Waiting for MRI biopsy

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Salamandra
Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
edited January 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I had my regular screen mammogram on Saturday and today my nurse practitioner called that they saw a 6mm spot on my right breast (same breast as before) and they want to do an MRI biopsy. This was my second annual MRI after my initial surgery. Last year's MRI was totally clear.

The biopsy is scheduled for a week from today.

I didn't know any questions to even ask the NP. I didn't think to ask whether an MRI find would have a birads score. I know that MRIs have a lot of false positives and I also know that the reason I'm getting MRI screening in addition to mammography is precisely to find something small like this before it gets large. But oh this is so trying!

I would love any insight or words of encouragement. I'm trying to tell myself back all the same things I've told others but that never works quite as well from the inside!

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited January 2021

    Salamandra of course you're feeling worry!! Any reasonable person would while it seems quite unclear exactly what that 6 mm spot is.... I'm glad your biopsy is just a week out though I'm sure it feels like forever and a day... It likely helps and doesn't that you've been through such waiting before - just thinking you will have some ideas about what helps and what doesn't during the waiting. I'm not one who really comments on medical aspects though if there are any other specifics you'd like others to comment on consider any other specifics you'd be comfortable posting. Validation and support may be most important now though....

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  • kathabus
    kathabus Member Posts: 205
    edited January 2021

    MRIs do show many benign things and false positives. Put that in your self talk! I had a benign finding with an MRI biopsy, a papilloma, with an MRI after my diagnosis. It is very scary, but odds are in your favor. And 6mm isn't even a quarter inch....so no matter what this is, it is teeny tiny. Hoping for good news with this. Keep us posted! PS Do you push for an MRI every year? I was told mammogram only here on out with stage IB. It's hard to know what to trust and what to push for.....

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2021

    Sal, both the mammo and the MRI should have a birads score. It is true that they can yield some false positives. I have not had a normal one yet. I too was set up with alternating mammo/MRI the 1st year, and then MRI annually due to risk. I went from a birads 3 to a 4 in 6 months, had a biopsy last year and have fat necrosis. Abnormal mammo last Sept, back to a birads 3, and scheduled for the annual MRI this week. I know it's in there, I know it's not cancer, but it's a little stressful none the less. Anxious to see what this report will say. Hopefully resolving.

    Best wishes for a benign biopsy. Let us know how it goes.

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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited January 2021

    Livinlife, Thank you so much for the supportive words! I think that is what I need.

    kathabus, so great to hear about your false positive experience. That is encouraging! I did push for an annual MRI - based on my age and family history my oncologist agreed. I guess if this is something bad, it will be good to have caught it now, and if it's not, it's good news and I need to remind myself that the risk of more biopsies is what I took on when I kept my breasts and asked for MRIs!

    ctmbsikia, I'm waiting for the report to appear on my portal. I guess I could call back and ask for the birads number but I think part of me doesn't necessarily want to know. It either is or isn't something, and if it is, well, I know the drill now of the waiting for test results. Thank you for sharing your story and good luck with the MRI this week!

    ---

    I was a bit calmer today than yesterday. I really really appreciate all your support and kind words! My mind keeps doing fast forward picturing different scenarios (mostly bad!) and I keep trying to reign it in and slow it down. On the other hand, I suppose at least it's distracting me from politics!

    I'm so grateful for these boards.

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited January 2021

    I get an ultrasound sometimes with my mammogram and I had a suspicious mark two years out. I had a biopsy and it was just scar tissue from the cancer surgery. It wasn't on the previous scan so they did the biopsy, but are at a loss as to why it didn't show previously. Mistake by the tech?

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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited January 2021

    Thank you so much to you all for your kindness and support. I just got word that the result is benign. I am profoundly grateful. The surgeon said it was likely scar tissue that lit up the MRI, and the biopsy just saw some radiation-related damage. They are having me follow up in a year but he's not concerned.

    I'm still processing the relief!

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited January 2021

    That is wonderful news! Thanks for sharing! Big exhale.....

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2021

    Great news!!!

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited January 2021

    wonderful news!! Such a relief!

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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited January 2021

    Salamandra wonderful, wonderful news!!! yay!!

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