Let's Help This 40 Yr Old Woman
 

PINK ALERT!

My daughter's friend had a mammogram that was BAD. She is upset. Naturally. They did an ultrasound (since something was seen in the mammo) -- and they got an *inconclusive* reading!

My dghtr and her friend asked me -- what now? I said see a breast surgeon! This 40 yr old woman lives in BEVERLY HILLS...

Joe, Flori -- could you recommend a breast surgeon in that area?? Does anyone on this board have any advice??

I told them not to go w/a bsurg who says "Let's wait 3 mnths/6 mnths and see..." My NY breast surgeon taught me never to wait and see (in '95!).

Input please...

Thanks my Sisters. Thanks Joe. In advance. This lady needs our help!

Andi

Andrea,

I do not know any breast surgeons in the LA area, but do know UCLA has a Breast Center with surgeons, radiologsts, oncologists, plastic surgeons all specializing in bc.

I was 40 when I was diagnosed. I didn't have the option to wait 3-6 months, But would not have been able to. I was sent right from mammogram to ultrasound to biopsy. I would push to see a surgeon.We are getting diagnosed younger and younger. If nothing else go for peace of mind.
Cheryl

Breast center near Bev Hills
 

I had my surgery at the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Breast Center at St. John's hospital in Santa Monica (right next to Bev Hills.) I can't say enough good things about this practice. They do surgery and dx.
The head of the Center is Dr. Armando Giuliano, who pioneered the sentinal node biopsy. If your friend can't get an appointment with him, I would feel totally comfortable with one of his partners.
I've also heard good things, by the way, about City of Hope. Let me know if you need more info.
Linda

I knew I could count on my Sisters! Thank you Margerie, Cheryl and Linda for your suggestions. I have forwarded all to my dghtr and friend.

Such a scary time for any woman, as we all are too keenly aware. Your kindness is deeply appreciated.

May each of you be well and healthy. As you give, so you will receive. This young woman asked that I personally express her deep appreciation for coming to her aid.

This is one fabulous group, as I have always said...

With love,

Andi

Thanks for the bump, Pinkie! We each do what we can... Together we are soooo awesome!

Hi Andi - looks like you are well on the path to the answers you need, but I will ask a friend in LA who she went to and get back to you...

Not knowing and having to wait can be such torture
 

Andi,

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_15v.gifOh I'm sorry to hear ... http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_13.gif It sounds like you have given your daughter's friend some very good advice. It is so scary finding out that there is a possibility of breast cancer. Then to find out the ultrasound is inconculsive can make all of this even more worrisome.

As you mentioned, she is understandably upset. However, having her diagnosis being inconclusive at this point may possibly be a good thing. So I hope she is not panicked. Until/Unless a positive cancer diagnosis is confirmed, let's hope she is worrying unnecessarily. I imagine she understands it could turn out to be benign. No one really knows until those cells are examined microscopically.

If this lady is unable to get an immediate appointment with a breast surgeon, she might consider asking her Gyn or Primary doctor to request or arrange for an immediate breast MRI (it can provide information about the entire breast area, whereas the ultrasound is normally restricted to just a small area/portion of the breast). She might be able to get that done right away and possibly have those MRI findings before she sees the breast surgeon or gets a biopsy.

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Hugs,
Johttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_2_11.gif

Hi Andi

I already emailed you the info...if you didn't get it let me know. I was a mere 38 at diagnosis. That was before Young Survivor's Coalition and now I'm immature enough but too old to join.
xoxo Flori

I don't know how they worded the findings, but a B MRI should erase any ambiguities, unless it's micro calcs. If it's micro calcs, maybe ask for a repeat comphrehensive, digital mamm. I don't see why it can't be done now instead of waiting. Waiting is the hardest part. Bev

I agree w/ Bev- a Breast MRI could really be helpful... BEFORE anyone starts poking around with a needle.
My tumors were not visible on digital mammo nor digital ultrasound... only Breast MRI worked...

Maria

GREAT ADVICE FROM SUCH GREAT LADIES.

FOR ME MAMMOG AND SONO WERE CONCLUSIVE.

IT IS INTERESTING TO HEAR -- WHAT NEXT, FROM THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW BEST. Your takes are invaluable! Wise and wonderful every one. I am passing it all on...

I LOVE YOU ALL...

Andi

Same for me Andi - the mammo and ultrasound missed my 2 tumours. - I got the all clear to have my breast reduction 3 months after these imagings, my plastic surgeon saw one tumour and cut it out separately- went in for a breast reduction, came out with breast cancer. My onc. and breast surgeon sent me for a breast MRI before my mast., the breast MRI found the second, 1 cm. tumour.

all the best
caya

partially conclusive
 

The mammogram completely missed my breast tumors; however, I was lucky my mammo showed four lymph nodes in my armpit were 50% larger when compared to my previous mammo. That prompted me to obsessively perform a very extensive self exam. I stayed up all night trying to find the tumor. I thank God I found my primary tumor at the last minute. It was just deep beyond the mammo screening area----deep from the mammory fold but very deep in the chest near the chest wall. After I had my mastectomies, the pathology revealed another tumor under the nipple --it never showed up on the mammo either.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_8_19.gif Jo

Andi,
You are so kind and caring. Your posts are written in such an amazing manner---I can never find the words or express myself with such beautiful adjectives and enthusiasm like you. You are such an inspiration.

Keep us posted on your daughter's friend. She is in my prayers.

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Johttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_2_11.gif

Ever since my first B.C. surgery in 2003, each time I had a mammagram, the technician would also do an ultrasound. Evendently they saw something, but each time they dismissed it as scar tissue. Even the last one before my 2nd surgery, when my tumor was over 2 cm, the technician still said it was scar tissue. but it was not. Please get a second openion or have an MRI. And if she has to have surgery, don't let them have her wait. I got a friend (a radiation oncologist in the same hospital) to fend for me and acted as my 2nd opinion doctor. We were able to move up the surgery for a week. My surgical margin was 0.5mm from the pectoralis muscle and there were already 2 lymphnodes involved.

I hope and pray everything will turn out O.K. for her. It may well be false alarm.

My mammo missed my tumor also. I had a 2.5 cm tumor completely missed my the mammo. Ultrasound picked it up. Luckily my pcp order the ultrasound on a hunch. Mammo are not good at picking up tumors in young women usually because of dense breast tissue. My surgeon explained it as dense breast tissue shows up white and so does cancer on a mammo.