Biopsy by mammogram
I had my one year follow-up mammogram. Right breast all clear but now there's a new lump in my (previously healthy) left breast. Doc said he'd book me in for a biopsy under mammorgram. Considering the first mam hurt like hell - what is a prolonged mam gonna feel like? Has anyone had this procedure and can describe it for me please.
Advice please...
Hi everyone. Am newly diagnosed (2 weeks) and have a few questions. A routine mammogram has got me here with the details that a biopsy has found cancer cells. A visit to the specialist didnt tell me anymore information other than I need to have the breast off. Pathology will then tell me what I have and treatment needed. Is this normal? I thought I would know what type of cancer I had, aggressive or not, stage etc before surgery and not after??? Also, specialist only recommends having the one off. When questioning him he says their is a slightly increased risk of it coming back in the 2nd breast. I would love to hear from others who have had to make the decision of one or two off and how they came to that decision. At this point in time i am thinking of having both off so that I wont worry about it coming back but would love to hear what others have to say. Thanks in advance.
Not sure what's to come...
Hi all. This is my first entry on this faulous site. I was first diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer in Sept 2001. A successful lumpectomy followed. I was diagnosed again (DCIS, same breast, same scare opened) in Sept 2004 with 30 sessions of radiation. I have been clear ever since...that is until Tues. I went for my yearly Mammo and ultrasound. There was a 'suspicious" area. l had 3 core biopsies taken. Bottom line, IDC this time...same breast...different spot...Sept again! I can see a pattern here that I don't like :-) My appointment with my breast surgeon is on Monday. I'm prepared for the whole mastectomy, chemo thing. Frankly, I don't think he will have any other options. I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here, but I have thought through (over the last few years) what my response woukld be to a mastectomy. I think that a double would be my choice. The main reason is that I am a DD cup, so on the large side, and large isn't all it's cracked up to be. Plus, I'm not that precious about "the girls"...they've been a worry for a long time. I think I'd opt for no reconstruction, and eventually a couple of cool tattos to cover the scaring. Sorry for the immense amount of info, but if anyone has any thoughts/experience, I'd be grateful of the feedback. Janet :-)
Triple negative cancer - what are the options?
Hi all, this is my first post. I have been reading other people's posts on here and have found them to be very helpful and inspirational, you are all amazing women. My story began when I found a lump in my right breast. Mammogram, ultrasound and core biopsy followed, biopsy pathology stated it was weakly progesterone positive and was in one lympth node. This was followed by wide local excision (13/6/14) and all of my lympth nodes removed from the right arm. Pathology has come back as triple negative ( apparently the biopsy pathology results must have been an error) and that only the one lympth node was involved. I am told that it is stage 3 and grade 3. I am seeing the oncologist in 2 weeks and am trying to research as much about TNBC as I can so that I can look at all of my options to discuss with him. I am wandering if I should opt to now have a double mastectomy and reconstruction, rather than just go along with the current plan of chemo and then radiation, as the risk of reoccurrance is so high with TNBC. I'd really loved to hear other women's stories who also had TNBC and what you chose to do. Thank you for reading and thanks in advance for any advise you can offer me. Karen
Core Biopsy
Argh!! Had my 1st mammogram and ultrasound the other week. Have since met with my surgeon to discuss results he seemed pretty pleased, said there was a small area that looked a bit odd but put it down to tissue damage or something because of Radiotherapy. I have till to go for an MRI and the surgeon said I should hear about it in a few weeks. I had a missed call on Monday and had one of those voice to text messages. It was my surgeon and could I call him back needless to say I couldn't get hold of him. But haven't heard anything back so didn't worry about it too much. That was until yesterday I came home and found a letter from the hospital saying I've to go for a core biopsy in on the 11th July. Feel sick with worry now.Roller coaster ride
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 28 August this year at the age of 44. To say it has been a whirlwind is an understatement! I was intially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the end of May, I needed to change my diet and lose 13kg to get out of the 'at risk' category. 3 months down the track I had changed my diet, got rid of high blood pressure and achieved my goal of losing 13kg. They say things happen for a reason, by losing this 13kg I noticed some changes in my left breast - very itchy. I thought this was just changes happening as I was in my 40s. had a mamogram through Breast Screen and was confirmed as having BC. Have since had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. sentinel node came back positive with spottings of cancer, was back in 1 week later and had 19 lymph nodes removed. slowly recovering from these ops, oncology appt this weds and are quite apprehensive as what to expect.
