Forum Discussion

arpie's avatar
arpie
Member
7 years ago

Friend diagnosed with Met BC ... not offered biopsy

A friend who had BC in her right breast 20 years ago has just been diagnosed with Met BC (from a biopsy of a left rib following a period of unexplained rib pain.)  It is not in her lungs or liver and she will be having a brain scan to make sure it is not there as she's been having the odd headache recently ... fingers crossed it is not there.

She apparently won't be doing chemo - but is on a Hormone Blocking Drug (possibly Anastrozole) and there is talk of radiation at some stage.

She is not up with computers, so thought I'd put the odd questions past you for your opinion .....

The Mammogram/UltraSound has shown a lesion in the right breast again - but at this point the boffins have not suggested a biopsy (or removal) which I thought was a bit strange?  We both thought at least a biopsy would be offered .... are we over-reacting?  Has this happened to any of you?  Is it normal?  Would you request a biopsy even if the Specialist hasn't offered it?

Some of my own history - I was diagnosed with BC in early Jan, had surgery mid Jan & radiation for 4 weeks leading up to Easter.  I've just started Letrozole 2 days ago.
  • Tilly45's avatar
    Tilly45
    Member
    7 years ago
    Hi @arpie when I was diagnosed my oncologist put me straight on hormone med. to block oestrogen. No chemo, radio. or operations. He did do a biopsy but said it was just a formality. He said the treatment was hopefully going to be effective and that the primary breast lump was not the priority, rather the areas where the cancer had spread. I have CT scans every 6 weeks and tumour markers checked every 2 weeks. He says as long as they are dropping or stay the same he is happy. I have now been put on ribociclib. My tumour markers have decreased so my body is responding well to the medication. 
  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    7 years ago
    Thats what I was thinking @primek , sometimes it can be a separate new primary and one less thing to carry long term. 
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    7 years ago
    Well I'd be asking again as a friend of mine recently diagnosed with Es+ mets  (8 years aftet first bc) with her workup was discovered to have a new primary of her other breast. This was treated as any other. ..and the biopsy showed her2+. So she is undergoing standard treatment for that but will continue with her mets plan also. 
  • Kattykit's avatar
    Kattykit
    Member
    7 years ago
    I have it in my bones and a few other places and am on Ribociclib plus letrozole and denosumab , I had a biopsy when they put the pin in my leg, which means they don't need to test the others and no mention of surgery to remove any of the other tumours, the combination is shrinking the tumours so far.
     
  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    7 years ago
    It may well be that the doctors want to see if the medication shrinks the lesion in the breast but then surely they’d need to confirm it’s definitely bc.So I’m in total agreement with you arpie.Hope she can get some answers from her GP.
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    7 years ago
    Many Thanks @TonyaM  - that is what we were both thinking too.  Just the thought that it COULD be another tumour that continues growing is not good for the morale, either, even tho the other treatment has already started.  Quite the opposite, in fact - it would undermine her confidence in the process, I think.  

    I am guessing her GP could also OK the request for a biopsy?  I reckon she'll check with her GP first to ask for one & if SHE says no -  a reason for NOT to have a Biopsy! I personally would still want one!  If it WERE positive to cancer - surely they'd want it removed as well, rather than letting it stay there .... I know the condition, long term, is terminal - but no need to have an EXTRA Damocles Sword hanging over your head, eh?
  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    7 years ago
    I’m guessing that because a bone biopsy was taken,they don’t need a breast biopsy but your friend should ask her specialist. However,if it was me,I’d want a breast biopsy incase the pathology was different to the bone pathology.Or it may not even be a breast cancer but I’d like to know unless my doctor gave me good reasons otherwise.