Biopsy didn't happen, couldn't find spot!

Options
ScarletandCooper
ScarletandCooper Member Posts: 12
edited December 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

So, I was scheduled today for a stereotactic biopsy on what was labeled Bi-Rads 4. Back story:

After 4 years of clean mammograms (I'm 49), this year's in November garnered me a call back. It was my first 3-D, so I wasn't super worried, as I've read they get lots of call backs with first time 3-D's. I go in for more images, get yet another call back for an ultrasound. Now I'm scared. Ultrasound and yet another mammogram win me an appointment for a biopsy. What I'd been told was "architectural distortion, Bi-Rads 4". No history in my family, breast or other. Panic mode. Huge panic mode.

Wait two weeks, go in for stereotactic biopsy today. I'm on the table, pinned by my boob thru a hole and the radiologist comes in and asks for more images, they can't see the spot in question. Images. More images. Move from table to standing machine. Upright, sideways, back on the table. Long story short, 22 images later, they only see the spot in one, and she can't say for sure what it is. A convergence of veins, bruise, can't tell for sure, but doesn't want to try a biopsy on something she can't pin down.

Her feeling is that cancer doesn't go away. If she sees it in on one image, it should be there in the others. If I had had the old mammogram, 2-D, I wouldn't even be there, since she says nothing showed up on the ultrasound, either. However, the one image that she could see it in showed what she thought was mild spiculation, which is what I thought meant cancer, no matter what.

Her opinion is that I should speak to one of their breast surgeons to get a second opinion. Let her take a look at the one image, decide if she thinks if it's worth going in after, or wait 6 months and see if anything has changed. She mentioned I could talk to the surgeon about asking for an MRI as well, since they're so much better, but let me know that insurance rarely covers it without a battle.

So one sore, twisted, battered boob later, I'm not sure exactly where I stand. Did they look at the films and shake their heads and look pityingly at me? No. But they didn't tell me I'm in the clear and there's no problems, either. So I'll wait for the appt. with the surgeon and see what her thoughts are. What are your thoughts on waiting the 6 months? If you had an MRI, was it an insurance nightmare? How much did you have to pay for it, if you did?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Jtjjc5
    Jtjjc5 Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2018

    I might feel relieved; yet, I would want to know for sure. I would see what the surgeon suggests.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • carmstr835
    carmstr835 Member Posts: 388
    edited November 2018

    I would ask for an MRI.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Spoonie77
    Spoonie77 Member Posts: 925
    edited November 2018

    Wow, what an ordeal you went through! Ugggh. No clear resolution either. Double Ugggh.

    If it were me, I would probably see the surgeon and ask for the MRI to be sure. Otherwise my peace of mind would be shot!

    Hang in there and keep us posted.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited November 2018

    Sorry to hear you went through such a nightmare. I would request an MRI. The surgeons know how to justify the need for an MRI to insurance. I wouldn't wait and come back in 6 months unless they can determine it's benign or nothing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ScarletandCooper
    ScarletandCooper Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2018

    That's my thinking as well, why wait and make myself insane as well as risk health for 6 months??

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KLH88
    KLH88 Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2018

    Why do they get a lot of call backs with first time 3Ds? My first 3D showed AD and focal asymmetry. I'm now curious. Hope you get some definitive answers soon.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ScarletandCooper
    ScarletandCooper Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2018

    I've been told that since they're so much more, like crazy more sensitive, they pick up everything from a bruise to a dust particle sized piece of calcification. So when you do the 3D for the first time, even if you've had a dozen old mammograms, what they're seeing is all new and they use it as your new baseline. This distortion of mine didn't show up on ultrasound last week, either, but 3D can see it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wonderwoman101
    wonderwoman101 Member Posts: 55
    edited December 2018

    ScarlettandCooper,

    You poor thing! I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience during your potential biopsy. I recently had something similar where the Ultrasound tech made it seem like she couldn't believe they were going to do a biopsy on that spot and the radiologist basically said the same thing. But they still did it and sure did cost me a ton (bye bye Christmas money!)

    Anyway, if you meet with a Breast Surgeon they can review the imaging, including the first 3D mammo and decide how to proceed. From what I understand if your risk for BC is 20% or higher insurance should authorize an MRI. That being said, depending on insurance it may still cost you between $500-1500 and is sometimes cheaper to pay out of pocket.

    Again I'm sorry you're dealing with this and I hope you are able to have peace of mind soon.

    xo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BEEPOSITIVE18
    BEEPOSITIVE18 Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2018

    Howdy SacrletandCooper

    Like others I feel that requesting a MRI would serve you best. I have a neighbor who was turned away because radiologist didn't want to perform a biopsy only to find out 6 months later the area had grown in size causing her to have two lumpectomies and then a double mastectomy. She has been cancer free now for 4 years but it was a lot for her to go through when she could have had one surgery and not three. Hang in there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • greenie
    greenie Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2018

    I had a similar experience, or rather am in the midst of a similar experience, Last spring, they found two new groupings of calcifications on my mammogram. Birads 4. Sent for core biopsy and they couldn't find the outer (up towards my armpit) grouping on more than one image, which meant they couldn't visualize it in 3d. So they biopsied the one they could get to and found ADH and LCIS. Sent me for an open biopsy/ lumpectomy and again could only visualize the one inner set so didn't biopsy the armpit set. The surgeon even suggested that the armpit grouping might just be a "phantom" image. Went for my 6 mo mammogram follow up in november and they clearly saw that grouping again, along with a few calcifications near the site of the open biopsy (either surgeon missed a few or they are new spots).

    So NOW I'm finally getting sent for an MRI to figure it all out. This year has been an emotional rollercoaster of worry. Do yourself a favor ---ask for an MRI right now and figure out what's going on. Don't waste time on this. Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories