worried this is just a game

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bethanygb1
bethanygb1 Member Posts: 31
edited August 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I was diagnosed with stage 1 BC three years ago at age 49. I am healthy as a horses and have never had any issues at all until this. Had lumpectomy and 26 days of radiation. Very ticked off I had the lymph node removed it hadn't spread. I had the lump for twenty years. But suddenly it was an issue so they biopsied it.

Now three years later after 2 all-clear mammos, on the other side, they found a smooth lump, 1.2 cm. So smooth I can't even feel it.

What are my chances that this tiny, smooth lump is nothing? Doctor said it's less concerning than a rough lump, but wouldn't give me odds. Are my chances higher since I had something cancerous before? My mother is in her 70s and has had 7-8 biopsies over the years, never cancer. We have fibrous breast tissue. My father had a small tumor on his kidney 15 years ago, and the doctors told him it was 95% chance of cancer. They removed the kidney: guess what! No cancer. I have no cancer in my family background but they sure think that we do!

I feel like they are way too cautious and just ready to split anyone open to have surgery with a willing patient. Trying to decide if I decline the biopsy.

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  • Okkate75
    Okkate75 Member Posts: 151
    edited August 2019

    80% of biopsies are benign, and I hope yours will be too! the only way to know, though, is to have the biopsy in the first place. If it turns out to be cancer, would you want to know? If so, go ahead with the biopsy. If not, consider skipping it. Me? I'd want to know for sure, but these are very personal decisions. I'm sorry you have to make them!

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited August 2019

    Maybe you can ask for another type of imaging....U/S or MRI?

    I had a smooth lump several yrs before my BC DX that two Dr's told me they were almost certain it was benign, and it was. But as prior poster said, the only way to know for sure is to biopsy. Personally, I had to get it out bc it was giving too much anxiety without knowing. Best wishes

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  • Karenjon
    Karenjon Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2019

    I have the same feeling. Nine years ago I was told I had aggressive thyroid cancer and needed to have surgery the following week. I decided to have a second opinion at John Hopkins. I figured since I was expected to die anyway I could wait the month it took for the appointment. You can imagine my surprise to find out it was not cancer!! The first radiologist diagnosis was incorrect. I think many times we are overdiagnosed and overtreated

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited August 2019

    bethanygb1

    The odds are low but not zero. Below is one of the reasons they want to biopsy it. They are required to make the recommendation but you are under no obligation to follow any of their recommendations, the decision is yours. Talk to them about alternatives.

    From: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/mucinous-carcinoma-of-the-breast?lang=us

    "Majority of well-marginated breast masses are benign but approximately 10–20% of breast malignancies also could be well-circumscribed such as mucinous tumors; others include papillary, medullary, and metaplastic carcinomas as well as malignant phyllodes tumors. Because of different patterns of mammogram and ultrasound, both should be performed in all cases of MCB and in some equivocal cases breast MRI is of great value."

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