Well, that didn't turn out as I'd planned...

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arizonaboundgal
arizonaboundgal Member Posts: 88
edited June 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hey everyone. I had a screening mammo done in early May and was quickly called back for a diagnostic. Diagnostic showed indeterminate calcifications in upper inner quadrant and radiologist suggested either a 2 month follow up or a biopsy. I quickly chose the biopsy, but after some thought and reading about overdiagnosis and overtreatment, decided that a 2 month wait would be probably be fine. But me being me...a hardcore hypochondriac since I was a kid....decided that this might not be my best course of action due to extreme anxiety so I made an appointment with my PCP to discuss. I told her that I wanted to get an MRI, figuring that if it showed nothing, I might be able to completely opt out of the biopsy. Of course, she disagreed on the opting out part, but was fine with doing the MRI for 'peace of mind'. HA! The breast center called me the day after my MRI and told me that they'd found two different areas of concern; an indeterminate non mass in upper outer breast and a tiny (4mm) nodule in the same general area. Long story short: I now need 3 biopsies. I have a stereotactic scheduled for July 9th for the calcifications and an MRI guided bio the next day for the non mass and focus. Like many others who are posting here, I'm going bonkers with all this waiting. I can't say I'm usually a cool and collected person, but I've been surprised by my roller coaster of feelings. One second, I'm feeling confident and okay with it all and the next, I'm almost nauseous with worry. It's going to be a long two weeks! I'm trying hard to not obsess, but it's not going so well. ;) Has anyone else needed 3 biopsies? I'm a 59 year old woman with extremely dense breasts and a sis who was diagnosed with BC at 50.

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  • ColoradoJT
    ColoradoJT Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2019

    I had an MRI after finding microcalcs and almost needed two when they found a focus in the other breast. I choose to wait. I did end up getting a biopsy for the microcalcs and, although I have a list of things that the found, none of it was cancer. My breast surgeon (I was referred after the strange finding in the MRI) was better able to look at things like my age and how this was presenting and was okay waiting after the first round. Had I seen her again, she might have waited again,but I wanted to get the biopsy and get it over with. I have read research that using an MRI leads to more biopsies because they are highly sensitive, but not specific.

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  • DiagnosisDisruption
    DiagnosisDisruption Member Posts: 108
    edited June 2019

    After my initial diagnosis for IDC, they sent me for an MRI. It found 2 suspicious masses in addition to the one we all knew was there. After an ultrasound (with no fine needle biopsy) and a painful MRI biopsy, turned out to be nothing. I was so mad. I get my yearly mammogram, but when I was told to schedule my yearly MRI, I opted out because of so many false positives. My oncologist was okay with this. I know I may be playing with fire, but the stress of the MRI false positives was too much.

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  • arizonaboundgal
    arizonaboundgal Member Posts: 88
    edited June 2019

    Thanks for answering, Colorado and DiagnosisD! Much appreciated and hoping that both of you are doing well and staying healthy and happy. DD, yes, it's such a head game that I totally understand you opting out of the MRI's. The stress is just awful and it certainly isn't healthy to be living this way!

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