Breast cancer question

Double Whammy said:

Nothin'
Neither the ultrasound nor mammogram showed anything but normal breast tissue. The radiologist could feel what I felt, but she said she also felt similar tissue elsewhere in that breast (so did I) and thinks it may just be the way that breast is. She said an MRI was not clinically warranted and if anything changes, the next step would be a biopsy. From her standpoint, there is no radiographic evidence that is suspicious of cancer. But she did say that cancer doesn't just go away so this will be followed clinically by my pcp.

I have appointments with both my radiologic oncologist (tomorrow) and medical oncologist (next week). I'll also discuss this with them. I don't know what my primary care physician will have to say about all of this and what, if anything, she'll want to do about followups.

I am relieved and if I can leave my breast alone for a month, self exam should let me know if anything changes. I don't have an appointment with my breast surgeon until January (not that far away) and he's responsible for my breast exams. Actually, I'll be seeing a nurse practitioner in January - the surgeon got a new job.

Thanks for all your support and comments. And about the photo - that's my wig and my permanent makeup (brows and liner). Still not enough hair for prime time 13 months after chemo. I go back and forth between feeling sorry for myself and saying "gee, this is easy".

Suzanne

You look great Suzanne
When I posted to say how good your new pic looked, I didn't realise it was a wig! But wig or not - you look great. I can understand how frustrated you must feel that your hair isn't "playing ball" but please have no worries about how you look. You look MARVELOUS!
Kindest wishes
Helen

Songflower said:

Breast Mass
I. had breast cancer 12 years ago and of course now have USPS. I definitely think you need a biopsy of this mass. Assert yourself and ask for a biopsy. They will give you one if you ask with your history. A fantastic web site for breast cancer is breastcancer.org. they have the best information.

I assume you have had a hysterectomy. Have you taken tamoxifen? That puts you at risk for uterine cancer. After you go to the website write down your questions and assume the role of a very informed woman. Bring someone with you that is also informed. Dress well. This sounds corny I know but sometimes it is like going for a job interview. Anything that helps give off an educated woman helps. It shouldn't be like this but it is.

As my Doctor has gotten to know me I've dropped the interview look but it helped at first.

I am sorry you have to go through all this.

Diane

Diane
I wholeheartedly agree with the job interview look. I always take a book with me as well, not so much for the look of the thing but something to do while I am waiting. I don't think I have ever had it fail that the doctor has asked about or commented on the book.

Double Whammy said:

Zoe by Rene of Paris
It's synthetic and comes in a lot of colors. Everyone can have one!
Suzanne

Breast Cancer
Good evening,

I hope this doesn't come off too negative. My experience in 1993 left me unwilling to leave a lump in my breast.

I had breast cancer in 1993. I felt my own lump, got a mammo which was non-diagnostic, then had an ultrasound which was, as the radiologist put it, "suspicious. Made an appointment to have the lump taken out, even though the surgeon felt it was benign and we could watch and wait. What a surprise when he phoned me to say I had breast cancer after the excision of the lump.

At that time, I had a cousin in her mid 30's that had let her doctors tell her the thickening in her breast was benign and nothing to worry about. When she was finally diagnosed with breast cancer, she was stage 4 and lived another five years with treatment.

It was because of her I insisted that the lump be removed.

I'm a radical person, so I opted to have radical surgery. I then underwent, my choice, of chemo treatments and had no recurrence of breast cancer.

I am now NED UPSC since 2008. Talk about a double whammy. Thank the dear Lord that my primary care doctor listened to my right-side ache. She ordered a CT scan, transvaginal ultrasound and off I went for a hysteroscopy. The rest is history - chemo and brachytherapy.

You know yourself, you know your breasts better than anyone else.

I know you want to believe your doctors and most likely they are right to watch and wait.
But go with whatever your gut instinct is.

I'd like to leave you with something upbeat - yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, enjoy today - it is the "present".

Lois

Double Whammy said:

Follow-up
Rest assured, this will not go ignored. Radiologist said from a radiologic standpoint, there was nothing more for her to do. MRI is not clinically warranted and the breast should be watched clinically. She said the next step, should there be one, would be biopsy. She said it wouldn't be done by her because (again) there was nothing radiologically visible. She said a pathologist would do it! Really? That would be different for me.

Then my radiation oncologist and her resident examined me the next day. This was my routine followup exam. Boy Howdy did they ever examine me! She said her feeling was what we were all feeling is normal breast tissue, but of course keep an eye on it.

My pcp contacted me the end of last week and said she wants to see me for follow-up within a month. I plan on arriving with a long list of questions. In the meantime, I'll continue to do my research. It's good that someone else is going to recheck the boob because I can't leave it alone and probably wouldn't notice any change if there was one! What I feel is very tiny and is not what I would expect breast cancer to feel like (like I'd know!), but the docs took me seriously. There is actually another one in the same breast. Normal breast tissue? I don't think so, but not cancer is so ok with me and I guess a biopsy (or lumpectomy) is the only was to know for sure.

Suzanne

Follow-up
Suzanne,

You sound like a smart and savvy woman. I'm sure you'll stay on top of this as will your doctors.

Questions are good - and I know that not every lump in a breast is an indication of breast cancer. I had fibrocystic breasts and was very familiar with what felt normal to me. I'm sure your doctors are knowledgeable about what they are feeling since they examine lots of women.

You are right when you say the only way to know for sure is a biopsy. I know that they do needle biopsies - stereotactic - although there might be other studies that they do today, since I've no recent information nor am I any expert on this topic.

I'll keep you in my prayers for good health.

Lois