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Question:
#1771
10/26/2006
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I had a benign lump removed in 2004 and it was diagnosed as focal fibrosis. Two weeks ago another solid lump and liquid filled lump were found via ultrasound. What does this mean? |
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simply means that you have new findings that warrant further attention. some women's breasts grow abnormal lumps and cysts. actually, most do at some point in their life time. |
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Question:
#1772
10/26/2006
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HI there, I recently had a mammogram done and was told that it came back abnormal. the test showed some deep shadow density. now i have to go in for a sonogram. can anyone explain to me exactualy what they mean by shadwo density. is this serious? or did the machine mess up and they just want to be sure on what they saw.
thanks |
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its a vague deion that they saw a darkened area on the film. nothing more than that. no way for them or me to guess what it is. |
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Question:
#1773
10/26/2006
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Seven days ago I had a stereotactic core biopsy (face down,x-ray guided)at a Radiology facility (after 2 mammograms and dignosis of abnormal cluster micro-calcification on right breast) - the procedure was very difficult for me as the radiologist could not get an accurate reading via stereo images and computer calculations to target the area. He made 3 unsuccessful attempts to do the core biopsy (I now have 2 incisions and steristrips; the radiologist then referred to the machine as "stupid" and I left the facility wondering what had just happened to me. No biopsy, multiple incisions, blood, needles and dressings and to be truthful: scared and demoralized. I took action and called around to find a physician trained in this area (and that would take my insurance) and will be seeing a general surgeeon for a consult next week. I received no follow-up call from the Radiology facility - is the aforementioned normal (especially having 3 unsuccessful attempts to retrieve a biopsy? It was Thanks ever so much. |
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not normal.... you need a radiologist who specializes in breast imaging and diagnostic evaluation. if you want to come to us just call 443-287-2778. general surgeon isn't what you need either frankly. |
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Question:
#1774
10/26/2006
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I am 44 years old my Mother had Breast Cancer, I am nursing my son who is 18months old and would like to get a mammagram done, but I have been told that they will not do one on me while I am breast feeding. I have had 4 mammagrams in the past and 2 of them where doing breast feeding . Has this changed |
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standard of care is to not do mammograms on a lactating breast because it is of no value. you can't see a thing on the films while a breast is producting milk. |
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Question:
#1775
10/26/2006
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This week after a screening mammogram I was called back in to get a diagnostic mammogram due to microcalcification in my left breast. The diagnostic mammogram showed only 2 spots of calcification and the radiologist said if there were 5 or more areas of calcification it would be a concern. During the diagnostic mammogram a small cyst was found that was not seen on the screening mammogram. I had an ultrasound and the tech. and radiologist couldn't find the cyst. Any reason for concern? |
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consider a second opinion reading of your mammmograms to ensure that these calcs are okay in their appearance. cysts can come and go. |
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Question:
#1776
10/26/2006
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I finished 7.5 weeks of radiation in July. I recently had my 6 month mam. I have been told that the mam showed new calcification specs and I need a biopsy. What is the chance that these new calcification are cancer |
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might be that they aren't new but were residually there before and just now seen. |
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Question:
#1777
10/26/2006
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I am only 41 and just found out I have breast cancer.
