Waiting to have a biopsy
Totally new here. Except for the past week when I anxiously started searching topics and posts trying to find a similar situation. Although, as you all know none are the same.
I'm 32 years old and recently went to the dr after I felt a lump in my breast. The dr wasn't too worried about the one i felt on the right but instead one on the outside my left breast at about 2 o’clock. You can feel it through my skin and it kinda feels like a hard eraser on the end of a pencil.I didn't think too much of it but she seemed concerned and had me go in for an US. I went in and had to go in 3 different times for the mammogram reading (I have very small breasts so figured that was why). When they did my US they took only but 2 minutes on my one breast about 20 on the other. I actually had to ask if I could strech my arm because it was shaking from the awkward position. Then after I had my ultrasound I sat in the waiting room thinking they were going to tell me it was a cyst and send me on my way. They told me to get dressed and sent me wait in a consultation room. So I sat there for 20 minutes waiting at a large round table with a calendar and a little piece of acrylic with breast markers in it. My reassurance diminished.
The dr came in with the rn and told me I'd have to go in for a biopsy where they'd also place a marker. They explained a lot about the marker, but not my mammo and us results. And honestly I don't recall much of what they said bc I was in shock that it was anything more that just a lump. I feel dumb for not asking questions but I didn't even know what a birad was up until a few days ago. They didn't say much or give me much hope. Like there was no suggestion that it could be a cyst. They said there's a lot of small lumps around the big one. Today is Friday night so now I can't even call til Monday (my biopsy is Wednesday) and I'm in total panic. I doubt I'll get anything in the mail by then, should I call Monday and try to get more answers about my testsor just wait it out? I teach HS and work another job. I can't sleep and eat little and just have so much on my mind. Any advice, reasssurance, thoughts?
Comments
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The whole in between stage of waiting on things isn’t always easy to share with other people, especially when you don’t have answers, I’m glad you found a safe place here
With my experience, my mammogram and ultrasound were mostly for locating and getting an idea of size of whatever was going on in there. I’m glad you got a biopsy scheduled so quickly and hope that you don’t have to wait too long for those results. Don’t worry about not knowing or having questions, those all will come when you know what’s actually in there.
Binge some tv to hopefully turn your mind off. I watched all of Reign I think in one week while I was distracting myself from waiting between appointments. I hope that some of this was helpful, you’re not alone.
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It's so hard to guess what they are thinking because they are trained to not give anything away until the biopsy results come in. There is a reason for that, and it's because they really don't know 100%. They don't want to get your hopes up if it turns out to be cancer, and they don't want to scare you to death if it's not. I do think they have a pretty good guess sometimes, and most of us would like to hear it, but you can't assume it's bad news just because they are not going out of their way to ease your mind.
I want to say it won't be cancer but I can't do that either. I sure hope it's not, but if it is you are in the right place for getting the support it takes to deal with that reality. I can't say don't worry, because that's another thing that ain't gonna happen. So hang in there and put one foot in front of the other and trust that you will get through it one way or the other, because that much I know to be true.
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Thank you guys for responding! I wasn't sure if any one even would. I've really only told one person I work with because she has the experience and went through bc. My mom has dementia and my dad isn't really part of my life, so it's tough and I constantly feel like I really don't have any family to comfort me. I also know very little about my moms side of the family. Her mom died before I was born and that’s about the only one I ever heard about. Idek if she had sisters or brothers, etc. she just never talked about it.Kinda feel all alone except for these forums. I'm not really nervous about the biopsy, just the results. Should I call on Monday to get more info on the previous tests? I want to call my dr and see if she can get me something for my anxiety, which is super high all the time to begin with..
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I would call. You can ask for a copy of the results. They have to give it to you.
If not, call and ask the radiologist for his/her opinion and the BIRADS number.
Try to stay distracted.... I know it is hard. Just do mindless tasks like clean stuff you never get to.
Do keep us posted. Hoping this is benign
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I didn’t get much info on my mammogram/ultrasound other than when they when they were being done, which was same as you “there’s something in there” and what the best route for doing a biopsy was. Asking for information never hurts but I don’t know what they would tell you beyond what you already know.
Waiting for results and answers are tough. I didn’t care if it was cancer (really though, not ideal results) because then a plan would be made to deal with it, which was better for me than not knowing. Trying not to speculate too much is hard, but for me helped start processing hard questions (how would I feel about a mastectomy?) before really having to consider them.
I’d imagine they can give you something or recommend how to handle your anxiety. I found that even writing/typing those things out to someone that does know, or here, also helped just let things go
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I agree that whatever the results may be, I will go forward from there. I’ve been trying to stay off the posts and the internet and not think about it too much bc that just gives me more anxiety. I have high hopes that it will be nothing. Although I said that when I went in for my ultrasound. Either way, I’m young and with this community and a few close friends I know I will have a good support system either way. I decided not to call and try and get more information. At this point it will go one of 2 ways and I just gotta wait and see.
Biopsy is in the morning and then the real waiting game begins. My dr did give me a very small (5 exactly) xanax to help the anxiety a bit. Just took the first one so hopefully frilly I can get some good rest tonight. Thank you all for your responses and positive words. I will keep everyone posted.
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