Anyone dealing with Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH)?

Good for you. I opted to watch and wait after the ALH and ended up with bi lateral mastectomies 2 years later anyway at Stage 1 (no spread to lymph nodes). Knowing now what I didn't know then.........I would have opted for the mastectomies at Stage 0 ALH.....my cancer physical therapist did that.......took them off at a very young age because she'd seen how quickly and unexpectedly it can spread. I've come out on the other side now BUT......there was tension every six months with mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI's and ultimately having to do the surgery anyway. Also, the pathology of my breast tissue following the mastectomies was a bit of everything and ultimately it was going to be a very bad outcome. My breasts were growing every kind of bad thing you can imagine. It sounds like you're very body aware and pro active and that will help you to move through the surgery and recovery well.

My background is in large scale media/public events and I learned a mind set of looking for anything and everything that can go wrong. It sounds negative but it's not..........I did exactly what the doctors say not to do: reading every bad thing that could possibly go wrong. The good that came out of that for me was knowing what was possible, being prepared for complications and having a head start on resolving them. That's my nature but for me.....it's still my method of dealing with cancer. Learn all you can and be prepared if those things occur and grateful when they don't! Keep in touch and let us all know how your surgery and reconstruction are going. Hugs.

Hey there. Yes. I’m scheduled for bilateral mastectomy in 2 weeks. I had a cluster of Micro calcifications that led to stereotactic biopsy. That failed to obtain the calcifications so lumpectomy was scheduled. In the interim, pathology of the biopsy shows (totally unexpectedly and coincidentally ) ALH (lobule). Lumpectomy removed calcifications (benign) but found also diffuse ADH and ALH. greater than 3 foci puts risk at 49%. So. Off with the breasts. I’m 52, vegan, non smoker, no BRCA bad genes. Very athletic. I need my pec muscles so have opted for expanders and above pec implants. For me, 6 month checks and MRIs and drugs ARE not my cup of tea. I’d rather excise the risk now, and heal from that, vs a 50/50 risk of having to do it anyway, AND go through fighting cancer, chemo and radiation. I feel v fortunate and grateful to have found it so coincidentally. And have no hesitation taking proactive preventative steps. It’s clearly a very personal choice...I researched read, interviewed multiple surgeons, researched more etcetc. This is the decision that feels unequivocally authentic for me. Hugs to you. Xxx

doyoga - Hugs and good wishes to you on the bi lateral mastectomies. I too found my breast cancer initially via microcalcifications (not a lump). ALH can present that way. Post mastectomy there will be a great deal of pathology done on the tissue that is helpful in planning for the future. My pathology showed a large number of bad situations 'in the making'. I am glad I chose to move forward with the mastectomies, it was a good choice for me.
I found the surgery pretty easy. I think the hardest part of it for me was the associated worry, not so much pain or the actual surgery side effects. Keep us all posted, we're all here for you.

Hi doyoga,
Several years ago > than 10 years ago I had a lump left breast taken out of breast that showed atypical hyperplasia from a local breast surgeon. Over the years I had micro calcification. This past year at 54 years old I was diagnosed with breast cancer in the same spot. I travel now an hour to an urban area to a great breast cancer surgeon there told me that back then I should have insured that there was clean surgical site borders insured and started on tamoxifen. Hind sight is 20/20 and we know more medically now then 10-15 years ago.
Since then I have discovered I have the ATM gene and six women in my family with breast cancer. I had a left breast mastectomy.
Every breast cancer treatment is a personal and private family desicion, I hope all goes well with you.

I had Micro calcifications that had changed over 3 years. Stereotactic biopsy failed to locate them so I had a subsequent lumpectomy. The biopsy coincidentally found ALH. The lumpectomy showed the calcifications to be benign but the hyperplasia diffuse -as ALH AND ADH.
If fewer than 3 foci (‘locations, if u will) are found, I’m told my risk of breast cancer goes from around 11% in the general population to around 35%. More than 3 foci and we’re at 49%.
I do not have the BRCA gene. Am 51, lifelong vegetarian/vegan, yoga instructor/Ariel silks yoga and dance practitioner, slim, athletic, non smoker ....
I’ve elected to have a bilateral mastectomy with pre pectoral (above the muscle) dual phase reconstruction.

