All tests reading benign but surgeon mass out! Help!

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Krcampb
Krcampb Member Posts: 5
edited February 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

A few months ago I noticed some spontaneous nipple discharge from my left breast. I went in and when they squeezed there was blood too. So I got a mammogram. I have super Lumpy dense breasts so I wasn't suprised when they had to do a Sono to see better and a ductogram. They found numerous cysts and one mass that needed a biopsy. I did the biopsy and it came back as fibrocystic changes-no malignancy. Stromal fibrosis, sclerosing adenosis, apocrine metaplasia, and duct estasia. I was referred to a surgeon and she did another ultrasound and immediately wanted to remove it. I told her I'd feel better about doing an MRI first since all other results pointed to no cancer. She was comfortable with that. MRI read fibrocystic changes but no malignancy. I just went back in for my follow up w breast surgeon she did another sono and says no doubt in her mind she wants it out. She says it's very distinct and has some calcificaitons in it. Can all tests say negative and then they remove and test the whole mass and it come back indeed cancer? Part of me just wants to remove both of my lumpy fibrocysitc breasts to avoid the worry!!!! But I'm pretty sure insurance wouldn't cover it unless it was cancer. Anyone been through something similar?!

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2018

    Krcampb

    Bloody discharge is always abnormal and, whether benign or malignant, will not usually stop until the source is surgically removed. If they cannot pin point the source it makes it more difficult to know which duct to remove but it is not unusual for a surgeon to explore the area and excise the ducts that appear to be involved. Ask the surgeon what their plan is.

    Also ask the ins company about your concerns about coverage, benign or malignant usually does not influence reimbursement if a benign entity is causing clinical problems like bleeding. For example fibroids in the uterus are benign but hysterectomies are covered when these cause pain and bleeding,

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  • Krcampb
    Krcampb Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    thank you! Have you ever heard of tests coming back benign but then when surgically removed it being cancer

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2018

    Krcampb

    It can happen but not frequently.

    When a radiologist does a biopsy, they review the path results when they are available and compare it to all the studies done and the images from the biopsy and decide if the mass was adequately sampled and if the benign or malignant path results match the expected benign or malignant results from the imaging. If they match (are concordant) then you're done, a "return to screening" recommendation is issued. If they are discordant, benign expected but malignant results, a report is issued that will recommend excision or re-biopsy. You can ask for that report.

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  • Krcampb
    Krcampb Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    I have the results. I got a copy. What I wrote above was everything in the report. The surgeon just doesn't like how it looks on the sonogram. She says it's very distinct.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2018

    Krcampb

    Let us know how the surgery goes.


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  • Krcampb
    Krcampb Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    I will thanks for commenting

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