New on BC board. Not new to cancer. Need advice.

Alexandra
Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
edited October 2013 in Breast Cancer #1

Hello all,

I am 45 years old, was diagnosed with stage 3C metastatic ovarian cancer a little over a year ago, underwent total hysterectomy, chemo and have been NED for 9 months, now ovarian cancer has recurred. I am BRCA1 positive and was getting semi-annual mammograms and breast MRI as part of the high-risk surveillance. They were clear, until now.

Today I received the results of my latest breast MRI and a call back for bilateral ultrasound-guided biopsy on Sep. 12th. Doctor was not available to comment.

"There is moderate volume of fibroglandular tissue in the breasts bilaterally that enhances to a moderate degree with a moderate intensity. Background enhancement is increased compared to previous. Area of new segmental non-Mass enhancement in the lower central left breast measuring 47 by 14 mm. New 4 mm enhancing focus right upper central breast with washout kinetics. Prominent low level I right axillary lymph node. No definite left axillary lymphadenopathy."

Could someone please comment if all that sounds to you like breast cancer? And when biopsy confirms cancer and given my BRCA1+ status should I have BMX rather than lumpectomies?

Thank you in advance.

Alexandra 

Comments

  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    Welcome, Alexandra...

    Though I do regret the reason you're now @ the BC Board. We're all here to support & encourage each other.

    I won't even try to decipher your MRI results. Even as a two-time breast cancer survivor. Maybe someone else will chime in. Come Monday - I suggest you again try to reach a doctor. Or, a nurse/tech qualified to explain & answer your questions. I know - it's crappy to have to wait and wonder over the weekend. :-(

    With your history, I sincerely hope the biopsy has been scheduled because your med pros are simply being hyper vigilant. And that the results will be benign.

    Keep us posted.

    Kind regards, Susan

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308

    Welcome, Alexandra...

    Though I do regret the reason you're now @ the BC Board. We're all here to support & encourage each other.

    I won't even try to decipher your MRI results. Even as a two-time breast cancer survivor. Maybe someone else will chime in. Come Monday - I suggest you again try to reach a doctor. Or, a nurse/tech qualified to explain & answer your questions. I know - it's crappy to have to wait and wonder over the weekend. :-(

    With your history, I sincerely hope the biopsy has been scheduled because your med pros are simply being hyper vigilant. And that the results will be benign.

    Keep us posted.

    Kind regards, Susan

    Thank you very much Susan

    I read up on "segmental non-mass enhancements" and it looks like they almost always (78%) translate into ductal carcinoma (sometimes in-situ, sometimes invasive).

    I will take your advice and keep my emotions in check till I talk to the ONC and I get biopsy results.

    Have a nice week-end,

    Alexandra

  • Treecy1106
    Treecy1106 Member Posts: 144 Member
    Hi Alexandra

    SO sorry you are going through this cancer trip again!!! 

    As far as anyone giving advice about the BMX vrs Lumpectomy...i think we all know its our own choice aside from our Doctors orders.

    I am Triple Negative BC IDC stage 2A but since I knew if was a very aggressive cancer I chose a BMX.

    By taking all the information that was given to me I made an informatable decision.

    I have absolutely no regrets.

    You are your best advocate and we are all here to support you with whatever decision you make!

    Good Luck and God Bless!

    Patrice

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    That is Greek to me!  But, I

    That is Greek to me!  But, I wanted to say, welcome and I wish you the very best!

    I had Stage 3A breast cancer in 1987 and had to have a mastectomy because the physician said my tumor was too large and lumpectomy wouldn't be cosmetic.  Frankly, I had a gut feeling (with strong family history of breast/colon) that I should have a BMX, but my surgeon thought the relatives (grandmother and 4 great-aunts with breast, father with colon, uncle with colon) were older and removed enough.

    Then 2 of my 3 sisters also had breast cancer.  They had BMX.  I was then told to have preventive mastectomy on other side (sigh).  My remaining sister just had a preventive BMX this year.

    My cancer turned metastatic in 2005, but I am hanging in there.  That is 26 years!  Hugs and prayers to you!

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    Thank you Patrice and CypressCynthia

    I really appreciate your input and sharing your stories.

    For the last few days I've been contemplating my options and decided on BMX with immediate reconstruction. TRAM-flap is not an option for me because of the previous tummy tuck. I'm considering SGAP or IGAP perforator flap vs. implants.