I am normal/average body size but large chested. If the cancer turns out to be restricted in only that one area of my breast, CAN THEY TAKE THE CANCER OUT AND DO A REDUCTION ON BOTH BREASTS AT THE SAME TIME??? What are the statistics on this? How often is it? What are the risks? HELP!!! Thank you very much!!!! |
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it wouldn't be wise to do the reduction at the same time but a reduction could be done shortly thereafter along with the other breast. here is why it shouldn't be done at the same time--- they need to ensure clear margins. if they rearrange the breast tissue in doing a reduction they won't know where the original margin edges were that the cancer was located. so once clear margins are confirmed then reduction is doable. breast reduction also reduces risk of recurrence interestingly enough. go to www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/artemis and use search feature to read article about this. |
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Question:
#1778
10/26/2006
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I am 54 years of age and through mammogram and ultrasound have been found to have a 5mm deep posterior nodule in my right breast. It has pressed on the chest wall giving the wall a concave appearance. A wire localization biopsy was recommended rather than needle biopsy because of concerns for the lung. It does not have cancer characteristics. What kinds of nodules could cause this? Thank you! |
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could be fibroadenoma, just fibrous tissue or even a lymph node if they determine if it not cancer. it is very very tiny. wire loc is commonly done for biopsies of tissue close to chest wall. |
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Question:
#1779
10/26/2006
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significance of shady area found in mamogram |
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no way to guess. too vague. and that is why they probably haven't given you an answer either. they need to do additional studies to determine if it is anything of concern or not. |
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Question:
#1780
10/26/2006
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I had first excisional biopsy at age 43(solid mass was benign. Had 14 FNA on cysts over next 9 years and last year at age 51 after ultasound had another excisional biopsy again benign. Had another again this year(negative) At routine Dgital mammogram last week Dr. saw a cluster of cells at 2 o'clock in outer quadrant and rated BIRADs Category 4 recommending Sterotactic core biopsy. I have extremely low BP & strong vasovagal response and have even fainted with my first mammogram but this facility states they do not do procedure with IV sedation which knowing my body is the only way I'll be able to tolerate it. Won't do either me or the clinicians any good if I vomit, then pass out. Are there other alternatives for diagnosing and follow up, perhaps MRI. Thanks Karen PS only family hx of breast ca is my mom's only sister. |
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so sounds like if you are hesitant about embarking on a stereotactic biopsy you may need to do an open excisional biopsy which would be done under sedation. wire localization procedure in breast imaging though would still be needed. |
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Question:
#1781
10/26/2006
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Approximately 2 months ago i had ducts removed from bilateral breasts. The nipples were lifted. I have been experiencing numbness and tenderness to my arms. My wrist area and under my arm, particularly on the left side where more tissue was removed is more bothersome. Is this normal after this surgery? I have fibrocystic disease. Does this surgery lower my chances of breast cancer in any way? |
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not normal and actually might be coincidence and not even related to the surgery. this would make more sense if you had had axillary node dissections but that is not the case. so time to see a neurologist. |
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Question:
#1782
10/26/2006
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Question#85 posted 10/22/06 If there is no history of breast cancer in my family, would the findings of ADH in a core biopsy still be 30% possibility of breast cancer findings? |
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yes |
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Question:
#1783
10/25/2006
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how are the bi-rad ratings determined and what does each grade or rating mean? are they 1-5? and is pathology the same as cytology? |
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here's the classification system. the score is assigned by the radiologist reading the mammogram.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/524584_5
cytology is pathology cells that were biopsied.
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Question:
#1784
10/25/2006
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Related to a previous question
Could this suggest a recurrence?
Previous lumpectomy 11/05 at 7:00 position.
On Rside: a zone abnormal enhancment multiple nodular lesions 52X21 mm at 7:00-8:00 the area of lumpectomy (scar)site.
Composed of 3-4 anterior nod.ls= 1cm and a posterior nod. approx=16mm. No adenopathy/No posterior wall envolved.
