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Scared for next steps

Posted by bkfx2 @bkfx2, Jun 30, 2025

Hello. This emotional roller coaster I am on, along with web surfing has landed me here.
I have very dense breasts. Last year I chose to have an ultrasound completed. They found cluster of cysts and do focused imaging on every 6 months.
This month I had my annual mammogram, and the Radiologist found a focal grouping of calcifications with a BIRAD of 4 - suspicious.
I have my stereotactic biopsy this week. I am on an emotional roller coaster and I guess I am looking for something. What, I am not quite sure.
Maybe someone has had the same thing and can tell me that they have done well. I am scared and just want to breathe.

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

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myoga | @myoga | Jul 26, 2025

@bkfx2
How did your biopsy turn out? I hope it’s benign. 🤗

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myoga | @myoga | Jul 26, 2025
In reply to @janetnd "I hope I didn’t hijack the OP’s original post but wanted to pop in to say..." + (show)
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I hope I didn’t hijack the OP’s original post but wanted to pop in to say that I got through the MRI with flying colors, thanks to all of your encouragement and suggestions (and a little Xanax). As many have said, it’s the unknown that’s the scariest part. I hope that as I tick off each of these procedures that had me so anxiety ridden, and see that I am, in fact, able to get through them, I’ll get stronger and better able to face what is next.

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I’m glad you got through it with flying colors! I pray for your good results. You definitely get stronger and more resilient! We are all here for you.🤗

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billiemoore | @billiemoore | Jul 26, 2025
In reply to @janetnd "@auntieoakley @cmdw2600 @mir123 I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your words and suggestions...." + (show)
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@auntieoakley @cmdw2600 @mir123 I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your words and suggestions. I feel better just reading your responses. I found this group yesterday, and spent about an hour before bed going through many of the posts, and for the first time since the diagnosis, I slept almost through the night. Not perfectly, but much better. I already have a journal writing habit—I’m going to write all of your suggestions down. I know there are going to be a lot of ups and downs, but at least now I know that it’s even possible to have some “ups.” Thank you thank you.

Now just keep some positive thoughts for me tomorrow morning when I have to have an MRI. I’m so claustrophobic so right now I can’t imagine there’s enough Xanax in the world to get me through it! I’m actually more afraid of that than surgery. Funny how fears work, huh.

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Same here so I opted to skip it. I did the rest—CT, bone scan, petscan (took 1/2 Xanax and practiced with board over my face for weeks). I do know at some point as a regular check I may have to do it but I have found places that do the rapid MRI, which is half the time. Honestly I will fly to another state to do the sitting MRI if available for breasts..otherwise I’m going to ask for the new mammogram where they use contrast for dense breast + ultrasound. I did mri one time and never doing it again if I can avoid it. Petscan is golden so opted to bypass MRI for this go around.

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worried1111 | @worried1111 | Jul 28, 2025

Dear CMDW,
What are they waiting and monitoring for? Something to happen before they take action? I had a single mastectomy on the right side followed by a recurrence 2 weeks later. Then two lumpectomy surgeries to get clear margins on the right chest wall recurrence. Because of all this trouble and anxiety with the right side I knew that I wanted the left side off too. I had to engage in a massive lobbying campaign l. However, the opportunity of calcifications gave me the opening for the mastectomy on the left. It helped that I agreed to a double reconstruction at the same time. I am relieved it’s gone. My surgeon told me that the chance of BC on the mat side is now 5% as opposed to 17-20%

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shelbym | @shelbym | Jul 28, 2025
In reply to @janetnd "Oh boy, we are in the exact same boat. I’m newly diagnosed, have dense breasts, and..." + (show)
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Oh boy, we are in the exact same boat. I’m newly diagnosed, have dense breasts, and my anxiety level is through the roof. I had a stereotactic biopsy too and had the hardest time keeping still. The radiologist suggested I get a prescription for Xanax (or something like that) for the next one I have to have. So I’m hoping that’ll help.

It’s the unknowns and not knowing what to expect that’s been so hard on me. I wish I didn’t have such a vivid imagination, because I’m imagining that everything is going to be horrible. I will say, that so far, the doctors and nurses have been so great, and that has been comforting. Unfortunately they’re not available to talk me down from the 2:00 am panic attacks. Anyone know how to get through those?

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I think the waiting is the worse. I, too, am newly diagnosed. I had to wait about three weeks to see the team. Those three weeks were bad and this is my 5th cancer! I finally figured out the other 4 times I was working so I had something to occupy my mind. Now I’m waiting on surgery. If you meditate it can really help as well as deep breathing. Thinking of you

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lifetraveler | @lifetraveler | Jul 29, 2025

Hi! @shelbym

I am so sorry for all you've been through... It broke my heart upon learning that this is your 5th cancer:(

Thanks for sharing your experience to help us! Have you done Genetic Testing for inherited cancer Risk before? Perhaps talk to your care team on this matter - if you haven't; for early detection always is the key for successful cancer treatment, and it is important information for your blood relatives to know if there's any abnormal mutations.

My heart and prayers go for you all, my friends. Wishing you all a better journey ahead with faith, hope and love enjoying your loved ones!

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tiffwolfe | @tiffwolfe | Jul 29, 2025

Take it one moment at a time and just breathe. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with triple negative, metaplastic BC and I seriously thought I was dying. Here I am., still breathing. We are all here and we do not fight alone. Listen to your team and take it one step at a time. I know it is scary but you got this.

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myoga | @myoga | Jul 29, 2025
In reply to @tiffwolfe "Take it one moment at a time and just breathe. I was diagnosed 5 years ago..." + (show)
Profile picture for tiffwolfe @tiffwolfe

Take it one moment at a time and just breathe. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with triple negative, metaplastic BC and I seriously thought I was dying. Here I am., still breathing. We are all here and we do not fight alone. Listen to your team and take it one step at a time. I know it is scary but you got this.

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Thank you so much for the encouragement! I was DMX with bc, stage 1, grade 2, yet I couldn’t help but worry about metastasis! I’m brca2 and recently had bilateral mastectomy. Still, the thought of metastasis is never far from my mind. Your message helps a lot! 🤗

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