    It's strange how the prospect of breast cancer and mastectomy despite having much better prognosis has hit me much harder emotionally than ovarian cancer ever did. First time around I received the avalanche of support and compassion from family and friends. Now it's more like "what else is gonna be wrong with this woman?".

    That is why I love CSN - people understand.

     

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 121
    Alexandra said:

    Thank you Patrice and CypressCynthia

    I really appreciate your input and sharing your stories.

    For the last few days I've been contemplating my options and decided on BMX with immediate reconstruction. TRAM-flap is not an option for me because of the previous tummy tuck. I'm considering SGAP or IGAP perforator flap vs. implants.

    It's strange how the prospect of breast cancer and mastectomy despite having much better prognosis has hit me much harder emotionally than ovarian cancer ever did. First time around I received the avalanche of support and compassion from family and friends. Now it's more like "what else is gonna be wrong with this woman?".

    That is why I love CSN - people understand.

     

    Understand

    I've had 3 life threatening diagnoses in 1/2 year. Sometimes I wonder how much my friends will be willing to take until they find excuses to fade away. At least two of them seem to be doing just that. I must seemed jinxed to them. Had a brain stem stoke in January, diagnosed with large aneurysm in the ascending aorta of my heart in March, and then breast cancer in June. Never sick before this. I'm 10 days post-op from bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. (Implants.) With everything that has happened to me this year, I simply couldn't deal with worrying that a lumpectomy would get it all or that cancer would show up in the other breast. Percentages mean nothing to me anymore. I had to have peace of mind that I had done all I could do. You probably feel the same way.

     

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294

    Understand

    I've had 3 life threatening diagnoses in 1/2 year. Sometimes I wonder how much my friends will be willing to take until they find excuses to fade away. At least two of them seem to be doing just that. I must seemed jinxed to them. Had a brain stem stoke in January, diagnosed with large aneurysm in the ascending aorta of my heart in March, and then breast cancer in June. Never sick before this. I'm 10 days post-op from bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. (Implants.) With everything that has happened to me this year, I simply couldn't deal with worrying that a lumpectomy would get it all or that cancer would show up in the other breast. Percentages mean nothing to me anymore. I had to have peace of mind that I had done all I could do. You probably feel the same way.

     

    BRCA1 mutation

    Welcome to BC board. I do not have BRCA1 mutation, however based on my age at the a initial diagnosis I had a genetic test and discussion with geneticist. It is my understanding that in case of BRCA1 mutation mastectomy is recommended, even as a prophylactic measure. That i was told and trying to prepare myself, while awaiting for results. Angelina Jolie did it too.as your friends who are not supportive, let them go you will make new ones.

    hugs

    New Flower

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    waiting it the pits...I hope

    waiting it the pits...I hope you find out soon..

     

    Denise

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    Thank you Sandra, NewFlower and Denise!

    Waiting sucks. I want to know the verdict and be able to do something about it.

    I really appreciate the comradery and understanding on BC board.

    Come visit your "teal sisters" on Ovarian board. September is Ovarian Cancer awareness month and we are having all kinds of fun.

    Best wishes of continued health to all of you,

    Alexandra

     

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    aI was reading some of the older posts
    and saw that you are comimg up on ypur biopsy and wanted to let you know I am pulling for you. You are much more patient than I. Crossing my fingers that it comes back benign, but certainly understand your decision for the dbl either way. Rember when I had the brca test done(was negative), my sisters were all waiting for the results qnd 2 were preparing themselves for a mast being proactive as there is so much cancer in our immediate family.
    Hoping for the best and welcome to the bc board.
    Carol
  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    camul said:

    aI was reading some of the older posts
    and saw that you are comimg up on ypur biopsy and wanted to let you know I am pulling for you. You are much more patient than I. Crossing my fingers that it comes back benign, but certainly understand your decision for the dbl either way. Rember when I had the brca test done(was negative), my sisters were all waiting for the results qnd 2 were preparing themselves for a mast being proactive as there is so much cancer in our immediate family.
    Hoping for the best and welcome to the bc board.
    Carol

    Thank you Carol

    Biopsy attempt today was a total waste of time. 3 people (1 technician and 2 doctors) looked at my boobs with ultrasound for an hour and found no correlation to what's on the MRI. boobs smiley photo:  boobs.gif

    Now I'm re-scheduled for the MRI-guided biopsy on Sep. 23rd. I was also told that they may have to split it into 2 separate visits - one per each breast (?!). Results won't be ready till Oct. 1st.