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yes, that's possible if they have confirmed it is new. |
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Question:
#1785
10/25/2006
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Two attempts were made to do a needle biopsy of the left breast when an abnormality showed up on mammogram. Could not do needle biopsy - unsure of location. I had a surgical biopsy with this result: Sections reveal unremarkable benign breast tissue with focal small nodular fibrocytic changes and focal systic changes with apocrine metaplasia. No tumor or calcification is identified. The breast surgeon recommends a see an oncologist for preventative treatment such as tomoxofin. My mother and sister both had breast cancer and I am in a high risk group. Please explain apocrine metaplasia and a reaction to the preventative medication. |
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i didn't read the words "atypical hyperplasia". key word being "atypical" so if that wasn't found on biopsy then you are not at increased risk based on the biopsy results, but instead only based on family history. your family should consider genetic testing beginning with your mother or sister who already had breast cancer. yes, you should be followed by a high risk specialist too. |
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Question:
#1786
10/25/2006
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Hi Lilly, I had the Diep flap surgery done in June of 2004. I started just now to feel some lumps around the edge of the flap close to the breast bone and I was wondering if this is normal with the diep flap. I do have the brca 1 gene. I only had chemo no radiation. I had two lumps one the size of 2.6 cm and 3.0 cm with 4 lymps nodes although my surgeon called it stage 2. I guess now that I know for sure I have the brca 1 gene I guess I'm more worried that it will come back since I didn't have radiation. I also never felt these lumps before and the tenderness in between the breasts just started this past week. I hate going to the onc. for nothing. I always feel so stupid when it turns out to be nothing. I also want to thank you for have this web site and for answering our questions. |
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it warrants being checked with a clinical breast exam and an ultrasound to see what this is since it has been 2.5 years since the surgery was done... |
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Question:
#1787
10/25/2006
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I am 49 yrs. old and nearly 4 weeks ago found a lump in my right breast that is about 3 cm. On examination, the dr. thought it may be an "adenoma" but recommended a mamagraphy and said it should probably be evaluated by a surgeon. However, as I am in the process of getting my health insurance reactivated after a job loss, I am not able to have a mamography for another two or three weeks (with Kaiser) . I do not have a hx of breast ca in my family. Do you think I should have a diagnosis as soon as possible or waiting another 3 weeks does not make much difference?
Thank you. |
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waiting the 3 weeks is okay. |
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Question:
#1788
10/25/2006
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Can a breast ultrsound determines if the lump is benign or not? |
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often times it can... if can show the shape of the mass and whether it is solid or liquid. |
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Question:
#1789
10/25/2006
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Right breast pain (for over a year). Film Mammo normal, cbe, sbe normal. Do you recommend MRI? 40yrs, no kids, post meno family history. Thanks |
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first consider a second opinion exam elsewhere and take your films with you. |
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Question:
#1790
10/25/2006
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I'm in a quandry about taking tamoxifen. I'm almost finished with radiation for DCIS (localized),nuclear grade 2,ER+/PR+, HER/neu-. I've read alot about the benefits of lumpectomy and radiation, but I'm wondering if it's overkill in taking the tamoxifen. I'm 54, STILL perimenopausal,and leaning toward not taking the tamoxifen. Your input, as always, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you |
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let's focus on the purpose of the hormonal therapy-- to prevent recurrence in the same breast that had the cancer as well as keep the other breast healthy. it reduces risk of recurrence by 50%. that's a big number when we are talking about cancer. so rethink your decision. |
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Question:
#1791
10/25/2006
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I am 54 years old and a few days ago I had a sudden gush (blood was dripping everywhere) of blood from my right breast while brushing my hair. My MD said it is probably a papilloma but will do a mammogram anyway. Do you think this is adequate? Will a papilloma show on mammogram? My breasts are large and dense. |
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papilloma is a common cause of bloody nipple discharge. mammogram is good to help evaluate this. sometimes a ductogram is needed to look at the inside of the duct and visualize what is causing the irritation. papillomas are surgically removed. |
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Question:
#1792
10/25/2006
