Radiologist and lab are stumped - what are cancer chances?

I would be surprised if she didn't get the right place because my breasts are very small (barely b cup) and the lump is large and literally visible to the naked eye. Also she took four core samples. On the phone she said that it was discordant with the imaging/what they expected? Anyway I think you are right that i should just have it removed to be sure -- and also for my own curiosity now haha -- but of course I'm really nervous about what's going on.

Re the idea of cellulitis, she originallly thought it was an abscess. But when when tried to aspirate it with a fine needle, no liquid came out. During the core biopsy there was also no puss or sign of infection. Though perhaps the antibiotics handled it? (It was a long wait for the imaging appt and I completed 10 days of doxycycline while waiting

Thank you. It turns out you are right. I went into the surgeon for the consultation and she was much more frank with me. The radiologist thinks it is cancer but the core needle biopsy results are benign. That's why it was discordant.

The breast surgeon does not think it is cancer but concurs with the recommendation of an excisional biopsy mainly because this will not go away on its own and may get inflamed/infected again in the future.

The surgeon did an ultrasound and we could see the clip that the radiologist put in, in the center of the solid part of lump, where the biopsy was taken. The surgeon showed me that there IS fluid at some of the (smooth) edges. She thinks it is/was a cyst and I possibly bled into it/burst blood vessel and now there's debris in it, and dead tissue (FREAKY!) and it may have been infected (I had been on 10 days of doxycycline prior to the imaging due to appointment scheduling). Thissounds so weird I asked how this happens. She says nothing I did or could do to prevent it, these things just happen?!?! But now that it's in the condition it is, it should come out.

Anyway she told me not to worry about cancer. She sees a lot and doesn't think this is it. But of course it will be tested to be sure.

I'm having it out on March 2. I'm 48 and it's the first surgery of my life so I'm a little nervous. But happy with her frankness and comforted that it is probably not cancer.

Just a short update. I had the surgery yesterday, an excisional biopsy. She took the entire lump but no surrounding tissue, since the breast surgeon thinks most likely it is not cancer. I will have results at my in-person follow up a week from today.

It has been quite a stressful two months -- trying to get an initial appointment, being given antibiotics, waiting for mammo and ultrasound, core biopsy, waiting on that result, and then the surgical biopsy. Even with the likelihood that this is benign it has still been a lot of appointments and stress, as well as some physical pain. The healthcare system isn't easy to navigate. Thankfully I have a job that allowed me time off for all these appointments and provides health insurance. I think about all the women who dont have that, the extra worry and stress.

Anyway thank you for the advice and greetings. The surgery itself wasn't bad at all, in fact to be honest the core needle biopsy was more difficult and I had about as much pain after! Anyone worrying about a surgical excision, try not to be scared, it was easy.

I'll come back to share the results.

Thank you for the kind notes! Follow up appointment with results is this Friday morning. I will post results here, regardless of the outcome, in hopes that it may help others with a similar mystery.