new here and may need info

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juliababy
juliababy Member Posts: 130
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
hi guys, i am new here and may need some information for my aunt. two weeks ago she had a baseline mammogram in which a small lump (nodule was discovered). off to ultrasound she went. the ultrasound report says that there is 1 cm nodule in the right axillary tail, that doesn't look clear cut suspicious but has some characterists of malignancy. The ultrasound is labeled a category 4. Does this report make sense to anyone? and what is a category 4. She will be having a core needle biopsy next week.

thanks for any info

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  • seeknpeace
    seeknpeace Member Posts: 259
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    I am not sure what that means, but, I would think that it is a red flag. I am glad that she is having the core needle. Some of us here who have had it found it horribly painful and others did not. And, we were all supposed to have a local anesthesia. Mine just about killed me. So, she may need some support when she goes for the core needle. Please let us know what is discovered. I just pray that it is nothing to worry about. Best wishes...Jan
  • lindatn
    lindatn Member Posts: 229
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    HI,Tell your aunt not to worry about the biopsy, it was nothing considering the worry we all are in at that time. Ask for a xanax and take it a hour before. Biopsy was easy but don't ask me about the chemo it was a nightmare! Surgery and radiation nothing much to worry about. Don't forget to ask about a lumpectomy if it is cancer especially if you are in the south. These old southern Drs still like to do the whole show. I had a lumpectomy at Vanderbilt by a great breast surgeon, low dresses and sleeveless all look just fine. If she is over 55 in age and can take Tamoxifen or one of it cousins hopefully all will be well. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Linda
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
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    lindatn said:

    HI,Tell your aunt not to worry about the biopsy, it was nothing considering the worry we all are in at that time. Ask for a xanax and take it a hour before. Biopsy was easy but don't ask me about the chemo it was a nightmare! Surgery and radiation nothing much to worry about. Don't forget to ask about a lumpectomy if it is cancer especially if you are in the south. These old southern Drs still like to do the whole show. I had a lumpectomy at Vanderbilt by a great breast surgeon, low dresses and sleeveless all look just fine. If she is over 55 in age and can take Tamoxifen or one of it cousins hopefully all will be well. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Linda

    Personally, I'm not an advocate of the core needle biopsy. My philosophy is slice it, dice it, chop it up and put it in a blender, but don't nick a hole in it in me. Take the nodule/lump out and do a sentinel node biopsy to begin with, I liken it to a dirty diaper. If it looks and smells like poop, it's probably poop. You don't go and stick a needle in the diaper to see what comes out, if you do you get sh*t everywhere.
    Just investigate my theory, do some internet researches, the docs will all say it's a crazy idea, that it doesn't work that way. BUT...there are studies out there that support the notion. Someone, Jean? I think cited an article here a while back that indicated an increased risk of disease progression in patients who underwent needle biopsy vs lumpectomy vs mastectomy.
    Food for thought. Once done you cannot undo it. By the way, lumpectomy's have as equal a cure rate as a mastectomy.
    If it is cancer and your aunt is post-menopausal she should be given an aromatase inhibitor ie: aromasin, femara, arimidex unless there is a contra-indication. Which her doctor should know about that. God bless. Your Aunt is blessed to have someone like you looking out for her!
    hummingbyrd
  • Sharon345
    Sharon345 Member Posts: 26
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    Juilababy, before you get too hopeful about tumersgone's message please look up coral calcium on the internet. Especially www.quackwatch.org I've never seen tumersgone on our site before and I appologize to her if I'm wrong but she sounds like an advertisement.
  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
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    Hi juliababy. About the category 4, I believe it refers to the level of concern of the findings. If all labs are consistant, it would be a 4 out of 5, certainly something to be checked out further, but not necessarily a forgone conclusion. Was an MRI considered?
    Susan
  • rutaf
    rutaf Member Posts: 23
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    Personally, I'm not an advocate of the core needle biopsy. My philosophy is slice it, dice it, chop it up and put it in a blender, but don't nick a hole in it in me. Take the nodule/lump out and do a sentinel node biopsy to begin with, I liken it to a dirty diaper. If it looks and smells like poop, it's probably poop. You don't go and stick a needle in the diaper to see what comes out, if you do you get sh*t everywhere.
    Just investigate my theory, do some internet researches, the docs will all say it's a crazy idea, that it doesn't work that way. BUT...there are studies out there that support the notion. Someone, Jean? I think cited an article here a while back that indicated an increased risk of disease progression in patients who underwent needle biopsy vs lumpectomy vs mastectomy.
    Food for thought. Once done you cannot undo it. By the way, lumpectomy's have as equal a cure rate as a mastectomy.
    If it is cancer and your aunt is post-menopausal she should be given an aromatase inhibitor ie: aromasin, femara, arimidex unless there is a contra-indication. Which her doctor should know about that. God bless. Your Aunt is blessed to have someone like you looking out for her!
    hummingbyrd

    I'd be interested in that article.