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Hello..BC Survivor..diagosed stage 3A...1997...chemo..adriamyicin...then total mastac...5/13 nodes positve...er pos...then 6 mths of more chemo...radiation...on and off Tamoxifen for 4 years..because of bleeding. Oncologist now wants me to take Femara...after 4 years of being off of Tamoxifen. Although my numbers show me to be post meno...I still get a small bleed every 3-4 months...Doctor wants to give a shot that will put me into real post meno...and then start femara..I am nervous...first off my bone density showed a 7 and 8 percent loss in hip and spine...my cholestrol is 275...horrible...and I suffer constantly form bone and muscle joint pain... Should I listen to my onc and go on Femara so many years after completing Tamoxifen? Thank you ever so much... |
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with an original diagnosis of stage 3 disease, you want to remain proactive and aggressive in prevention of recurrence. so his recommendation is a logical one. ask about going on a bone density building drug at the same time to prevent bone loss. |
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Question:
#1793
10/25/2006
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I have had a painless 2cm lymph node under my arm (in my pit) for over 7 months now, it is moveable and rubbery. It has never gotten larger but does seem to change consitency with my cycle. I have seen a surgeon, he would not remove it said it was nothing to worry about and had a mammo, spot compression, ultrasound of the breast and an ultrasound of the node, which came back Bi-Rads 2 benign appearing 2cm lymph node. Is this normal, can someone have an 2cm enlarged node for almost a year and it be nothing to worry about? How accurate are lymph node ultrasounds? |
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yes, they can. an infection from a previous time period can also cause a node to enlarge and remain that way. |
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Question:
#1794
10/25/2006
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Are breast dimples likely to be caused by anything else apart from cancer? |
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assuming no surgery has been done in the last few months causing scarring inside, then the most common reason is cancer. |
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Question:
#1795
10/25/2006
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My sister was diagnosed in August 2006 with Stage 4 breast cancer. It is in the lympnodes under her left arm and has metasized to the bone marrow. She is currently taking agressive chemo every 3 weeks. She is in severe pain in her back and is walking with a walker. She is hump back and her head looks down. Will the chemo alliviate the pain in her back and help her to regain strength in her back and be able to walk again? She is a single Mom. The doctor will not give a prognosis yet? I have done lots of research and I feel her 5 year survival rate is 10-15%. In your honest opinion, what do you feel her chances are? |
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it probably won't help with the pain. pain medication will be needed for this. her situation sounds serious. |
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Question:
#1796
10/25/2006
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are nodules and calcs in the breast the same thing? should i be alarmed if recent mammo follow-up now shows calcs that were not there last year? i cannot get these checked out till 2 weeks from now, is it ok to wait till then? i cannot get seen for a us till then. is us the right path to follow? why a us, will a bx be needed, if so what kind of bx? i feel like i am in a maze- again |
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you are worrying yourself into a frenzy and need to give your brain and break and the computer a rest too.... waiting 2 weeks is okay. nodules and calcs are different. new calcs always have to be investigated. probably stereotactic biopsy. |
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Question:
#1797
10/25/2006
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I am 69 years old and recently experienced pain in my left breast. There was also a small red streak. This lasted about two or three days and cleared with warm soaks. I had no discharge or swelling. Several days later I noticed my nipple somewhat inverted. I had a normal mammogram in April and my md ordered a diagnostic mammogram which was negative. Do I need to do any more. I was told it was probably mastitis. Thamks |
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the key here is that it cleared up. so might have been an infection that now has resolved. what is strange though is the inverted nipple. if you still have this then you need to have additional imaging done to determine the cause. |
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Question:
#1798
10/25/2006