Facing breast cancer without a partner
Yesterday I was told that I had breast cancer and was told that I would be going to Peter Mac clinic in Melbourne ASAP, most probably in 10 days. It was only a week ago that I had a core biopsy taken following on from a routine mammogram through Breastscreen. I have a great family but feel so alone as I am not in a relationship and do not have any children. At this stage my doctor has not told me what stage breast cancer I have, I see her again on Monday. Does the doctor normally tell you this information or do you have to wait for the surgeon? I will be seeing a breast cancer nurse on Tuesday.
Me so far...
Hi all, at 44 I thought that I should go and have my first mammogram done and booked in for mid April 2014. I had no symptoms and regularly checked for lumps. On 6 May was required to have a followup (which everyone told me was normal so didn't take anyone with me!) more mammograms, ultrasound and 6 fine needle biopsies later I was told that they could see 3 lesions and was referred to a surgeon as a mastectomy was recommended asap. On the 3 June 2014 I had a sentinal node biopsy in the morning and a left breast skin sparing and nipple saving mastecomy. I had a lovely week in hospital (surgery and drains aside), enjoying all my meals cooked and delivered, my bed made for me and bathroom cleaned every day! I actually left hospital very refreshed!! Back to the real world, I now have to have further surgery (axillary clearance) and start chemo shortly after. The rest of my story is still to come...
What's worse that a biopsy?
So we drove to Sydney yesterday to have the biopsy done on the suspicious tissue in my left breast. First up, another mammogram. Apparently the one taken last Friday needs to be repeated so it's stand here and lean in and put your arm there and OUCH. The technician tells me I'm a 'good girl' for not complaining. I resist the temptation to punch her. Next it's sitting in the mammogram room on my own for about half an hour. What are they doing? Why does this always happen when I need to pee? Gah! Finally another technician fetches me and I'm transfered to the ultrasound suite after a quick toilet stop. What follows is about 40 minutes of going backwards and forwards across my breast in search of the marker clip. You see, the calcification doesn't show up on ultrasound so they need to find the clip to know which bit of tissue to biopsy. The technician asks me to sit up. More gel. More scanning. Still no luck. A very crisp and professional doctor joins us. More gel. More scanning. May as well give the doctor a go, too. I'm propped on my side. More gel. More scanning. No clip. So it seems that the marker clip, highly visible on mammogram, can't be seen under ultrasound. Without it I can't have the biopsy. I'm told to discuss it with my surgeon. At least they bulk billed me. I also learned that the shape of the marker clip is meant to be the breast cancer ribbon. That's cute, isn't it. So now I'm back in that familiar state of limbo where I may or may not have cancer and I may or may not require further treatment. I suspect my surgeon will send me back to see the doctor that originally inserted the clip when she returns from holidays after the 27th of this month. Bugger. So what's worse than having a biopsy? Needing one and not being able to have one.
Warrior Women
Hi, I was diagnosed with TNBC on the 5 November 2012, Stage 3, with no lymph node involvement but I had two lesions (4mm and 6 mm) and a DCIS, with a definition of multi-focal. I opted for a lumpectomy and I have good margins. As a researcher and academic, I hid in my brain, and undertook extensive 3 month research into the allopathic verus traditional health care options. I was in a world of intellectual pain! I have a blog site - warriorbynature@wordpress.com where I have reflected my journey into weighing up the options. I finally came to the conclusion that despite my prognosis that I needed to undertake chemo. I have had my first round with extensive side effects. Prior to undertaking chemo, I sought a second opinion, as my breast surgeon had proposed 'on the phone' a day or so prior to Christmas that I have a bi-lateral mastectomy. I was naturally outraged by his lack of emotional intelligence in delivering this information in this way. I delayed chemo over the Christmas break. Asking the 'hard questions' revealed that timing was preferred within a set window in order for you to be included against 10 years of statistics that had been collected! Hmm...unimpressed to say the least! I had a second opinion from the leading female breast surgeon in Perth, and I was advised that since a mammogram had originally picked up the legion, that it was likely that a mammogram would it again. My left breast was clear of lesions, my cancer had been removed in the right and no further activity had been noted. My chemo regime changed from FEC X 6 to DC X 4. I have had my first round of DC and I have been unfortunate to have had serious side effects. I am due to start my second round on Wednesday. I want to acknowledge the wonderful courageous women on this site. These women put many others to shame, including our politicans who mostly have no real idea of 'regular life'. I know this from my experience of working in Canberra as a senior policy officer under Julia Gillard. I am in awe of this collection of women for their unwavering love for their children, partners, and friends. For the way that despite all that is ugly and dark that light is found to smile, and to ease the emotional burdens of family members who witness our pain. I am truly honoured to be in such company. I wish you all the very best. Te xx