Biopsy on Wednesday - My story

heather37 · December 2014

HI Ladies

I posted my story last week - (37 years old and terrified in the Not Diagnosed but Worried forum) - basically quick version: had breast pain in Right side - went for very first mammogram, got called back following day for something that was spotted on other breast - repeat mammogram and ultrasound done. the Tech couldn't find it on the ultrasound, radiologist tried and couldn't find anything else as well. Their dx was a swollen lymph node and to come back in 6 months. My friend is an OB, told me to see a Breast specialist - i went and she told me to re-do ultrasound at a different facility. They said the side that had the pain, there is nothing wrong. The other side - they did see the "mass" on the ultrasound and said it doesn't look like a swollen lymph node (did not have characteristics like kidney bean shaped and no blood flow) that would make it look like a lymph node. Radiologist said it didn't look suspicious (i guess because of the characteristics), but then she gave me 90% benign and wanted to do a biopsy.

So here i am, my biopsy in 3 days. I am trying to stay hopeful and positive. The breast specialist and radiologist i saw is supposed to be the best in my state (according to my friend that is an OB). He said that particular radiologist did their residency at Johns Hopkins. So he said that if this dr said it was 90% benign, then most likely it is benign. It still freaks me out. I have 3 kids, work full time, pretty much the breadwinner, and was supposed to start my masters in January.

What my OB friend says is that most Breast specialists know before the biopsy if it is cancer. He said usually - like over 95% of the time he said. Has that been your experience?

Breast cancer does not run in my family. I know 2 close people that have had breast cancer - my mother in law and a family friend (that was diagnosed at 36 Years old with no family history). I spoke to both, and both said that their dr said it was very suspicious before they had the biopsy done.

Oh when i spoke to the radiologist after she came in to tell me i needed a biopsy, i said "if it is cancer, is it an early stage?"
she started laughing and said "you dont have cancer" and i said "if i dont have cancer, why am i doing the biopsy?" she just said "well could be cancer, we dont know what it is, but very unlikely that's what it is."

The tech pulled me aside and told me not to be scared, these dr's are always aggressive and airing on the side of caution.

Thoughts??

Heather

bevin · December 2014

HI there, My doctor said the same thing that they can normally tell via the scan/ Mammo or ultrasound and the biopsy confirms what they have diagnosed via the specific scan. Praying for benign results for you.

Sjacobs146 · December 2014

in my case, the radiologist said: "I'm really pulling for you that it's not cancer, but I've done tens of thousands of these, and I'm pretty sure that it is cancer." No one was telling me not to worry or that it probably wasn't cancer. They did say that we caught it early and there was a good chance that I would have successful treatment.

Nancy2581 · December 2014

the radiologist I had flat out told me she thought the mass was cancer. Then I had the biopsy and it was. So I do think they know.

heather37 · December 2014

Thanks ladies for your comments. So sounds like my OB friend was correct when he said that most Breast specialists and trained radiologist pretty much know when something is cancerous or benign. I guess for benign they have an idea, but would like to confirm it. Thanks again for all the comments.

Heather

Moderators · December 2014

Heather37-

We wanted to wish you luck on your biopsy on Wednesday. Hoping for the best possible news! Please keep us posted when your results come in, and let us know how you're doing after your procedure. You're in our thoughts!

The Mods

Holeinone · December 2014

Heather, when you had your mammo, they give it a score. It is called birad score. They are rated 1-5. five being the most suspicious.

Keep busy, with 3 kids & full time work, you are certainly busy...lol....Many, many young women come here for support. Many, report back there b9 results...Hoping to hear that from you..

Bippy625 · December 2014

hi Heather, best wishes for biopsy. We have all been there, and I hope yours is benign. That happens alot!

Be kind to yourself and try to relax. Can you take the day off work? I was wrapped up like a mummy with the ace bandage, and sore too. Not awful but not fun......

I agree that the radiologist and techs have a real good idea of whether it is good or bad. The mood in my US room was very grim, though they tried to hide it. That being said,I am recovering and will be fine! So just remember a dx is not the end of the world. Also, it was here that I learned that 80% of all lumps are benign so odds are in your favor. Let us know how you are.