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I have been reading this forum hoping to get my question answered without having to post. I am grateful it is here. However, it seems that my radiology reports are pretty vague compared to others. I had a palapal lump in my R breast that thru ultrasound turned out to be cysts. However, my mammo was a tough read because my breast are very dense and nodular. They said that there are a few scattered calcifications bilaterally with no suspicious cluster, but didnt mention whether the calcifications were macro or micro. Then they found a bilobed hypoechoic nodule, 7x4mm in size, with internal echoes and possilbe septation. They gave it a Bi-rad 4. I know until biopsy, I cant really guess, but they don't mention whether its irregular, round, shadowed, spiculated, etc. I am especially scared because my r lymph node in my axillary is swollen, i have a cyst on my r ovary that my ob/gyn didnt seem concerned about, and on CT last year, there were some punctuate calicifications on my pancreas (I had it done for what I thought was gallbladder pain, but ct and us showed nothing wrong.) The docs did note that my right kidney was larger than the the left, said that's normal, and ive had r sided cluster headaches for about a year now. Seems the whole right side of my body is a mess. I am 39 years old with no known hx of bc, but there is cancer history in general. Besides the horrible anxiety (this has been going on for 6 weeks since they first found the palabable lump)-why would my reports not be as detailed as some that I've seen here? I have no idea if there are irregular borders, etc. Basically said while it could be a complex cyst, cannot rule out alternative etiologies. I have to wait until Nov 8th to see the surgeon they referred me to. If an ultrasound guided biopsy is warrented, why send me to a surgeon? Unfortunatly I have an HMO and Im very limited in seeking out second opinions/advice.Thanks in advance. |
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don't try to put all your body symptoms together. they really sounds like separate and distinct issues... so sounds like you are fearing you have cancer involving half of your body. you probably don't. you can call the radiologist and simply ask him what the shape was. he will tell you. ask him point blank how concerned (or not) you should be. |
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Question:
#1799
10/25/2006
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In 1999 I was diagnosed with IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma). Tumor was between 1-2cm, anaploid, grade II, S-phase couldn't be determined, Clear Margins, ER/PR+, No Node Involvement. Clinically Stage 1. I opted for the Lumpectomy with Radiation as opposed to Mastectomy. At that time the Sentinal Node was VERY new (at least in my area) so the regular line of treatment with the surgery was Axillary Node Dissection which was performed as well. When the Path report came in the Onocologist strongly suggested chemo because she felt that my cancer was leaning toward being somewhat more aggressive. She said that although I was Stage1 clinically... she considered me to be Stage2 based on the Path reports. I went ahead with the surgery, then Chemo, then Radiation for 7 wks. The Chemo was set for a series of 4 (Adria & Cytoxan). After 3 treatments she stopped it because she said if I did that last 1 it may have killed me. I opted NOT to do Tamoxifen or Arimidex (after I tried them both briefly).
Now here it is almost 7 years later after the initial diagnosis. I am always terrified that it will come back and think that the more time goes by the more likely it will come back... like I am pushing my luck maybe? Or is it a better thing when more time goes by without recurrance?
Also, since all that was done almost every mammogram they find something in either 1 or the other breast... so far none of the findings have been malignancies (cysts, intramammmary lymph nodes etc). To further complicate things I had a hysterectomy at age 29 with ovaries removed and had been on HRT for apprx 20 yrs. prior to my diagnosis. Understanding the surgeon's insistance to remove the estrogen following receipt of the Path report I only made it for 7 months when I INSISTED on getting my estrogen back because my life had become truly unliveable with the severe symptoms of the sweats & flashes. I went back on the estrogen in 1/2 the dose that i had been on prior to cancer and that is "liveable" for me. I truly would have committed suicide if I didn't get it back because the suffering was that severe. I live in terror about that all the time and have tried to get off it but the suffering is too much to bear even now at my age of 54. (I tried EVERY natural, herbal etc replacement with no positive effects, effexor, and everything else available). How much have I increased my chances for a recurrance due to my being on the Estrogen?
My mom had a rare breast disease when she was in her 40's (Zuska's Disease). Is that in any way a pre-cursor or shown to be a pre-disposition to Br. Cancer? Should my 35 year old daughter be tested Genetically?
Thanks for any assistance you can provide. |
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regarding genetics, you should be tested before your daughter because you have been diagnosed. if you tested positive then your daughter gets tested.
the longer the time goes by the less risk of recurrence. getting by the 2 year mark is huge. then by the 6 year mark is even better. but taking HRT is not wise, given that your cancer was hormone receptor positive. so rethink that decision. |
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Question:
#1800
10/24/2006
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what is a surgical bx? can it be done in a doctor's office? and does the who area in ? get removed?how long does the procedure last and are they any side or after effects? I have NEVER had one in my whole life and i am beyong scared.
It makes me feel like i am going to die. |
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surgical biopsy means making an incision in the breast and surgically cutting out tissue to send to pathology to see if it is cancer or not. it involves anesthesia and is not done in the doctor's office. in operating room. |
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