how were you diagnosed...if you feel comfy sharing?

Biopsy confirmed my ultrasound findings. MRI pretty much showed the truth(confirmation via pathology after mx) accept the MRI showed a suspicious area that turned out to be normal but the 2 1cm tumors were true to MRI findings.

MRIs are more sensitive and pick up more true positives than other forms of imaging. But they also pick up a lot more false positives than other forms of imaging. At least, that's my understanding.

I did not have my MRI until after my biopsy proved malignancy. I'm wondering how you got to the MRI without it? Were the radiologists on the mammo/US not able to pick up a lump found by you or your doc?

(My doctor found a lump on a manual breast exam and sent me for mammogram, which sent me for us. Those came back Birads 5 and I had a biopsy the next week, which confirmed cancer).

moth, you are right they did offer to do a biopsy on my suspicious area but my surgeon had already recommended a mastectomy because of the 2 tumors one being ilc and he thought the tumors were connected. After the mastectomy pathology was done I could have had lumpectomies afterall. But I wouldn't have had that detailed info if I went the lumpectomy route. Well I did save my self radiation and diep fixed the damage. I hate that we can't get rid of cancer without drastic measures. I wish that I would live to see a day when surgery, chemotherapy and radiation were no longer needed to get rid of it.

I finally went for a mammogram after about six years of procrastinating. My PCP encouraged me, but although she had done a manual exam, apparently she didn't feel anything. The mammogram a few days later picked it up, confirmed by an a ultrasound and biopsy about a week later. I also had an MRI, and a CT scan, which was not specifically for the breast cancer, but gave another confirmation of it. It was about six weeks from mammogram to surgery, but my surgeon was out of town for a week during that time.

https://appliedradiology.com/articles/cysts-with-masses-and-masses-with-cysts-an-imaging-review-of-cystic-breast-masses

The above study might help explain “masses” and “complex cysts”....The bottom line is that complex cysts need to be biopsied.

My mucinous bc was missed for three years on mammography and seen on sonogram, but mistaken as a simple cyst.. The fourth year, the gyno felt it and said, let’s get this “worked up.” The “mass” was FINALLY identified as a “complex cyst” on sonogram and was biopsied which confirmed a mucinous bc tumor.

My mammo did not show anything because of dense breast tissue; ultrasound picked up something and was BIRADS 4A; biopsy showed IDC. There was no lump and the BS could not feel anything.

I wanted to have a breast reduction and needed a recent mammogram for the plastic surgeon

My primary care physician ordered the mammogram - BIRADS 3.

Back for a compression mammogram - BIRADS 3.

Back for an ultrasound - nothing.

She said, you need to have a biopsy and off I went to a surgeon that suggested an excisional biopsy of any areas that raised questions.

II had three lumps of tissue removed. It was in one of those lumps that a tiny, highly aggressive tumor was found.

I had bilateral mastectomies and thus overachieved on my breat reduction.

I had a flipped implant due to excessive pull ups at the gym. Had to have a mammo prior to the plastic surgeon re-flipping it back into position. It is that mammo that noticed the calcifications.

Sassa, this cracked me up:

I had bilateral mastectomies and thus overachieved on my breast reduction.

In a similar way, my husband calls me an overachiever b/c I've got two cancers

This year I opted for a 3D mammogram because the FDA had just announced they'd changed their recommendations for women with dense breast tissue--they now recommend 3D mammos. So I paid the extra $, and the radiologist said hey we need another look. Nothing showed on the diagnostic mammogram, but she said well you're here so let's do an ultrasound to be sure. Something showed up, barely, and she recommended an ultrasound guided biopsy. That came back as invasive ductal cancer. I had a lumpectomy & sentinel node surgery on May 6.

Start to finish on this timeline was insanely fast (which I appreciated): mammo on March 29, surgery on May 6. I see my RO this week.

Partner noticed "Nipple dimpling" coming out of the shower.  Next my dog jumped up and had the worst breast pain I've ever felt.  Felt like a softball sized firm round hard lump.  Called next day to get in to gyno.  He saw me a few days later. I had skipped the annual mammogram had one the year before. He performed a breast exam and recommended I go in for a mammogram, patted me on the shoulder and said "good luck" right there and then I knew.   Mammo was done radiologist asked to wait around and there were additional films taken.  Sent out for biopsy which confirmed 7cm mass.

I knew I had cancer the instant my fingers touched my breast lump. Sitting on my shower bench, a breast in each hand, I felt a lump on the left that wasn't on the right. I'd survived bone cancer as a teen 19 years before, osteosarcoma in my left leg, so the possibility of cancer coming back was never far from my thoughts.. Been there, done that, now I had to do it again. I called my primary the next day, they pulled some strings because of my cancer history, and got me right in to see the breast surgeon. You know the drill: mammogram, biopsy, diagnosis (multifocal DCIS), then off came the boob. There has to be a better way than this. Wish you the best, aseal321

aseal321,

You have posted a question asking women how they were diagnosed. As a result, you are hearing only from women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer, and you are getting lots of answers that are scaring you as you try to equate your situation with what happened to others.

What you have not asked is how many women have had imaging results like yours and have ended up with benign findings on their biopsies. You won't find those women here because you have asked your question in the "Diagnosed" forum, so only women diagnosed with breast cancer are reading and posting here. You also are unlikely to find many of those women anywhere on this site because most women with benign results aren't hanging around a breast cancer discussion board.

What you have to remember is every situation is different, and most women who have biopsies are not diagnosed with breast cancer - most biopsies are benign. If I understand correctly, it appears that you have a number of complex cysts, along with some other concerning symptoms. This certainly presents a risk of breast cancer and warrants a biopsy. The best and most relevant advice on your specific situation has already come from djmammo, who is a breast Radiologist and who has answered some of your questions in the "Not Diagnosed" forum.

Good luck with the biopsy. Hoping for benign results!