How do I make sense of my biopsy results?

@calygirl84
I am glad you have a MRI scheduled. Is there a reason they are waiting till May?

I found a lump five months after a normal mammogram. I have dense breast which makes it harder for mammograms' to find abnormal tissue. A MRI will give better details.

One suggestion, use this time to get as healthy as you can. If you end up having surgery, the healthier you are, the faster you will recover from surgery.

If your having problems controlling your anxiety, talk to your dr about. They may suggest an anti anxiety medication or a therapist.

Check into other relaxing techniques; exercising, meditation, reading books, coloring, anything to stay busy.

I started crocheting again. Nothing complicated, simple wash clothes. I took it with me to dr appointments to kill time between appointments. I crochet countless wash clothes during my cancer treatment.

Stay calm
Laurie

It is easy to say try not to worry until you know you have something to worry about. Many women have false alarms but it is hard not to react until you get an answer. Waiting is hard. I took walks, watched Netflix, and yes, I asked doc for some ativan, just a few, so I could sleep. I never used it twice in a row and 1/4 pill was plenty for me but it was a godsend.

Dear Laurie, thanks for your response it was very welcoming. I am fortunate to have good people around me and good Dr’s. there is nothing comforting about finding a lump, a month and a half after a Mammogram. I guess the best news is they can remove it. I am going to ask why my MRI is pushed out so far? I have a call put into the nurse practitioner at the Breast care Center. I will try to get answers Monday. Thanks for the support !!💟

Hello @calygirl84 , I know this is an anxiety building experience. I remember taking in the biggest breathing could and blowing it out forcefully, for some reason this helped me to focus back on whatever the task at hand was during the waiting, and waiting, and more waiting. I also learned to give myself 30 minutes in the morning to do all my worrying and borrowing trouble, and then I could say to myself “nope you cannot worry about this until it is time again”. I hope you can find ways to reduce the worry. There might be a delay in the MRI due to the size, around half the thickness of a dime, to see if that changes over a defined period. I am wondering how they could get 5 core samples from something that size.
Are you comfortable asking your doctor about this?

Dear Chris, I so loved your comment.
I keep reading it over and over, as I am so abundantly blessed to hear from everyone!!!! I for one am not happy that my reports initially read” no existence of malignancy” and that this is a fatty/tissue not atypical. However, I get to the actual exam and am told that the Cancer Specialist/ Dr who biopsied my lesion, is concerned that there might be cancer cells in this lump. So I truthfully want this lesion taken out. I do not want to wait 2 months for the MRI and another ultrasound. Then see if it’s palpable and then take it out. I want it actually taken out the sooner the better. What do you all think ?

Hi Colleen thanks so much for the wonderful information. I am thrilled to be part of a forward thinking group of Women, who want real answers and facts. I do not understand why a Dr would let me keep a lump in my breast for 2 + months, go thru another MRI and ultrasound, and end up taking this lesion out anyway. Who wants to sit with a lump might have cancer in it any longer then they have to. I feel like a sitting duck? What are your idea’s on this? I am trying to be my logical self.

Hi Colleen,
My reply to how I keep calm. Is often I realise after I leave the Dr’s appointment, I do not even ask half the questions I wanted to, (after the fact) my real issues are; Why would I want to wait to have to handle this. I just want this lesion removed and be done with it. Is that unrealistic? Thanks @calygirl84

Thank-you abundantly, I do so many things, read, watch my prime and Netflix, cook, go second hand clothes shopping 🛍 and many other things, bible studies, alanon meetings, my life is full. I however, do not like it when this entire Biopsy, lesion, possible cancer cells, and all the other scary things that get thrown at us. I know this isn’t an exact science, but it is very complicated. I just don’t want to do the sit and wait, then wait another month, then another biopsy, then another ultrasound, then another MRI? When it is fairly certain it is cancer, why do they not remove the lesion?

Did they give you a BIRADS number? That can help tell you how much the docs think there is cancer risk. It is unclear what the doc meant by "cancer cells." That could mean a wide range of possibilities. It sounds like there is not a huge amount of concern, that they just want to make sure, but there is no urgency in removal. If waiting is difficult, maybe you should contact the doctor and get on a waiting list, or consult a second doctor. I did not use the oncologist who first did my biopsy. Maybe you can speed things up one way or the other. Are you willing to drive an hour or two?

My first biopsy resulted in a papilloma. My second biopsy resulted in ALH. I have both removed on Tuesday. Hoping for no other surprises!