    If only cancer moved at the same glacial pace as our healthcare - we would all live forever. Grrr! 

  • elthia
    elthia Member Posts: 11
    Alexandra said:

    Thank you Carol

    Biopsy attempt today was a total waste of time. 3 people (1 technician and 2 doctors) looked at my boobs with ultrasound for an hour and found no correlation to what's on the MRI. boobs smiley photo:  boobs.gif

    Now I'm re-scheduled for the MRI-guided biopsy on Sep. 23rd. I was also told that they may have to split it into 2 separate visits - one per each breast (?!). Results won't be ready till Oct. 1st.

    If only cancer moved at the same glacial pace as our healthcare - we would all live forever. Grrr! 

    MRI shows more

    Hey, I am new here, but I wanted to let you know that MRI often shows more than what ultrasound and mammography does.  It is more precise, and shows a clearer picture. Often it will show lumps that did not show on other imaging.

    Good luck.

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    elthia said:

    MRI shows more

    Hey, I am new here, but I wanted to let you know that MRI often shows more than what ultrasound and mammography does.  It is more precise, and shows a clearer picture. Often it will show lumps that did not show on other imaging.

    Good luck.

    Thank you Elthia

    I read your story in another post and I am very sorry about your new diagnosis. Please accept my best wishes with your surgery and chemo. I have not been through mastectomy (yet), but I had other cancer surgery and chemo and I can testify that though treatment is unpleasant it's not the end of the world and fully doable.

    I absolutely agree with you that MRI shows more than other imaging. In my case mammogram done on Aug. 14 came back normal (BIRAD 1-2). Ultrasound done on Sep. 12 showed absolutely nothing. I don't have any palpable lumps. MRI done on Aug 14 showed large segmental non-mass enhancement (BIRAD 4) which is most likely ductal carcinoma. The million dollar question is whether it's 'in situ' or invasive and I wouldn't know till MRI-guided biopsy comes back in a couple of weeks.

    Virtual hugs,

    Alexandra

  • Cricket64
    Cricket64 Member Posts: 63
    Alexandra said:

    Thank you Elthia

    I read your story in another post and I am very sorry about your new diagnosis. Please accept my best wishes with your surgery and chemo. I have not been through mastectomy (yet), but I had other cancer surgery and chemo and I can testify that though treatment is unpleasant it's not the end of the world and fully doable.

    I absolutely agree with you that MRI shows more than other imaging. In my case mammogram done on Aug. 14 came back normal (BIRAD 1-2). Ultrasound done on Sep. 12 showed absolutely nothing. I don't have any palpable lumps. MRI done on Aug 14 showed large segmental non-mass enhancement (BIRAD 4) which is most likely ductal carcinoma. The million dollar question is whether it's 'in situ' or invasive and I wouldn't know till MRI-guided biopsy comes back in a couple of weeks.

    Virtual hugs,

    Alexandra

    I hope that this week finds

    I hope that this week finds you with answers, and a path to follow for your personal journey. I sadden to read that some 'friends' might have fallen by the way side.  I am now a two year survivor, had great support from my entire medical team, family and friends.  One of the best testimates to friendship I received, two every special women, who know when I needed to vent, cry and talk about cancer, and also when I just wanted to pretend that I wasn't.  I hope you find some one like that among your support team.

     

     

  • elthia
    elthia Member Posts: 11
    Alexandra, I read your page

    Alexandra, I read your page of your results, and you are in my thoughts

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    elthia said:

    Alexandra, I read your page

    Alexandra, I read your page of your results, and you are in my thoughts

    Thank you very much Elthia

    I hope your treatment goes well.

    In my case: news of ovarian cancer recurrence kinda put the breast biopsy in perspective. Two negatives make a positive, right? Smile 

  • LVG
    LVG Member Posts: 128
    Alexandra said:

    Thank you very much Elthia

    I hope your treatment goes well.

    In my case: news of ovarian cancer recurrence kinda put the breast biopsy in perspective. Two negatives make a positive, right? Smile 

    Best of luck to you...

    Best of luck to you, as you wait on your results - waiting is the absolute pits.  Glad you knew where to come to gain encouragement to make it through the waiting game.