ADH-Excisional Biopsy Required-Scared!

No implants here, my experience with the lumpectomy was a breeze, I just rested for a couple of days and avoided lifting heavy stuff for a month, I had no pain the next day after they removed the tiny plastic tube from the excision spot, they anyway prescribe ibuprofen, antibiotics and serepeptase. The only hard part was the waiting on the results which came back benign after 9 days, my breast has since become unnoticeably bit smaller than the unaffected one and I had my first follow up ultrasound 4 months later, now hopefully back to the regular annual tests. Best of luck and bundles of benign wishes, Jo

Thank you so much for your wishes, this whole experience has been very enlightening to me and urged me to adopt a healthier lifestyle as I realized that breast issues may arise from unhealthy habits and choices.  Moreover, I feel much stronger now and possess a greater joy of life and even if I have to face a similar cancer scare at some point in the future I am now "educated" and mentally equipped to cope with it in a less chaotic and distressed state of mind.  

Jo--I just posted on your thread.

Theresa--yikes. Complicated question. (And first of all--wire placement is no biggie, although I don't remember having one for the excisional biopsy. Did have them for subsequent surgeries, though.) As I told Jo, I really don't remember anyone telling me the ALH increased my risk of breast cancer. I did regular mammos for several years but got a bit lax about it. I was 18 months late when I got the one that led to the DCIS dx in 2016, although that was in the other breast. I told Jo I don't think getting the mammo on time would have changed the dx, but I do think the area would have been smaller. The IDC dx last year was in the same breast as the ALH but had different tumor features from the DCIS so was considered a new primary.

And if this makes you both feel better, when I got the DCIS dx in 2016, I'd honestly forgotten about the ALH--it was such a tiny blip. My big advice is KEEP UP WITH YOUR REGULAR MAMMOS. Odds are still in your favor for nothing else popping up but it's important to stay on top of it.

TheresaNJ08, JoTheGreek does not have ATYPICAL hyperplasia, she has usual hyperplasia, which is at most a minimal risk, and if the cells do not appear abnormal, not a risk.

lol No hun! I'm doing my research online for months now, I'm aware of the elevated risk atypia or not, and the silver lining of my summer hell of a month is exactly this, that I'm now very vigilant and alert.  I made drastic changes in my lifestyle (my bad habits and choices of the past most probably contributed to the formation of my breast mass as I used to be a heavy drinker and smoker, plus I gained excessive weight post menopause...) and now I feel so much better and wiser than I was before my surgery.  There's no way to prevent a future occurrence, benign or malignant, but at least now I do not add risk factors for bc.  Already lost 45 lb in less than a year (still 15 more to go if I am to return to my pre menopausal weight though...), quit alcohol altogether, quit smoking but still vaping and I'm more active physically.  And please take it from me, lumpectomy via hook localization is a pretty easy and painless routine procedure, don't be anxious about it, in a few weeks you'll just have it put behind you!