What treatment should I expect when mass found in breast?

Prayers for you during this time when you're feeling abandoned by your health care team. You already know that you need to be your own advocate so feel empowered to keep getting the answers you need. I hope you have support from friends too as I find that the caring they show me really helps comfort me as I navigate this surreal situation.

You can try calling the doctor that did the biopsy for information. My situation we found a mass a size of a pea. They called me to come back in to do an ultrasound. Set me up for a biopsy. Got a cancellation got me in the next day to do the biopsy. A week later they tried to schedule a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. I had to decide what I wanted to get done. I went with lumpectomy right side breast. I did the lumpectomy followed by 23 days of radiation. My entire process was really smooth from start to end. My regular doctor was only involved in the beginning to refer me to get my mammogram done. The clinic that did my mammogram referred me to a couple of surgeons I had to pick. I got really lucky to pick the right one and the right oncology team as well. They were great. I was well informed and very relaxed going through it. I had support from my family and my work family. I worked through my entire situation. My profession was a Correctional Officer. My work schedule was week on week off 7/12. I kept doing my normal duties and routine. I am very thankful for everyone that was there to support me. You need to stay positive through it all. I hope this helps good luck.

Biopsy hasn’t even been scheduled yet. Sounds like my primary physician should have referred me to the breast center when mass showed up. That is not what happened. My physician never called me. He is who ordered MRI after mammogram and then has been MIA since. I sent messages and called. Took a week to get them to even order ultrasound. Feels like I am dealing with people who have no idea what they are doing. Delays, no information or explanation about anything.

@churlgurl

Welcome to Connect. I hope you will find the info and support you need with this group.

Can you refer yourself to Breast Center? Call and ask for appointment and then request your medical records / imaging be sent to them. If there are multiple options, do some research and make your own calls.

Does not sound like you can rely on your primary, and if he was out of office, someone should of covered it. Sometimes there is delay in scheduling tests due to unavailable slots, but that should be communicated to you. And you should not have to wait two weeks for results.

In future, I would start looking for new primary.

Do you live close to a Breast Center?

I think you need to make an urgent appointment at a cancer center, yourself. This is possibly the beginning of a period when you may have to be proactive and push things along yourself. The cancer medical system is very sluggish right now (post-COVID). Get a biopsy asap not just for medical reasons but for relief of very natural anxiety.

Try to get an appointment with an oncologist as well asap. Did they give you a BIRADS score?

You can often get a cancellation by calling every day at 10am.

I had a biopsy right after my diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. You should not have to wait. And check the portal yourself (don't wait for MD's to call with results).

Bi-Rads. 4A. I have not talked to a lhysician at all yet, despite my messages and phone calls. This is a physician that, prior to this, contacts you about every lab or message. Then all of the sudden, MIA right when I truly need him. It took five days, and several attempts by me, for them to call me…and it was just to finally order the ultrasound. I had that Wednesday and the radiology report was sent online to him and me with 1/2 hour. Again, no response. It recommended MRI guided biopsy. Now it appears they sent ab order for u,trasou d guided biopsy to the one place I already told them I do not want to go for a biopsy. Lots of errors and lack of communication, leading to increased anxiety. Almost feeling paralyzed emotionally to schedule this biopsy at a place I do not trust. I have investigated other breast centers.

BIRADS. 4A. I think all the errors and delays have caused enormous increase in anxiety. Also feeling like the only option is a place I do not want to go. I was told this place or 2 hrs away. I know that is not true as I have checked into other breast centers. My grandmother died from breast cancer, radical mastectomies, then bone cancer. Also a close friend ten years ago, Braca positive…..as am I. I just moved to this area three years ago and health care overall has been challenging. Did not expect it with this though.

This is a heartbreaking and crazy inducing situation, I am sorry this is your life right now.
Please call your doctors office and have a place in mind to get your biopsy, or ask to be sent to a breast surgeon for an excision biopsy where they remove the lump and biopsy it. If this does not get you the desired result, call your local cancer center and ask for the name of a good place to go then call them yourself and explain your situation.
I find that genuinely asking for help will usually get some results. If it does not, that probably isn’t a doctors office you want if it does turn out to be cancer.
Do you live in an area with a large medical center or teaching hospital? Is there a breast cancer support group in your area where you can talk to others and get good recommendations?

@churlgurl it seems like a two hour drive would be worth it? I saw oncology surgeon before oncologist but was lucky in that the guy who did the imaging (radiologist did an immediate biopsy. It is apparent you cannot rely on PCP and need to make calls yourself, and I am sorry for that!

Here is BIRADs 4-A from Dr. Google along with other 4's: Looks like low risk for you and hope that is true!

A BI-RADS 4 lesion under the breast imaging-reporting and data system refers to a suspicious abnormality. BI-RADS 4 lesions may not have the characteristic morphology of breast cancer but have a definite probability of being malignant. A biopsy is recommended for these lesions. If possible, the relevant probabilities should be cited so that the patient and her physician can decide on the ultimate course of action. BI-RADS 4 lesions can be further subclassified into:

BI-RADS 4A: low level of suspicion for malignancy and has a >2% to ≤10% likelihood of malignancy 4

BI-RADS 4B: moderate level of suspicion for malignancy and has a >10% to ≤50% likelihood of malignancy 4

BI-RADS 4C: high level of suspicion for malignancy and has a >50% to < 95% likelihood of malignancy 4

@churlgurl read your other post just now. Just go to the place where the order has been placed., You do not need to use them for care but you need the biopsy. I got my biopsy at one hospital and used a different one for care. The place where you get care will reread everything.