Going to BS for second opinion of lump in breast

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Stephanie49
Stephanie49 Member Posts: 13
edited April 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi everyone,

I am going to a BS for a second opinion for a lump in my right breast this week. I had both ultrasound and mammogram a couple of weeks ago and neither showed the lump. My OB recommended I get a second opinion. In addition to the original lump I have a lump under my right arm that was noted on ultrasound as "benign appearing lymph node. Finally last week during my annual visit my OB suggested I get another lump at the outer edge of my nipple looked at as well(this was not looked at during US and nothing noted on mammo about it). She also suggested if possible the bs should remove the original lump and have it biopsied. I am pretty sure when I went in for my mammo and us I pinpointed the area wrong due to nerves. It was near it but not spot on. I marked the lump so it doesn't happen again as I expect my nerves to flare up again come Wednesday.

I'm not sure if I should request an MRI? Another US? I am seeing a general surgeon that specializes in breast cancer and breast surgery. Does the wording "benign appearing" lymph node sound too vague or is that the normal verbage for us results? The size was noted at 19mm diameter with 1-2mm thickness. Mammogram noted "mild patchy parenchymal changes noted in upper outer quadrants of breasts bilaterally but appear stable". I am not sure what that means either. Then this is noted "in some areas there appears as though there potentially could be a capsule and an underlying lipoma that cannot be excluded". To me this seems like a useless statement as it doesn't contain any clarification. Anyone have any opinions?

Thank you to all of you for offering your opinions, experiences and insights. I do appreciate it. I am not expecting to find out I have cancer but I do want to ensure I cover all of my bases and leave nothing to chance. As I read through many of your experiences it does seem like there were quite a few cases of bc that went undiagnosed for a while due to various circumstances. So I want to be thorough and hopefully close this chapter of my life and move on.

I should mention I am 49, no fam hx of bc, first time dealing w a lump. I also have sub-muscle breast implants

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  • greetings1
    greetings1 Member Posts: 12
    edited April 2018

    when you got your ultrasound most likely it didn't matter that you didn't pinpoint the exact area, being close should be fine.

    I hope if you need a biopsy that your results are benign.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited April 2018

    You are going to a specialist. You don't need to decide what tests you want. That is what the specialist is for

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  • Recap
    Recap Member Posts: 120
    edited April 2018


    Just my opinion. My Gyn (after the mammo, diag mammo, + ultrasound) encouraged MRI right off the bat bless her and she would have ordered it for me right then and there. But I went and did the breast surgeon consult first, who said no to prophylactic mastectomy, no to excisional biopsy/lumpectomy, and no to MRI. At that point the Gyn is not going to still order the MRI-strong hierarchy in the medical world.

    So I proceeded with the mammo-guided core biopsy because I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I still want the prophylactic mastectomy-my breasts (and all other lady parts) to me are just another appendage and not worth dieing (and being bankrupted) over.

    After the biopsy, the genetic testing came back, and between that and other factors, I met the new guidelines of MRI once a year (plus repeat diag mammo in 6mos.) The breast surgeon then ordered my MRI.

    So I had the MRI 2mos after the biopsy. I think I would have been better off with a baseline MRI done before any intervention into my breast. I strongly believe in a thorough ultrasound done thoroughly and competently as the very important first step, and a baseline MRI done before scar tissue, blood collection, disappeared markers, etc clouds the picture.

    ps I had mammo, diag mammo, ultrasound, mammo-guided biopsy, and mri ordered by radiologists, and a breast surgeon. 5 orders in all-yet my list of cancelled revised forgotten or lost orders is over double that number. I can't emphasize enough keeping track of your orders, records, images, and everyone should understand how much of healthcare is now computerized, and while the computer programs are fantastic, the people who customize them, utilize them, drive by them, are overwhelmed by the sheer volume, and the training/experience/intelligence/time needed. Be the squeaky wheel when dealing with your healthcare.

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