Why additional images/ultrasound vs. biopsy?

Thank you. I’m stunned to be back in this situation again. My 2017 DCIS doesn’t show up in my profile but I’ve been down this road twice before. Luckily I was able to get the follow up appointments booked for tomorrow morning. The women on these boards are so brave, it helps me to not fall apart.

I haven’t seen the imaging report yet as mammogram was just yesterday. I go back tomorrow for diagnostic and ultrasound. Everything you said makes perfect sense —I’m not being rational right now I know.

You have been my hero since I started reading these boards in 2017! So, if you have a minute, would love to get your thoughts.

2017 diagnosed with grade 3 DCIS. It was ER/PR+. Had lumpectomy and lab results showed no DCIS in excision—surgeon said it was all removed at biopsy. I was advised that radiation was optional and I decided to get radiation as extra precaution. I did opt out of hormone therapy.

2020 (it wasn’t 2019 and I have to fix my profile) diagnosed same breast with grade 3 DCIS that turned out to be triple negative. Mastectomy was recommended which I did have last April with no reconstruction.

Why did it come back so fast especially since I had radiation? Maybe no answer to this question but also wonder if there is any significance to second DCIS being triple negative? Does all of this bode badly for having cancer in right breast?

I haven’t had genetic testing but my sister did and it was negative for BRCA.

Thanks in advance Beesie

So I have to get a biopsy but the radiologist said that the calcifications are benign in appearance, however they have increased in number since last year. She emphasized that these calcifications are nothing like the ones on my left breast which were fine linear and branching. She said Birads 4 but didn’t have a, b or c rating. I’m going to remain optimistic. I still have to get my reports from last year as I was diagnosed on a Mon and had surgery that Thursday due to COVID —-they were stopping all nonessential surgery and my surgeon didn’t want me to have to wait indefinitely so she rushed me through (I was grateful for that). It happened so fast that I didn’t ask for copies

Thank you for listening and answering questions. Beesie— I wish my oncologist took lessons from you!

I have biopsy this coming Fri. I met with surgeon yesterday and I have a 1.8 cm lesion at 12:00 position. It has spiculated border so doesn't appear obviously benign. I did have a small non melanoma skin cancer removed in late March with internal stitches about 4 inches above this area. Surgeon thought there was a possibility that the breast lesion was caused by surgery but she thought it was a little far away and deeper.

I came across a DCIS article in Harvard Health publication fro Jan 2021. (Can’t post link). Rather than recommending less treatment for DCIS, it says more is better regardless of grade. I had lump and radiation but still had recurrence less than 2 years later. This latest scare is making me lean toward mastectomy of right breast —whether prophylactic or to treat whatever they find. I don't think I want to fool around with lumpectomy and radiation again. But, I'm getting ahead of myself!

Thank you-your note means a lot to me. I’m definitely in the anger stage today because I live in the #1 healthcare state in the US and have three different healthcare portals but cannot seem to get a copy of the recentradiology report or any of my prior BC records for that matter. I’m furious. For this I pay $600/month plus $1,500 deductible? My primary care only wants to talk about cholesterol and tells me to see MO about BC stuff. The 2 oncologists I’ve seen are horribly dismissive I guess because I just have DCIS. My current MO made me wait in the exam room for 1.5 hours at last appt. I was actually leaving when she breezed in. Believe it or not, she just told me to lift up my shirt/bra for her little 2 second exam. I do like my surgeon. Regardless of Fri outcome, I am taking control of my care starting with finding a new PCP and MO.

Yes, the reality of recurrence is definitely different than what I heard the first time around. Take good care.

Thanks so much and yes, I need to make positive changes out of this experience. I think my primary care physician is a good doctor but I hav to have easy access to my test results/records at the very least. I think the pandemic has taken a financial toll on a lot of the small family physician offices because she seemed very stressed. I wish her the best but it’s time for me to move to a larger, more integrated health system. So thankful that I found this site!