Probably Benign

Some advice would be welcome. I had my six month mammogram, after surgery, on February 22. I was told to wait and then was called in again for some additional images. of course, I was thinking--"this is it," but then radiologist called me in and said "all is okay," just checking against former images. Today, I received the report in the mail. I quote: "Your recent exam showed an area that we believe is benign. A six month follow-up is recommended."

This is the same type of report I had when I found the cancer. I pointed out an area to mammogram radiologist that I thought felt a bit lumpy; they took extra images then sent me for a sonogram. The report was "probably benign, return in six months." I went for a biopsy immediately, and it was DCIS and IDC (5mm), HER2 positive by FISH and IHC. I called my breat surgeon, haven't yet heard back, and believe I want a follow-up now. Should it be MRI, PET, or what. My September PET showed some take-up in chest wall and some in area of surgery; PET radiologist said it was probably a result of surgery.

Surgeon's nurse just called to say, "don't worry, probably surgery changes."

Advice about follow-up is welcome. Thanks.

[tousled1]

Grace,

It may just be scar tissue that is showing up on the mammo. They can do an MRI of the breast and if I were you I think I would insist on it. I know if I had that report, I couldn't wait the six months to see what happens. You can always call your surgeon and see what he/she thinks.

[Becky]

There are a lot of post surgery changes. See if you can actually get the radialogist's report (which is very lengthy versus what you get from the mammogram center). Also, see if you can see your surgeon and bring the pix with you. My surgeon is dynamite and explains all the changes (you continue to change up to 3 yrs post surgery but the most changes are in the first 2 years). She tells me what they are, what they mean and why certain calcifications are always benign (versus the kind that are not - and showed me my "bad" cancer mammo etc). I know she is exceptional but you should be able to get something out of your surgeon too.

It is always comforting to know that you really don't have to worry and I am sure that you don't. Unfortunately, we have to revert to being 2 year olds again and keep asking "why, why, why"!

I learned to get my mammo done about 4-5 weeks before a surgeon appointment so I would have pictures to bring everytime. This will always be my plan when I move to the once a year schedule.

Secondly, I always found it was difficult to sometimes get the full report. Now I have them copy my PCP who is diligent with making sure I get copies of everything so I copy him on my brain MRI etc so I always get everything. See - we can come up with all the tricks when you need them.

I hope this helps.

[Belinda]

Hi Grace, Queen-of-the-flaxseed-muffins! It probably is benign, but is there any chance your surgeon can refer you for an ultrasound-guided needle biopsy just to be sure? It's simple, pretty painless, fast, and good sonographers can find small things if they already know there's something to be found...I have had about 6 of them, and when they showed a negative result on some shadows on one of my former breasts , it was a relief. Even when they were positive, it meant things swung into action really fast.


Sending you peace-of-mind vibes. Belindax

Thanks to you both. I did tell surgeon's nurse that I wanted her to check with radiologist (same center) to see what he was looking at and why he had wanted extra films. Also mentioned that I wanted the detailed report. I also pointed out that I had some uptake in September in breast and axilla and elevated tumor markers so I'm not willing to be comfortable for six months. I also mentioned MRI or possibly another PET to insure these are surgery/radiation changes.

I hate being the aggressive patient, particularly as I like most of my doctors. I feel so often like a spoiled brat while at the same time realizing that it's the spoiled brat that gets the extra ice cream, or in cancer care those extra scans.

Thanks again.

[AlaskaAngel]

Grace, I am 5 years out, stage I, and my last mammo was BIRADS 2 (probably benign) with 6-month follow up. But by chance I happen to know fairly precisely how fast my original tumor grew, and now that 3 months have passed I have an appointment next week to have my surgeon examine me in Seattle (he has a sono machine in his office as well and will probably take a closer look himself). My last mammo has been sent to his office for me so he can review it and the report about the right breast ultrasound done at the same time the mammo was done, when I see him.

In the past year I posted an article on the articles forum that indicated that HER2 bc does generally grow faster.

As a rule, radiologists generally are not told what kind of cancer bc patients have had already, and my thinking is that they recommend 6 months based on seeing the broader range of bc patients. Therefore I don't think it makes good sense to wait 6 months.

AlaskaAngel

[Belinda]

I like my surgeon too, and what's more, his kids and mine go to the same primary school, and are in the same after-school care group.

BUT he allows the consideration of a wider range of options when I politely and respectfully engage him in equal-to-equal, informed and sometimes pushy "what if..." and "what about" conversations. Sometimes I have to be insistent, but we get there in the end. We have had a laugh about the fact that he referred me to a therapist who promptly loaned me a booked on 'how to be the impossible patient'! The title (as an affirmation) has been more useful than the content....

Be the brat, I say, one of the kind that ends up being given the icecream because they intelligently manipulate it that way, rather than screams the house down for it (but do that too if you need to!) - Bx

[KellyA]

Grace,


Please push for further tests. My story is very similar. I had (7 years ago) 2 separate surgeries, and each time had the lumps biopsied- both were benign. Well, in February of last year, I found another small lump in the same breast. It was immediately written off as another fibrocystic lump and I was made to feel like a hypochondriac. I can't explain it, but this time I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and wouldn't let up. My doc rolled his eyes at me and ordered an MRI (I think just to shut me up). Turns out that 2 cancerous lesions showed up. One directly behind the scar tissue where the previous two surgeries were and the one thatI found. If it were not for the smaller one that I found, I would have never even known that the larger tumor was hiding behind the scar tissue.

My point is not to scare you, but to take each incident into account separately and NEVER take someone elses word that its probably nothing. In the end if they're wrong, its your life, not theirs. It's probably OK- but get an MRI or a biopsy to be sure. Then you will not have it lurking in the back of your head.

Love, Kelly