Biopsy yesterday
hi all, im new here. ive been lurking for a couple weeks, of course looking for answers and someone like me. im going to start my story and will probably be long so here goes....
on january 31st i had an itch on my right boob and felt something that didnt seem right. upon further inspection i noticed a marble sized hard lump. of course i start googling. for the past several months ive noticed an "indent" on the left side of my right breast. actually might have noticed it around the summer time. i remember thinking my bathing suit is making my boob weird. and my boobs are big so squeezing them into these bathing suits probably didnt help. so jump back to early february. i see my doc the next day who seemed concerned. now im 44 about to be 45 in a few weeks. there is no breast cancer in my family, breast fed both my children (who are now 16 and 11) and never had a mammogram. there was no reason for me to get one besides the fact that im getting old. so i knew that this year id have to get one anyway. a week later i had the mammo and ultrasound. afterwards the radiologist came in and told me i have to get a biopsy. i asked him if it was a cyst. he said its not a cyst, its suspicious and theres a 75% chance that its cancer.
heres what the results say:
bilateral mammogram:
at the site palpable abnormality near the 2:00 position there is a 1.5 cm density with ill-defined borders. no pleomorphic calcifications or skin thickening seen. no appreciable adenopathy in the axilla. there is no mammographic evidence of malignancy in the left breast.
targeted right breast ultrasound:
at the 2:00 position approximately 10cm from the nipple there is a 1.5cm hypoechoic solid mass with irregular borders and internal flow, the mass is taller than wide. no lymph nodes seen in the axilla.
findings worrisome for breast malignancy. bi-rads 4
then theres more stuff about the state law and breast density and blah blah blah.
so of course trying to get a biopsy was like finding a needle in a haystack. because there was no breast specialist in the hospital i got the mammo. i work for a hospital thats about 30 mins away. ok i should have just gone there to begin with, but the other hospital is literally 2 blocks from my home so i just walked to my appointment. but i digress....
i waited an agonizing 3 weeks to get the biopsy done. actually the appointment wasnt until tomorrow but on monday they called me and told me they had a cancellation and can put me in. i went in yesterday for the core biopsy. its is a very strange sensation having a needle and catheter stuck into the boob. while the ultrasound tech was doing her initial exam and "inspection" she went to my right armpit and began focusing in that area. i kept thinking what the heck?? the other girl didnt spend time over here! i told her i put deodorant on because i didnt know she was going to be doing an ultrasound there. she told me she always inspects the entire area for just in case. so of course now im "smelling" my nerves and it made me even more nervous of being judged!!!
radiologist comes in and tells me they will be doing TWO biopsies. i said wait what why? she told me there is something in the lymph node. i asked her what is it? she tells me it looks abnormal. so rather than me coming back again she'll just do both right now. well great, now theres something else to worry about. my doc, general surgeon (another long story) and the gyno all examined under the arm pit and all found no lumps or swelling. so this is pretty surprising.
i called out of work for last night, since dealing with people and their drama is just out of the question at the moment. im glad i did because man does my right side hurt!!!
so now the wait......thank you for letting me vent. they said the results could take about 3 business days. the pathology lab is across from the office where i work....think i should knock on the door and ask them about my results?????
Comments
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I can feel your stress and can only encourage you to try to distract yourself while you await results. This whole process is really scary. Can I offer you one piece of comfort? Bi-rads code 4 usually means 30% chance of malignancy. Bi-rads 5 is 75% chance of malignancy.
I'm 39 - almost 40. I was dx'd at 37 out of the blue. Zero family history. My OB-Gyn found a lump, which led to a mammogram with Bi-Rads code 5 and an ultrasound with Bi-Rads Code 5. And then a biopsy that confirmed Stage 2, grade 3 IDC.
It was shocking and jarring. I've gone through a lot of treatment. It's been a road but it's been manageable. I am well and strong and living life.
Well - except for the issue of an ultrasound this morning that just came back bi-rads 4. I need a biopsy to rule out a re-occurrence. So I understand your stress first-hand and several times over.
This site is a fantastic resource. Regardless of outcome of your test results, you've come to the right place.
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im so sorry youve gone through this! i figured birads 4 is a general number given when they really dont know what theyre looking at. i am trying to keep busy. i love plants and work on them almost everyday which keeps me occupied. my daughters keep me busy and so does work. ive worked several overtime shifts to keep my mind occupied. i know these next few days are going to be torture. i dont usually call out of work unless i really really have to. but as an emt/dispatcher i couldnt be much help in my state of mind yesterday. im not as nervous as i was yesterday and thankfully i was able to sleep last night.
also what does idc mean? sorry, im so new to this world.
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This forum doesn't seem too busy... But I'll post here then move on to the next section. Received a cancer diagnosis this morning. They said invasive ductal carcinoma. They don't know much else yet since they are waiting for the rest of the results. Good luck to everyone.
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Sorry no one wrote back to you yesterday! Also sorry for your diagnosis. Let us know if you have any questions...it's very overwhelming at first, but you do get through it somehow.
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Had my diagnostic mammogram last week, confirming suspicious microcalcifications, now having Stereotactic biopsy this Wednesday on the Microcalcifications, its all so worrisome but yet I try to stay positive on a good outcome, I love this site it has helped me learn so much about the process...… I pray for great health and healings to all of you.
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Thank you You too! Sending you good vibes for a good biopsy result!
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Im sorry to hear about your diagnosis. The good thing is that you have somewhat of an answer and can begin treating it. There seems to be so much support on this forum for all of us. We're here for you. My biopsy is this Thursday. I was also told I'm a birad 4. Wish me luck.
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Good luck Lynn! My docs appointment is same day. Hugs to you! Waiting for biopsy result is so so stressful.
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Good luck Lynn! My docs appointment is Thursday as well. My sister's address coming with me. Hugs to you. Waiting on biopsy results are so stressful!
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