsy scheduled and completed, you will have the information you need to make plans.

    I'm glad you know that there are many women here who are with you in spirit and have been in a similar place. Hugs to you! and let us know how you're doing.

  • msminnie73
    msminnie73 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2017

    Thank you for your reply MTwoman. I had the MRI guided biopsy yesterday (1/20). (It was awful, but that's another story.) I'll call my BS on Monday to schedule appointment for results.

    This issue started in October. Seems like forever.

  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited January 2017

    i, too had nipple discharge same as you described. was just diagnosed of IDC and dcis on the right and dcis on the left. never thought i had that many cancer in my breasts. hugs to you!

  • msminnie73
    msminnie73 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2017

    I get the MRI-guided biopsy results tomorrow. I have an appointment after work. I go to a hospital system here that post results of lab work and radiology online. I usually know results before my doctors ever call. For the biopsy, I noticed that my results are pending until tomorrow, the day that I am to get my results. I am quite nervous now.

  • Lucy55
    Lucy55 Member Posts: 3,044
    edited January 2017

    Thinking of you , and hoping for great results tomorrow..

  • rosie83
    rosie83 Member Posts: 26
    edited February 2017

    how'd your appt go

  • msminnie73
    msminnie73 Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2017

    rosie83 ... I was so excited I failed to give an update. Results came back with no evidence of malignancy. There are some papillomas, but the breast surgeon told me that I don't have to come back to her unless I have bloody discharge again.

    Oddly, I now have discharge from the left, too. So now I'm going to mention it to my endo when I see him again (I'm also diabetic.)

    I'm very relieved and I suppose the silver lining here is that I've met my insurance deductible. I've only done that once and it was at the very end of the year.

  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2017

    Minnie

    Out of curiosity did anyone mention this entity? :

    https://radiopaedia.org/articles/diabetic-mastopat...


  • msminnie73
    msminnie73 Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2018

    djmammo ... sorry for the very late reply, but no. No one mentioned that. I was told in January 2017 that all was well. The breast surgeon told me to see her if the bloody discharge started again. For the next year, I saw no blood, but would still have clear or straw-colored discharge from the same nipple.

    Well the bloody discharge came back in late September. I could squeeze it out, but it was also in my bra and on my pajamas in the mornings. I saw BS in November, and she was able to express the bloody discharge and put it on a slide for testing. All I know at this point is that there were abnormal cells.

    In the meantime, I recently had another mammo and US. Both are negative; show no changes.

    The discharge has now gone back to more of a clear/straw color. Now I’m just waiting to hear full report from BS. I don’t want to be told to wait until the bleeding starts again. This can’t be considered normal

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