MarcelaBR · December 2014

In my case the radiologist was so sure it was cancer that he personally called my doctor to ask for more tests (since I was only 23yo I was only gonna do the ultrasound as a routine check up). So yes, they can usually tell....

Keep us posted on results!

bobogirl · December 2014

Heather, you are worried, and it's hard to change that -- just know that we are all pulling for you. I'd listen to the radiologist -- that sounds like good news. That said, what you are going through is very stressful. So pamper yourself. Take off the entire day of the biopsy if you'd like. Stay home in pjs, watch movies, eat yummy things. You need to take care of yourself and keep your immune system going. Otherwise, along with your b9 result, you may catch a bad cold, and then where will you be?

We are all here for you. I have had -- seven? -- biopsies. I know how scary they can be. Take care of yourself!

Susug · December 2014

Heather, be glad they are being cautious. My very small cancer didn't show up on any imaging. They could have told me to wait six months like some Drs.do. I could feel a lump but it wasn't showing up..my BS believes if you can't see it go get it that's the only way you will known what it is.

heather37 · December 2014

HI Ladies

thanks for all your kind replies. I am at work today - I already took tomorrow and Thursday off. i possibly may not even go in on Friday - i work for an awesome company and if i need to work from home I can. I just know myself and i will be driving myself crazy sitting at home waiting for the phone call.

My husband is traveling for work Thursday and will be home early Saturday morning. He told me that if they call me on Friday and its bad news, he will leave and come home. He can be so sweet I just wish he weren't going at all!

They told me that I will have my results possibly Friday but for sure on Monday. I have 3 Christmas parties to go to this weekend - hoping I won't cancel on any of them!

Heather

ExpatriateGirl · December 2014

Hi Heather,

I was reading your thread and wanted to wish you good luck and hope for a B9 outcome. What kind of biopsy are you getting? A stereotactic one guided by mammogram? I just had mine today and if that's what your having, I'll tell you not to worry. Mine was over within 2 hours and it was not painful or uncomfortable (just make sure you apply the cream on breast ahead of time if that's recommended for you). It took them about 1h and 20 minutes to take all the pictures and decide on an area for the needle. This is because is because they were looking for a very vague architectural distortion that only had shown up on the cc view on my diagnostic mammogram, but not on the following ultrasound and breast MRI. I could hear the radiologist, the technician and the nurse discuss: Is this the area? Is that? No, doesn't look like it. We have to take more images. Let's try different compressions. I swear they compressed my right breast at least 10 times with different pressure. All the while I was just lying there still, almost falling asleep. Finally the radiologist said to the other two: I think we might be in the right area. What do you think, shall we do the biopsy? In that moment, I thought to myself : Man, this ad sure is like the holy grail and I said out loud 'Yes, let's do the biopsy!' The radiologist then numbed the breast and within 1 minute the biopsy was over and I didn't feel a thing. The nurse applied pressure and an ice-pack to keep the swelling down. Like you, it'll take 3-5 business days to find out. The waiting is the worst for sure, but let's both stay positive and think happy thoughts. Wishing you all the best! Keep us posted on how it goes and good luck tomorrow! Kindly, Di

heather37 · December 2014

Hello - I am having the ultrasound guided core needle biopsy is what it is called. THey said it should take 90 minutes. Didn't give me any creams before, but told me to apply ice for 24 hours afterwards (i am guessing on and off).

Di, i will pray for your b9 results too! Did they give you a % of what benign % it may be?

Mine was a BIRADS 3 that got downgraded to a 4a. Because the first radiologist saw it on mammogram but not on ultrasound (even though the radiologist tried himself for 45 min to find it on ultrasound). He said it was a lymph node that was slightly enlarged and b9. After speaking to my OB friend, he told me to see breast specialist. I did,and she wanted me to re-do the ultrasound at a different facility. I went, and they found it on ultrasound. Said it didn't look like a lymph node. They said it looked 90% benign but they just don't know what it is.

Still wondering if I should be concerned with this 90% benign rate.... seems like good odds...unless you are in that 10%.

