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Olive4
Olive4 Member Posts: 84
edited July 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I did post this under waiting on test results but I think it may be more applicable to post here.


I went for my routine mammogram yesterday. I am 5 years out from my original diagnosis. They now want to biopsy an area of concern in the same area that I had my cancer in. They said the appointment will be in 1-3 weeks. I am beside myself.

It's taken me many years to get breast cancer off my radar and now here I am again. It's so hard mentally.

I've religiously taken my Tamoxifen and have had all my follow up appointments and had a low oncotype score of 7, but here I am again.

My understanding is that if you have a reoccurrence even if it's only locally that it's not a great prognosis. Is this correct? I was given the statistics for a distant reoccurrence but does anyone know the statistics for a local or regional reoccurrence?

I wasn't told what the area of concern exactly was nor given a BIRAD score. Not sure whether to ask or just bury my head in the sand and wait. I couldn't sleep last night despite taking sleep medications. Couldn't eat breakfast this morning either. Feeling very overwhelmed and exhausted.


Update. Spoke with my family doctor. It is an oval mass measuring 4mm and is ofhigher density and she said something about margins but can't remember exactly what! BIRADS 4B. They want to do a biopsy on 30th June. I’m shocked I have to wait that long. Seems crazy to me.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2021

    I am very hopeful that your biopsy will prove to be b-9. Suspicions are just that. My radiologist laughed at me and accused me of "wanting" cancer, she was so convinced my biopsy would be b-9. The claim that imaging has improved may be true, but interpretations are still left to humans, who can be wrong.

    Best to you.

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  • Olive4
    Olive4 Member Posts: 84
    edited June 2021

    Thank you Wallycat. It’s hard remaining hopeful I just spoke with my doctor, it’s a 4mm oval mass of higher density and she mentioned something about its margins too but can’t remember exactly what!

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2021

    Spiculated? Mine was not spiculated so she assumed it would not be cancer. She was wrong. She wept when she called to tell me. I'll keep good thoughts for you and hope ...

    Beesie is our local statistician and super bright; if she reads this, she will no doubt be able to tell you the stats on local vs distant mets, etc., but don't go there just yet.

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  • Olive4
    Olive4 Member Posts: 84
    edited June 2021

    Hi Wallycat, nothing was said about spicules. I’m thinking maybe it was something about irregular margins.

    Yes Bessie is a wealth of information and was so helpful at my original diagnosis.

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  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 488
    edited July 2021

    I was originally diagnosed in 2006, had surgery, chemo, radiation. Had a reduction on the other side for symmetry in 2008. Then it started, Biopsies in the cancer side - 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015 (2 spots), 2018 (2 spots). It has always come back as fat necrosis/scar tissue. I had a consult for mastectomy and reconstruction but delayed it due to getting thyroid cancer and all the complications with my laryngeal nerve and vocal chord injections. Bad reaction to radioactive iodine - blocked tear ducts and salivary glands. So now, I think I'm straightened out and what happens? Something new on my mammogram in June 2021- so I had a biopsy last Friday and I am waiting on results. Strangely though I am calm as this is the last straw - I am going for the mastectomy and diep flap reconstruction no matter what the biopsy says. If I had know 15 years ago what I know now, i would have made a different surgical decision. Live and learn. I don't know if my experience is common or not, but it is definitely stressful. Hang in there!!


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  • rebakoosh
    rebakoosh Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2021

    Found your post where biopsy was negative. Glad to hear. Puts a positive outlook on why things may happen.

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