Help! Tumor size changed in 2 weeks?

Could someone make a mistake when they measured your tumor? You know nowadays people make mistake all the time. Most important is take care of your cancer then deal with the SE when you have chemo. One day at a time, and don't overwhelm yourself.

Doctors make mistakes all the time! On the plus side, my tumor was smaller than thought from biopsy. On the negative, some cancer had gone to my nodes, which none of the imaging had indicated. We really don't know the whole story until after surgery.

It's not even necessarily a "mistake." MRI and US give very different pictures. They don't obtain their images in at all the same way, and those images look very, very different. In either case, they are both just pictures and no picture is a 100% accurate representation of reality.

A biopsy does not tell size. A biopsy is taking an intentionally-small piece of tissue to look at under a microscope to find out what it is. Many biopsies are US-guided, so there is an US report along with the results of the biopsy, but - less often today - many, many biopsies have been done without any guidance other than what the person doing the biopsy sees and feels.

In truth, you do not know the size of the tumour until it's been removed and measured by a pathologist.

I wish you well with this. I was diagnosed also at Stage IIIa, with some bad prognostic indicators, but I'm 7 years out now from diagnosis.

hang in there. You're starting treatment soon.

I'm also getting freaked out by the thought that the tumor is growing but i have no way of knowing either. i'm 4 days away from my flight home and trying to hang in there too.

My diagnostic ultrasound after mammo said 7mm. The biopsy ultrasound said “9mm at longest dimension." Surgical path report said 1.3cm. But just as many tumors turn out to be smaller “in the flesh" than imaging had indicated. Measurement is an inexact science—you can't know for sure till the tumor is out and in the surgeon's hand en route to the specimen jar (or whatever they put it in these days). My biopsy path report also said “DCIS: present, focal." My surgical path report said “no DCIS or lymphovascular invasion." Go figure…but don't let it make you crazy.

Andrea, my wife's diagnostic progression was somewhat similar. The ultrasound said 2.5cm, but a later MRI said it was 5.9cm. We won't know the actual size until we get the pathology result from her surgery later this week (surgery was last Wednesday). You didn't mention if your tumor is IDC or ILC, but it is the case that ILC does not image as well as IDC so ultrasounds/mammograms are likely to miss the full extent for that type. Since her diagnosis, I have found some research papers discussing actual tumor size compared to MRI imaging. In general, MRIs due tend to overstate the size of IDC tumors while they are as likely to overstate as understate the size for ILC.

Best wishes on the result tomorrow Andrea. It very well could be their practice not to give any input of results on the phone, so as to not be in the situation you fear you are in (that not giving a negative would mean a positive).

We actually saw two surgeons before deciding on one. One wanted a CT/bone scan right away, while the other did not. My wife opted for the one who did not want the scan (based on other factors). In one way I am relieved since finding out would increase our fears substantially, and in another way, I would like to know from the start if it has spread so it could be treated right away if so.

the waiting and not knowing is the worst. My tumor was actually smaller than what it measured on ultrasound. You won't know for sure until after surgery. My advice to you is take it one day at a time. Cannibas high in CBD is one of the best treatments for anxiety. I have been on it since the day after my surgery and find its the most effective drug I have tried. Unfortunately this is out of your hands and until you have answers your just speculating. Don't do that it will drive you insane. Just stay busy with whatever brings you joy. I wish the best for you and hope it will all be good news!!