1 yr post ILC mammo; radiologist changed recommendation
72 years old. At my 1 year post ILC (right breast lumpectomy, ER+ PR+,HER-) mammo the radiologist informed me that I should return in 6 months for additional left breast imaging since he saw some calcifications. My breasts are very dense. The next day (a Friday!) when the mammo report appeared in my patient record, the recommendation was birads 4b, suspicion of malignancy, recommendation for biopsy. It took a full week for the radiologist to return my frantic phone calls, and he said he changed the recommendation after reviewing my family history! My mother died of breast cancer age 46, and my maternal grandmother had BC age 77, but lived another 10 years. The radiologist said he "couldn't really say" why he didn't call me! Pleasant, but no apology. I'm furious and have a second opinion appointment this week with another facility. I live in NYC so lots of treatment choices. My loss of trust in my treatment team and the decision about where to proceed are eating me up. How would folks proceed if you were in my shoes? No litigation etc, I'm thinking of my health and we'll being along with the idea of going through surgery, radiation and even longer on anastrozole! Thanks in advance!
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Memorial Sloan Kettering is in NYC, it’s a comprehensive cancer care center. It would be my first choice if I were in NY. My sister in law went there for breast cancer, my brother is a surgeon and was running the burn center at NY Presbyterian Hospital and it is where he chose for her.
I was initially told my lesion looked like a folded lymph node, and should wait 6 months, this from a local hospital. I requested a biopsy anyway, and it was 1.6 cm DCIS. My brother said absolutely go to a comprehensive cancer center, so I drove 3.5 hours to MD Anderson. These are not the only comprehensive care centers, Mayo Clinic is another excellent one, along with others.
Thank you! I have an appointment with MSK this week.