1. < Breast Cancer

I’m new, concerned, NERVOUS and worried NO Diagnosis

Posted by isaish53n5 @isaish53n5, Apr 9, 2023

My doctor had recommended that I have a biopsy on my right breast. At this time, the doctor has identified a suspicious area of concern in the right upper outer posterior of the breast. Specifically, there are white loose clusters calcifications that show concern.

the doctor indicated

Increasing loose cluster of microcalcifications within upper and outer quadrant of the right breast at posterior depth. Further characterization with 90 degree ML projection and spot magnification views is recommended.

A written summary of this mammography report in lay terms was sent to the patient.

The chief value of a mammogram is to detect a non-palpable cancer. A negative mammogram should not deter further workup if it is clinically warranted. Approximately 10% of palpable malignancies cannot be visualized radiographically.

Overall BI-RADS category: 0 - Incomplete: Needs

Additional Imaging Evaluation

I don’t know what all this means really however I do know the doctor and nurse indicated that most of these are benign. The nurse also indicated if this was a major concern that they would have briefed her on my case but they didn’t. The doctor just wants to rule out the possibilities of breast cancer. (Well if that’s the case, why do they want to do a stereotactic biopsy?) what is a sterotactic biopsy?

what are the odds of this being something serious?

Thank you and God bless you all,

Holly

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

katcara | @katcara | Jul 14, 2023
In reply to @wpglea "Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy...." + (show)
@wpglea

Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy. ('already had two surgeries--lumpectomy and all but 3 lymph nodes removed, and another to remove deep cancerous tissue)
The surgical nurse told me since I am over 75, the surgery will be excruciatingly painful and I will have pain the rest of my life. This is to be thought of like an amputation.
You survived two mastectomy surgeries and are alive to write about it. There is hope for me.
God bless; keep smiling.
(P. S. I have discovered doctors do not want us to research too much, and they hate questions.)

Jump to this post

Bless you. I can’t believe a medical professional told you to expect excruciating pain! I too am over 75 and that was certainly not my experience at all. The two knee replacements I had were much more miserable. But worth it. And the cancer surgeries can well be worth the cost too. I do think what we expect in terms of pain and outcomes can color the results. So I hope you can find positive people and information to help sustain you. And maybe let your doctor know you need a nurse who will fortify you, not terrify you. It is the medical folks JOB to control your post operative pain. I am really furious that that happened to you. Hang in there! You’ve been through plenty already. You are strong!

REPLY
katcara | @katcara | Jul 14, 2023
In reply to @wpglea "Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy...." + (show)
@wpglea

Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy. ('already had two surgeries--lumpectomy and all but 3 lymph nodes removed, and another to remove deep cancerous tissue)
The surgical nurse told me since I am over 75, the surgery will be excruciatingly painful and I will have pain the rest of my life. This is to be thought of like an amputation.
You survived two mastectomy surgeries and are alive to write about it. There is hope for me.
God bless; keep smiling.
(P. S. I have discovered doctors do not want us to research too much, and they hate questions.)

Jump to this post

I tried to reply to you earlier but it may not have posted? I am over 75 as well and furious that a medical provider would have told you that you will have excruciating pain. I did not! I had a double mastectomy and some lymph glands removed. Not nearly so bad as knee surgery. Which was worth the discomfort, as is breast surgery often enough. I hope you will get through this as you have gotten through other difficult procedures. Hang in there. Don’t let anyone contaminate your thinking with negativity! All my best!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Miriam, Volunteer Mentor | @mir123 | Jul 14, 2023
In reply to @wpglea "Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy...." + (show)
@wpglea

Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy. ('already had two surgeries--lumpectomy and all but 3 lymph nodes removed, and another to remove deep cancerous tissue)
The surgical nurse told me since I am over 75, the surgery will be excruciatingly painful and I will have pain the rest of my life. This is to be thought of like an amputation.
You survived two mastectomy surgeries and are alive to write about it. There is hope for me.
God bless; keep smiling.
(P. S. I have discovered doctors do not want us to research too much, and they hate questions.)

Jump to this post

Very upsetting to hear what the nurse told you. There are many methods of pain control and as a patient you should expect and receive complete relief. Pain can indeed linger after surgery, but here again, you are entitled to medication, PT, possibly acupuncture, and more. I found arnica salve useful post lumpectomy, and a friend with some moderate post mastectomy pain has been offered a variety of non-addictive drugs and alternative therapies (paid for by Medicare). Mayo Clinic has a great book on how to deal with pain. Think about labor and delivery as a comparative--can childbirth be "excruciating?" Yes, but no woman is warned about that because she is either supported medically or by natural methods. This nurse sounds very unprofessional and unkind, and I'm sorry.

REPLY
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jul 15, 2023
In reply to @wpglea "Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy...." + (show)
@wpglea

Thank you, thank you for posting. I am facing a third cancer diagnosis and a mastectomy. ('already had two surgeries--lumpectomy and all but 3 lymph nodes removed, and another to remove deep cancerous tissue)
The surgical nurse told me since I am over 75, the surgery will be excruciatingly painful and I will have pain the rest of my life. This is to be thought of like an amputation.
You survived two mastectomy surgeries and are alive to write about it. There is hope for me.
God bless; keep smiling.
(P. S. I have discovered doctors do not want us to research too much, and they hate questions.)

Jump to this post

I would be finding another doctor. This is overwhelmingly not the results that I read here on connect. What hogwash!

REPLY
wpglea | @wpglea | Jul 15, 2023
In reply to @katcara "I tried to reply to you earlier but it may not have posted? I am over..." + (show)
@katcara

I tried to reply to you earlier but it may not have posted? I am over 75 as well and furious that a medical provider would have told you that you will have excruciating pain. I did not! I had a double mastectomy and some lymph glands removed. Not nearly so bad as knee surgery. Which was worth the discomfort, as is breast surgery often enough. I hope you will get through this as you have gotten through other difficult procedures. Hang in there. Don’t let anyone contaminate your thinking with negativity! All my best!

Jump to this post

I had not considered medical advice as contaminated thinking, but you are absolutely correct. I appreciate the fact that you took time to post.

REPLY
raebaby | @raebaby | Jul 16, 2023

I had a biopsy and a lumpectomy at 79. I don't remember any significant pain.

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bestpommom | @bestpommom | Jul 16, 2023

I just had a stereotactic biopsy on Monday for birads 4 suspicious new calcifications. They said it was a cluster 1.7 cm. I had breast cancer surgery last October where they did a reduction and lift as well. So this was my new baseline mammogram and this clump of calcifications was new. I took an Ativan and was quite relaxed during the procedure. They put you in a chair and squish your breast in the Mammo machine so they can see where to go in for the biopsies. I wore an eye mask. I didn’t see anything and it was not painful. My findings were benign. Recheck in 6 months.

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