khauff.........I had ALH for 2 years which then turned out to be invasive lobular. It has been a total of 5 years now since I first discovered I had ALH and 3 years since I had treatment for the invasive lobular carcinoma/cancer. So, it's been a total of five years. I am now 61, so this all started when I was 56 years old, which is pretty typical. Because it was lobular cancer I chose to have a bi lateral mastectomy. The first ALH was in the left the invasive in the right breast. It looked like a slippery slope with both breasts involved so I chose the mastectomies. With ductal it's not so common for both breasts to be involved so a lumpectomy and monitoring would be very reasonable. I am quite content with my decision to remove both breasts and reduce my risk as substantially as possible but again.......lobular is tricky like that. I tried tamoxifen with ALH and two AI's following surgery. All of them made me quite ill and so I had to opt out of that treatment. I am very sensitive to any drugs so that is another reason I went to the mastectomies. Due to that treatment I have very low risk of recurrence (even without the AI's - about 8%) but I guess you never start worrying. I'm still monitored every 6 months. I have NO history of breast cancer in my family - on either side so I was surprised BUT I had a long history of dense breasts, cysts, and benign tumors. Also several other risk factors. I suppose I will never feel like I'm out of the woods on this and I probably won't ever be free of the testing and monitoring but I'm trying to stay positive, be proactive with diet and supplements and just carry on. I was so lucky (as you are) to get on this quickly and do all you can to prevent an invasive cancer and cancer that spreads to the lymph nodes if possible. I'm hoping I can cheer you up during a time when I'm sure you're very worried. There are women on the Mayo Support Site here who are doing quite well and fighting the 'good fight' with every stage of cancer. They are better than ever at treating breast cancer. You'll know so much more after your surgery. The pathology will give you and your doctors a lot more information and that will help you know how to move forward. Don't get me wrong.......breast cancer isn't all rainbows and sunshine and stuff but it can be treated and you are not alone. Keep me and all of us posted. All the women on this site are very supportive and have great advice. p.s. I have a daughter too and she recently found a breast lump. It was terrible for me BUT it was an inflamed gland and I'm hopeful that she won't have to go through this or that they'll have figured out incredible treatments by the time she might have to face this. My daughter just had her first mammogram and ultrasound at age 30 and it's all clear so far. Encourage your daughter to be proactive and do the recommended screenings. The key is to find it as early as possible and smack the hell out of it. Ha ha. Hugs!!!!

First off thank you everyone for your posts as they really do help.. Cindylb question for you? You had ALH 5 years and 2 years after that you had invasive breast correct? Did they have you on any medication after the ADH such as tomoxafin or arimidex? I can't take tomoxafin because I had a blood clot after the lumpectomy so they won't put me on that and I had way to many side affects from the arimidex so I am not on anything. I have a couple woman in my family that have had breast cancer and my paternal grandmother died from it (granted when she had they didn't have as much technology or advanced chemotherapy as they do now). According to my doctor it is now if I get breast cancer it is when I get it. I do mammos/Breast MRIs alternating every 6 months. according the doctors I have very extreme dense breasts. My husbands side of the family all of BRCA1 jean so concerned about my daughter as with that on my husbands side and now me having this doctor said she needs to start having mammos at age 25. Thank you for your reply.

So sorry you're going through this. Five years ago I was diagnosed with ALH (lobular vs. ductal) and followed the same course of treatment you are going through now, so I think you're being treated with the standard protocol.....so that is good. The other 'good' news is that it sounds like you've caught your atypical cells early. During the surgery the area in question will be removed and pathology will analyze the tissue, which will give you a lot more information. Depending on the amount of tissue and those results, following the surgery, you really will have a pretty good picture of your situation. Then you will be monitored very closely to see if you get more atypical cells or cancer at some point. Hang on to the good news that you are getting this taken care of and also note.......there are a whole lot of us out here who have been through what you are going through and we're still here, fighting and going on about our lives. My ALH did become an invasive cancer 3 years ago BUT again, I was lucky.....it was Stage One at diagnosis and was highly treatable. That said it doesn't mean you won't be worried or sad about this, but you're doing all you can and you'll have a more complete diagnosis soon and a path forward. Waiting is the worst, information is power and we're all here for you. Hugs.

HI
I had my first mammogram 1/2/19. They found a spot and wanted to do a ultrasound, after the ultrasound they decided that I needed a core biopsy. Had that done 1/15/19. The results came back with Atypical ductal Hyperplasia (ADH). Now they want to do a surgical biopsy to check the surrounding area and remove ADH cells. I think I am understanding this all correctly. February 6 is the surgical biopsy. I haven't told my family, other than my husband. My cousin died last year with triple negative and my family will be so devastated if this is cancer. The waiting is the worst.

Good morning! So sorry to hear you've been through all of this. Hormones.....for some of us they are a tricky mess. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with atypical ductal and atypical lobular hyperplasia. It was the lobular that got me in the end. I had lumpectomy and like you was being monitored for invasive cancer for two years. They found invasive cancer 3 years ago and I opted for a bilateral mastectomy (although a lumpectomy was a possibility). In my case, the ADH and ALH was in my left breast and the invasive ended up in my right (very typical of lobular cancers....both breasts)....hence the mastectomy. And I too had large uterine fibroids and a history of ovarian cysts. I was fortunate in that I was going through menopause at the time and the fibroids and cysts resolved themselves (but not without considerable discomfort and worry)......It's those pesky hormones. The management and leveling of hormones (in my opinion) is very much overlooked for women, resulting often in the serious problems you've experienced and that many of us are dealing with now.
Keep up with the MRI's and Ultrasounds......they saved my life. I was diagnosed at Stage 1 with no spread to my lymph nodes and I was very grateful for the on going monitoring because I caught my breast cancer early. I was unable to use any of the AI drugs.....like you, serious side effects but I have made as many positive changes as possible to improve my health and hopefully calm those hormones (diet, losing weight, no alcohol, quitting smoking, supplements - Vitamin D, Omegas, Tumeric, etc).
Sometimes it doesn't come back..........I am hoping that for you, but do be diligent in getting your tests so you can catch it early.
You've been through a lot already and you're young. I am so sorry. Stay healthy, stay positive and perhaps ask that your doctors check your hormone levels (they are numerous methods)...so you can monitor that as well. It can help you make the decision (as needed) on the AI's
Hugs and wishes for good health to you!