Here we go again?

etnasgrl · October 2018

I was first diagnosed in 2015, at age 41, with IDC, Stage 1, ER+/PR+/Her2-, no lymph node involvement. Had lumpectomy, followed by radiation and now Tamoxifen. I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 3 years.
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42. It began as Stage 1, then several years later, metastasized to Stage 4. She passed away from metastatic breast cancer at 56.
The first two years after treatment, I had mammograms and ultrasounds every six months. They all came back clear. My oncologist wanted me to have breast MRI's as well, as part of my follow up, (mammogram, then 6 months later, an MRI, then six months later, a mammogram, etc.), due to my personal breast cancer history and also my mother's, however my insurance denied it. I did test negative for BRCA. I was tested when first diagnosed.

Once I completed 2 years of every six months mammograms/ultrasounds, which was last October, I "graduated" to yearly mammograms, followed by ultrasound, if needed. Yesterday, was my first mammogram since last October. It was a diagnostic 3D. After finishing, I was sent to the waiting room to wait for my results. (At my breast center, if you are a breast cancer survivor, you will receive your results on the same day, which I love!), After several minutes, I was called back for more imaging. Finally, I was brought to a consult room and met with the radiologist. She explained that some calcifications were seen on my non cancer breast. She stated that she believed them to be "probable benign" due to their shape and their locations within the breast. She said that she was not too concerned about them, but wanted to make me aware of them, given my history of breast cancer. She did not recommend a biopsy, but instead suggested going back to every six month mammograms, to monitor the calcifications. She gave me a BIRADS of 3 for this mammogram.

I meet with my oncologist on November 7th for my routine follow-up visit. I will be discussing this with her. I absolutely LOVE my oncologist and trust her 100%. I personally, want a biopsy and I want it now! I will let her know my feelings, but I'm also curious to see if she agrees with the radiologist. If she does, I'll have to take that into account and make a decision.
What do y'all think? Should I request a biopsy or should I do the watch game of mammograms every 6 months? I know that my desire to biopsy is out of fear and I honestly don't want to do anything out of fear. I want to make my decisions with a level and calm head. Advice would be great! Smile

etnasgrl · October 2018

Anyone?? Scared

carmstr835 · October 2018

My sister had a biopsy done for calcifications and did not give any conclusive answer. She however was NOT previously diagnosed with breast cancer. The breast surgeon suggested to wait rather than a lumpectomy. My sister died 6 months later of something else so we wont know what would have come from it.

etnasgrl · October 2018

I'm so sorry for your loss.

carmstr835 · October 2018

Thanks, Etnasgrl, I miss her. She was my best friend.

CaliKelly · October 2018

ANYTIME, my Dr. says ,well we can monitor that, or do, ultrasound, xray, whatever, i say I'm for the testing! I like to know what something is , not monitor it! What if I'm waiting for a ticking time bomb to go off!? Thinking-" oh it's nothing" is what got me in this predicament, Stage 3.Im becoming great friends with all the people at ultrasound, mammo center! They love my homemade baked goods😉

KBeee · October 2018

You could request an MRI which would be more conclusive. Otherwise, 6 months sounds reasonable for something they feel is probably benign. Did they do the ultrasound too?

I know they tested you for BRCA, but did they do the full panel and test fro CHEK2, and 20+ other mutations they can now test for?

Polly413 · October 2018

In the same boat but feel differently from you. Was diagnosed in May of 2017 with Stage IIA IDC. Had chemo and am on Femara. Had first post surgery mammo in May of this year. Radiologist found something that concerned him and recommended biopsy. After talking with him, my BS told me she thought it was simply scar tissue moved to a new place from the lumpectomy and I could have the biopsy or wait 6 months. I chose to wait and I had the 6 mo mammo followup this morning and there was no change -- verifying my BS's opinion. (My cancer center gives same day results and my BS is on the same floor and sees me immediately after mammos). Unfortunately the radiologist today found a new concern that shows as a very small area of calcifications. Again he wants a biopsy. My BS discussed it with him and told me that this was his recommendation. I asked her what she thought the odds were it was benign and she said 80 to 90% benign. Again I have the choice of a biopsy or wait 6 mos. I am going to wait again. I believe these 3D mammos are so precise they find all kinds of false positives and radiologists naturally are very cautious and don't want to take any chances at all. But it still remains a personal decision for the patient and while I can well understand wanting to know right now, I am comfortable and my BS is comfortable with my waiting 6 months. Good luck. Polly

etnasgrl · October 2018

Kbee…..According to the radiologist, (and my own research), MRI's do not pick up calcifications, so getting one would be pointless.
Yes, they did an ultrasound also, but again, an ultrasound does not pick up calcifications. Well, it does, but it makes them blurry, which is of no help. Mammograms are the way to go when looking at calcifications.
And yes, I was tested for the entire genetic panel and not just BRCA. All of it came back negative.

KBeee · October 2018

A good conversation with MO should help you decide. Hoping all comes back be

indahood · November 2018

Glad I found this post. I just had my 1st mammogram after treatment and it was difficult. Normally, I'm the kind of person who does not panic but today was really different. As per the OC's recommendation, I had the Mammogram followed by a ultrasound. I thought that the whole shebang should take 30 minutes or less but it took 2 hours. After the mammogram, while waiting for results, a nurse came in to ask me if I'd ever had any breast surgery other than my lumpectomy. I hadn't. Then in the ultrasound, the technician kept going back over the same spot and taking a lot of pictures. My stress was raising. Then the Doctor came in and they started discussing what it was they saw with each other while leaving words out. I think the technician saw something, showed the picture to the Dr. who wanted to see it but couldn't find what the technician clearly could. Stressful right? then the ultrasound machine froze while they were trying to bring up the still image they had taken to compare. Argh and because of this they had to keep me for longer while they rebooted. The doctor said how long until the machine would be back up, she needed to know as she had biopsy waiting. (she didn't bother to tell me that it wasn't for me) Finally she came back in (after doing the biopsy on another person, thank goodness) and looked quickly and said she thought it was a shadow from a tendon and that probably nothing, and wrote me a req. to come back in 6 months.

I have to say, I don't feel assured at all. The tech, kept trying to show her and I think more than anything the doctor was rushed. Anyone else want to share their experience with a recurrence and the mammogram appointment? Does it sound like they were they just being extra cautious because I'm a survivor? Kinda scared.

I'm with ednersgrl on this one, I just wanna know. If there's any doubt I know it's just going to weigh on me for the next 6 months.

Sometimes I wish I'd just gone ahead with the mastectomy instead. It was an option, but I chose the less invasive route.

indahood

KBeee · November 2018

Ask for a copy of the report. You could also talk to BS and possibly ask for MRI; especially if breasts are dense

Here we go again?

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