Change in solid breast mass - what is it?
Hello everyone,
I told myself I wouldn't post here while I'm waiting to find out the status of a mass in my breast. I told myself "try not to worry until you know if it's even something to worry about it." But after holding it together all day, I can't help but post my story, maybe just for comfort or reassurance or truthful experiences of others.
I'ma 29 year old female.
In August 2017 I had a breast ultrasound to look at a painful palpable lump around the 7:00 spot on my right breast. The pain is a very sharp yet almost tender feeling. It hurts when I press on the lump and sometimes it will twinge when I'm just sitting there not even touching my breast. The pain first began in 2014, but I tried to rationalize that it was nothing. I'm sure I read online that pain usually wasn't cancer, so I tried to ignore it. It was 2015 or 2016 that I first found the tiny hard lump about the size of a split pea. I didn't go to the doctor at that time due to an intense fear of diseases and doctor, which I'm thankfully overcoming now. The painful lump feels really bad far there in my breast, like I have to push down really hard when lying on my back to really get a good feel of it with my finger, but it doesn't take much to cause the pain.
I finally saw a doctor about it in August 2017 and was sent for an ultrasound. This didn't give me a definitive answer. This is what the report said:
Grayscale sonographic
images show a circumscribed oval mass measuring 4 x 6 x 3 mm in size. There
is no overlying vascular flow.
IMPRESSION:Probably benign subcentimeter mass underlying the area of
palpable concern.
I was told by the tech that it was probably something "more like an adenoma" than cancer.
After I received the report, I also met with a breast surgeon who told me she really didn't think it was anything to worry about and that while we could do a biopsy, she thought the chances of it being something bad were so slim that she recommended I not scar my breast for nothing. I was told to come back in 6 months for a followup ultrasound, at which time they would remove the mass if it had changed at all.
I chose to trust the doctor and I haven't had the intense anxiety about it for the past 6 months, no pressing on the spot 100 times a day to check if it was still there or had changed like I had done before I first saw the doctor. I felt positive about it and could handle the pain as long as it wasn't anything dangerous.
I had the 6 month followup ultrasound and really wasn't worried about it at all. The pain was still there, and when I felt the lump last night it didn't feel any different to me. Today I was told that the mass now has a blood supply, so they're going to do a biopsy. I was so shocked that I couldn't even ask any questions, my brain couldn't process anything. The measurements on it today were 4mm x 5.8mm x 3.6mm, so it doesn't really sound like it's changed much in size, maybe a bit wider, unless they should rounded everything in the first report. I'm hoping that's a good sign. I'm so worried about the development of a blood supply. I've done nothing by research it online all day. I just wonder what else it could be to develop a blood supply that wasn't there before. I know some benign lesions have vascularity, but it would seem to me that if that was the case, the vascularity would have been present 6 months ago. I'm worried that the development of a vascular flow means it's something bad that has gotten even worse.
I'm waiting to be able to schedule the biopsy. There is a rule that if I haven't seen a breast surgeon in the past 3 months, I have to get an appointment with the surgeon before scheduling the biopsy, but it was just 5 months ago that I met with the surgeon, so they may waive it. I was just waiting for my phone to ring today so I can move closer to just finding this out, as terrifying as it is. They should call tomorrow and I was told if I can skip the appointment and just schedule the biopsy, I should be able to get it done in 3-5 days.
Anyway, anyone have a similar experience or any sort of experience with one of these 6 month followup sort of deals that resulted in a biopsy? I'm not looking for a diagnosis and I know every story and body is different, but guess I just want to not feel so alone.
Comments
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Hi sweetheart and I'm so sorry this is causing you anxiety and stress. I'm not an expert, but odds are that everything is ok and that spot is benign. But despite the extra worry, it's great for your health care provider to schedule the biopsy, and you will have the results pretty soon.
All I can really recommend it to be optimistic, and stay busy til then to keep your mind as calm as possible. Exercise, time with friends, and little indulgences are all good things to try. We will be here for you and ready to offer support.
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Hi Everythingisok-
We're so sorry you're here and experiencing this worry. Like Georgia1 said, the best thing you can do right now is try to stay busy and keep your mind occupied. Easier said than done, we know! Please keep us posted on when you have your biopsy, we'll be thinking of you!
The Mods
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Keep in mind what they are describing is literally the size of a BB. Although likely benign, if it isn't, it is extremely small and much more easily treated.
Hopefully you will have an US guided biopsy (they leave no scar) that turns out to be benign. Keep us in the loop.
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Thank you to those who've replied. Thankfully I did not end up having to have an appointment with the breast surgeon before the biopsy could be scheduled. They called today and I took the next available appointment, which is on 2/12. I should have results by that Thursday. I'm still extremely nervous and have moments of panic, but I feel better at least knowing when the biopsy will be. All of the medical professionals and office staff I've talked to so far have been so kind and I'm really thankful for that - they've made everything as easy as something like this can be. It's just the not knowing and the waiting that's the worst. I feel like I should have demanded a biopsy 6 months ago so I wouldn't have to be going through this now.
I just can't stop Googling information about masses developing a blood supply, praying that this happens with fibroadenomas and that that's what this is - or something equally harmless.
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Now that you have an appointment to find out exactly what it is STOP GOOGLING, it wont help, it will only make you more nervous.
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Core needle biopsy was done today. 4 samples were taken. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. It only took 1 hour from check-in to walking out of the office. I'm thankful to have had a wonderful medical staff who were compassionate and so gentle. I should have the results before the end of this week. Now begins the dreaded wait period, and after having the biopsy done, I can definitely confirm that the wait is the worst part. Last time I was waiting for major medical results I ended up having a major panic attack and was confined to bed for days due to vertigo.
I know Google is bad, but it's just so hard to resist when you just want to try to find evidence to tell yourself that this very well could be benign. I'm trying to just accept that this is whatever it is and I'm doing all that I can at this time.
Breast, chest, and even my shoulder blade on that side are hurting now. I am not complaining though. All I'm concerned about is the result and I would take the worst pain and be happy for it if it just means this is benign.
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