Every scan shows my tumor as being bigger!

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ToughCookie101
ToughCookie101 Member Posts: 191
edited November 2017 in Just Diagnosed

So I know there is no confirmation until my tumor is out, however each scan I have shows the tumor as being bigger. My first ultrasound showed it at 1cm. Then I had an ultrasound guided biopsy that put it at 1.5cm. I know the second ultrasound machine was much better so likely more accurate. Third I had an MRI which showed it at 1.8cm.

Each scan has been 1-2 weeks apart. I know the likelihood of it growing that fast is unlikely, however that makes me nervous that coincidentally each scan shows it as being bigger. I really hope it is under 2cm.

Has anyone has the MRI show the tumor as being bigger than the ultrasound? What was the end size?

I am meeting with my surgical oncologist on Thursday so will get more details. It doesn’t help that the MRI shower a 0.6cm in the other breast. They have rated that as a birads 4 thankfully (4s I believe), but I will need an MRI guided biopsy.

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited November 2017

    Hey TC. The same happened to me and it freaked me out, until my doctor explained that the technology of each machine is different. MRI usually shows the largest size and it is usually wrong. In my case the estimated size went from .6 to 1.1 before surgery, and the final pathology report put it at .7. So it is almost certainly not growing. These conflicting machines and size estimates are just another annoying facet of the BC journey designed to make us insane. :)

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  • ToughCookie101
    ToughCookie101 Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2017

    Hi Georgia, thank you so much for the response. Phew!!! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the smaller size too then! That does make sense, and they reassured me a bit. Thanks!!

    The annoying thing is the tumor is in the thinnest part of my breast a couple of inches below my arm pit. Had I been checking myself I likely would have found it ages ago, but at 33 I never gave it much thought. I know I can only look forward though!

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited November 2017

    Amen to that!

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  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 448
    edited November 2017

    It's hard.I felt like all the news I got was progressively worse at initial diagnosis (because it was). But once we knew what we were dealing with and I had a treatment plan in place, news seemed to get progressively better. MRI, US and mammo all showed it being different sizes.



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  • EastcoastTS
    EastcoastTS Member Posts: 864
    edited November 2017

    Each test I had showed larger size as well -- US .8mm, MRI 1.2, final path 1.8mm. However, I am ILC, which is sneaky and can hide and is often larger.

    Good luck and try to take a calming yoga breath when you feel the panic setting in! Things get better once you have a plan in place. I promise this.

    HUGS.

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  • ToughCookie101
    ToughCookie101 Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2017

    Thanks for the message Eastcoast. My tumor isn’t hidden in tissue, it is a few inches under my armpit so very palpable. I’m hoping there are no “arms” extending. What a nightmare at this point. I just want it out and pray for clear nodes. With grade 2/3 I’m not sure what my odds of clear nodes are.

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  • EastcoastTS
    EastcoastTS Member Posts: 864
    edited November 2017

    I'm certainly no expert -- but plenty of grade 2/3 with no node involvement that I've seen in BC.org.

    However, I'm not downplaying your worry because this was a real concern (terror) of mine before I had all the path. info. I had pain under my armpit which I think was reactive from the biopsy. BC agreed. But it scared me.

    Ask all questions you have and make sure to review the pre-surgery lists on the site. Not sure where to direct you but you can search and find them. It's terribly helpful. I was really prepared!

    Good luck and my positive thoughts with you.

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited November 2017

    My breast surgeon told me he does many less MRI's than he used to due to the fact that it resulted in many more unnecessary or extreme surgeries than were actually needed.


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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2017

    yes..my MRI showed my first tumor as bigger. The pathology report from the first mammogram and ultrasound said 1.2cm. The MRI showed 2.2cm. My surgeon said the MRI waw more accurate.

    They actually don't know for sure the size until it comes out in surgery.

    I just had my ubilateral mastectomy, and even though my tumor waa bigger than originally thought, my nodes are clear. Size doesn't mean much..there are small tumors that are very aggressive and large ones that take forever to spread.

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  • ToughCookie101
    ToughCookie101 Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2017

    Thank you everyone!!! I really appreciate it!


    Swg, how are you doing? I hope you are well on your recovery path after surgery. Do you know what the tumor size was in the end? Sending you positive vibes!!

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  • randrgirl
    randrgirl Member Posts: 83
    edited November 2017

    Tough- I had the same issue, with each image my tumor seemed to grow 3.8... 4.1.... and by the time the MRI was done it showed it being over 5cm. All within a couple weeks. While my lump could be felt (that’s how I found it)my surgeon didn’t agree about the size. Thankfully, he ended up being right.

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  • randrgirl
    randrgirl Member Posts: 83
    edited November 2017

    swg- so true,size doesn’t alway matter because some smaller tumors are beast while some big ones are less active. It’s a crap shoot. I keep saying that. Hope your surgery went well and that you are on the mend.

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