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Recent breast MRI shows an enhancing mass in upper inner left breast
The enhancing mass appears to be a small irregular mass with angular margins at 9 o’clock. Internal echo texture is hypoechoic. No abnormal lymph nodes were noted. A second look ultrasound was done and correlates to MRI finding. An ultrasound guided biopsy has been scheduled.
This is shocking to me in that the left breast has been monitored since 2022 because of micro calcification groups. I have dense breast. Everything was stable. But out of the blue, last year when I fell and fractured my ankle and a CT was done on my hip and spine to make sure there was no further injury, they found 3 lesions and suspected metastatic bone cancer. I was admitted and testing began to find the primary cancer. The PET scan noted something in my right breast as a possible source. A needle biopsy was done on the right breast and the result was ADH as well as a papilloma behind it. An excision biopsy was done to remove both. During the surgery, surprisingly they found a third tumor/mass behind the papilloma. After much research it was determined to be a rare pleomorphic adenoma. They didn’t get all of the margin and wanted to go back in to remove it. Given all that was found and the size of the ADH mass, the breast surgeon changed the diagnosis to DCIS. Because I got CDif after surgery due to the antibiotic, they did not go back in.
During my 6 month follow up with the breast center for my mammogram and CT scan in April I mentioned to my doctor that my left breast was very painful and showed her where. Nothing suspicious showed on the mammogram. But my doctor said she wanted to do an MRI to check both breasts to see how things looked. The MRI was done July 22 and found the mass I described earlier. I am glad it was done.
I am really concerned now about the metastatic bone suspicion that started all of this. Particularly, since it is now possible that the invasive cancer may have been in my left breast but too small to be detected. They did biopsy one lesion at my insistence but it came back negative. Now that this is unfolding I am wondering if a scan of the 3 lesions should be done again to see if there is any change.
Thoughts and input from this great team of people would greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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You have the ultrasound guided biopsy scheduled? That should help identify what is there. I don’t think the description of the left lesion is definitely cancerous, but it could be.
Did they do any further investigation into the possible bone metastasis? You might want to ask bout taking a “bisphosphonate or denosumab - they can be used to strengthen bones, reduce pain, and decrease the risk of new bone metastases and fractures,” per the Mayo Clinic.
Once the biopsy comes back it should trigger further treatment, or another scan. If it is benignand because of the DCIS with a papilloma on the right, if it were me I’d want to be on a schedule for a MRI in 6 months to monitor if it is stable.
I had a 7 mm DCIS with a papilloma in my right breast (started out as 16 mm but after 2 biopsies the size was smaller after surgery). It was intermediate grade, and had a mixed cell type including some solid type, ER/PR+. The histology of the cells makes a difference for the treatment. I had a lumpectomy, radiation, and am on tamoxifen. If yours was mostly ADH with a papilloma the treatment would be different. I am not a medical professional, I’m just sharing my experience!
Are you at a comprehensive cancer center? Mayo Clinic is great, and you’ll do well there, but if you’re at a local hospital you might consider getting a second opinion from a comprehensive cancer center. It should be paid for by insurance, but if not, the fees I’ve seen aren’t too bad.
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1 ReactionThanks for your quick response. And, yes, I agree the guided biopsy will be able to tell whether this mass is malignant or not. The 2 week wait, however, is stressful.
I was being treated for severe osteoporosis before my fall last year. I was finishing my 2 year treatment on Forteo.. I just had my first Prolia injection in June. The Forteo certainly proved its effectiveness. The doctors were expecting my ankle injury to be far worse than it was. And it was because of the osteoporosis that they scanned by hips and spine. That is when the three bone lesions were identified by the radiologist.
I am being treated at Cleveland Clinic and have an excellent team of doctors so far. They do have a Breast Center for Women and that is where my breast condition has been managed the past four years. My breast changes began to occur last year: the right last year and now the left this year. I do plan to follow up with my Care Team regarding the bone lesions.
I will provide an update when I receive the biopsy results. Again, thanks for the information.
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1 Reaction@lucy9, any update? How are you doing?
My biopsy will be this Tuesday, August 19. I am a little nervous about the outcome, but optimistic. Thanks for reaching out.
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1 ReactionNegative for breast cancer. Very relieved. Pathology diagnosed mass as a Fibroadenomatoid. Scheduled 6 month follow up for ultrasound of both breasts. Thanks for your support!
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