ExpatriateGirl · December 2014

Hi!

I believe the ultrasound guided needle biopsy is more 'comfortable' as you'll probably be on your back when they do it. I was on my stomach with my breast hanging out one hole and the mammogram and needle underneath.(Very similar to the breast MRI, although for that one both breasts dangled through a hole.). No one gave me any percentages in any of the discussions I've had. When I met with the breast surgeon after my 6 month follow up diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound (this was about a month ago), she explained the procedures and screenings they do once the find something questionable on any screening tool. So, since my vague ad was found on the mammogram then then do a US. If that doesn't show anything, the recommend a breast MRI. Based on what they find on that one, they recommend a biopsy. Since my MRI and US didn't show anything and only the 3D tomosyntesis mammogram did, the step was the the stereotactic biopsy. If they would have found anything on the US or MRI they would have chosen a biopsy guided by any of those tools.

She also explained that even if the biopsy results are B9, based on what exactly it is she still might have to do an excisional biopsy in the end. Since I live in the state of CT, the law here states that the doctors have to tell you if you have dense breasts.So I know I do and that puts me in the 'higher risk zone'. Insurance also covers annual mammograms and ultrasounds for women. If one has dense breast (which technically is high risk) or is in the high risk official zone (family, genes etc), then most insurance companies will cover at least one MRI and the biopsy. So far they have for me.

My mammogram 6 months ago got a Birad of 0-inconclusive and had a call back mammo a week later. That one got the BIRAD 3 based on the ad. This prompted a follow up in 6 months, which I did on Nov 7. As the vague architectural distortion didn't fully dissipate, I had an US again the same day. Nothing on that one and so the breast MRI on Nov 16. Nothing on that one, but radiologist (same guy I've had for all of the screening) put a BIRAD 4 and thus the biopsy today. Although breast surgeon, radiologist, technician and nurse never gave me any percentages or inklings of what this might be, they did share how important it is to be thorough and that they take screening extremely seriously and that it has to be precise for each patient. In the end only a biopsy can tell if it's malignant or benign. All of them work at a well known breast center in CT, so I feel that I am in very good hands. It is a bit of a surreal experience as I have never in my life had any issues with my breasts (other than them being a bit too big (since I put on weight)). I have no family history of any type of cancer. But all it takes is being a woman. No one is immune.

I will pray for you too and think of you tomorrow. Relax tonight and just enjoy being in the moment. Kindly, Di

calumsmom · March 2018

After a routine mammogram and MRI, I was surprised to get a call a week later asking me to come in for a core biopsy. Of course I was worried. There were three areas of concern that showed up on the MRI (mammogram was clear). Since my last MRI a year ago, one new mass had formed and two more had grown. Knowing the details didn't make me less concerned!! I went in a week later for the core biopsy (procedure didn't hurt much, but I'm still a bit sore a few days later). The radiologist spent ages taking samples; she was very tight lipped throughout the biopsy, but when she left the room, she said "Good luck" and I drove myself crazy trying to analyse what she meant?!?! After the procedure, the nurse told me the radiologist thought one lump looked benign, but as for the rest -- "we'll see". UGH, NOT what I wanted to hear!

Had an appointment with the Rapid Diagnostic clinic two days later. Since the call asking me to come back for the biopsy, I hardly slept for a week; these past two nights since the biopsy have been especially bad. I kept praying and praying and hugged my 8 year old a little tighter than usual every day. Today was diagnosis day. As I sat in the waiting room, my nurse from the biopsy came over and whispered to me "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but it's benign! When you see the doctor, act surprised!" LOL, I told her she was an angel sent by God!! I was certain it was going to be bad news. The official diagnosis is Fibroadenoma. Will need to be followed every six months for the next two years. Biopsy does not equal a cancer diagnosis!!

Egads007 · March 2018

Hi Calumsmom,

I think this is an old thread (2014), but would love to see you post it as a new thread on the "Waiting for Results" board. Such an uplifting story! A story that everyone suffering the hellish anxiety needs to hear. I'm so glad you got fantastic results! Please considering making this a new thread....it's very helpful! Cheers

Biopsy on Wednesday - My story

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