Male Breast Cancer

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Sandis
Sandis Member Posts: 85
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I completed treatment for breast cancer 3 years ago. I have the BRAC1 gene and my siblings got tested. One brother and one sister has the gene also. My brother who has the gene found a lump in his chest and went to the doctor today. The doctor said "let just wait a month. Come back in a month and we'll do a needle biopsy if its still there". My brother wanted to know what I thought of that advice. I was surprised that the doctor wanted to wait when he had the gene, but I was unsure what to say. Any thoughts?

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  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #2
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    My advice would be to go back to the Doctor and tell him that you want to get the needle biopsy done now rather than a month from now. As you know breast cancer is so much easier to treat if caught early.

    I would rather have gotten the biopsy and not needed it than to risk the spread to lymph nodes that may later require Chemo for treatment.

    Take Care... Hope your brother has good luck and this is nothing but a little scare.

    God Bless...

    Susan
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #3
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    I think that your brother should see a specialist. Immediately. . There are more options than waiting a month and then doing a biopsy. He should be having diagnostic screening.

    Hugs and good luck.

    Lesley
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
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    I ABSOLUTELY agree with Lesley and Susan! My docs didn't want to do anything, lump hadn't changed in 5-10 years....I said NO WAY...please biopsy....Stage II invasive BC, node involvement. Had I pushed earlier...may not have been in the nodes...
    PLEASE have your brother push for the biopsy NOW...node involvement means chemo....and THAT is way ichy!
    Hugs to you both! Kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #5
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    KathiM said:

    I ABSOLUTELY agree with Lesley and Susan! My docs didn't want to do anything, lump hadn't changed in 5-10 years....I said NO WAY...please biopsy....Stage II invasive BC, node involvement. Had I pushed earlier...may not have been in the nodes...
    PLEASE have your brother push for the biopsy NOW...node involvement means chemo....and THAT is way ichy!
    Hugs to you both! Kathi

    As a point of clarification: Only Kathi can get away with describing chemo as "ichy". The rest of us have descriptions that are a lot more expressive and impolite.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #6
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    yes, have your brother get the biopsy right away. i was VERY lucky both times that i had BC - it was caught early with biopsy and had not spread to the nodes. early detection really is the key --best to be on the safe side. take care - hope all goes well for your brother. :-) kat
  • rash1511
    rash1511 Member Posts: 1
    #7
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    KathiM said:

    I ABSOLUTELY agree with Lesley and Susan! My docs didn't want to do anything, lump hadn't changed in 5-10 years....I said NO WAY...please biopsy....Stage II invasive BC, node involvement. Had I pushed earlier...may not have been in the nodes...
    PLEASE have your brother push for the biopsy NOW...node involvement means chemo....and THAT is way ichy!
    Hugs to you both! Kathi

    Hi, why wait for a month and increase the risk of the disease advancing ask ur bro to go ahead rightaway with a needle biopsy hope it is nothing but why take a risk? Gud luck take care rashmi
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
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    LesleyH said:

    As a point of clarification: Only Kathi can get away with describing chemo as "ichy". The rest of us have descriptions that are a lot more expressive and impolite.

    Hugs.

    Lesley

    hehehehe!
  • DebRoa
    DebRoa Member Posts: 31
    #9
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    Seems to me either biopsy it or take it out! The only good lump is a lump in a jar!

    Hoping for good results!

    Deb
  • onein100
    onein100 Member Posts: 1
    #10
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    So it's now two months later. What did your brother find out? I am a 7 1/2 year survivor of male breast cancer. I have communicated with many men with BC over this time. Most started off with a doctor saying, "Oh, it's nothing" or "...looks like gynecomastia. Come back to see me in two months." Fortunately I pointed out to my doctor my inverted nipple. He said, "I see, and there is a lump there too. I want to refer you to a surgeon. I just don't like lumps where they shouldn't be." My doc had never seen a BC in a man, but he was aware. Too often, they are not aware.

    Let me know if I can help in any way. I am a male ACS trained and certified Reach to Recovery Visitor, and a volunteer with the Anderson Network (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) too. I don't diagnose, but I can sure point one toward good information on MBC.

    Lyn

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