Breast biopsy?

Question

I had a mammogram done last Friday. I was called this week and asked to come back for another Mamo and an ultrasound. A large area was found and now they want to biopsy this coming Wednesday...I've pretty much been told to expect Cancer...Still laying on the table, it finally sunk in...I cried a lot and worried about the plans I'm going to screw up for my husband this summer. I haven't told him anything yet. My youngest son graduates from college in 3 weeks. I won't make any surgical arrangments before then. My husband already has the plane tickets for Vegas. He wants to celebrate his 60th out there this year, the end of June(we go a couple of times a year) ....can anyone tell me what to expect if this biopsy comes back positive...how soon do I have to schedule any type of surgery? The radiologist is already talking possible chemo and radiation...I'm so mind numb right now...can anyone help me with some info?

I live in Richmond, Virginia

Answer 1

Hi. I just went through your same situation last fall. I was called in again after a routine mammogram after a suspicious area was found. I went through two biopsies - a fine needle aspiration and the other was a core biopsy (where they actually take a sample of breast tissue). The pathology report confirmed that the samples indicated that there was cancer and it needed to be removed. The first course of action I went through right after Thanksgiving weekend was to have the suspected mass removed (the tumor) through surgery (lumpectomy) and have a sentinel node biopsy (removal of the sentinal lymph node to see if the cancer had invaded the lymph nodes). It was found that I was lymph node negative (no sign of cancer in my lymph nodes - which was good) but, they were not able to get clean margins around the original tumor as there was a satellite tumor growing from the original site that was found on the mammogram. They also found that I also had pre-cancerous cells throughout my left breast tissue, so the surgeon told me that the best course of action was a mastectomy. Well - talk about being scared! Talk with your oncologist and surgeon to find out how aggressive your cancer is. Chances are that your cancer has been in existence for a few years now - and it's just now that they've caught it. My cancer was a stage 2, the tumor was 2cm. After I had my lumpectomy, I sought out a second opinion since I knew I had to have additional treatment. You don't mention what area of the US you live in - as there are some very wonderful teaching universities that specialize in breast cancer care and research. I would advise that you find out if your insurance covers you going to one of these hospitals - as they are the most up to date in breast cancer care. Educate yourself as to what tests you will need to take so that you will not need to be over treated for your cancer. I'm one of the lucky ones. I did end up having mastectomy surgery on March 7, 2007. Although I did have a simple mastectomy on my left breast - because I was informed, did my research and talked very openly with my doctor and had the appropriate tests done, I do not need to have radiation or chemo. I am taking an aromatase inhibitor (my cancer grows in the presence of estrogen) - but that's all I have to do as far as drug therapy. I also chose reconstructive surgery - I'll be 50 next year and doing very well. Look at the google or yahoo search engines and look at breast cancer options - there's lots there on the web. Make a list of all your questions and talk with your surgeon and oncologist about what you need to do. Every woman experiences breast cancer in her own way - and I'm sorry that you have had to join our "club." You have sisters out there who are willing to give you support and advice. God Bless - Mercy

Answer 2

First lots of hugs, prayers and positive thoughts! Try not to stress till you have the results. I would sugest telling your husband you really need his suport during all of this.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 1st of 2005 and my first treatment was just about 3 weeks later on the 28th. Those first few weeks were a lot tests to stage me and make sure we weren't dealing with anything else. I did chemo before I had my lumpectomy, But I did have small surgery to put in a port (a device to do the chemo thru to save the veins in the arm) and do the sential node biopsy. My treatments were 1 day a week for about 3 hrs every 3 weeks for 8 total treatments.

I also did 7 weeks of radiation but that was nothing compaired to the chemo, mostly just a little bit of skin irriation (like a mild sunburn) Radiation was dalily ( 5days a week) but I was in and out of there in less then 1/2 hr.

Now everyone is different and the treatmetns can be different but other then the day of treatment I really didn't feel to bad and I continued to work all thru my treatment and still took a short vacation.

It's now been 2 years and I'm doing great! So there is a lot of hope even if the biopsy comes back cancer.

Try to stay positive!!

Answer 3

First of all (and I know this is really hard), try not to worry until you hear the results of the biopsy, one way or the other. I just went through this same situation over a three week period - mammo that turned into a second mammo, then an ultrasound and finally a biopsy. The radiologist who reviewed the ultrasound told me that there was a 50/50 chance it was cancer. Not reassuring odds! I'm a single mom of three young children, and I was a basket case worrying about my daughters. The biopsy itself was an easy, relatively painless procedure. I had to lay on a table on my stomach, and my breast was placed through a hole in the table. The doctor used an ultrasound machine to guide the needle to the suspicious mass, and he took about six samples. Lo and behold, it was NEGATIVE! But during that stressful period when I was waiting for the results, I did a lot of reading about breast cancer. There are far, far more people who survive breast cancer nowdays than those who do not. And there are a host of treatments. If your biopsy comes back positive, but your lymph nodes are clear, you won't even need chemo, just radiation. And the radiation for breast cancer is pretty easy - you may be tired a bit by the end of the treatments, but other than that it will feel more or less like a sunburn. Best of luck to you.....I hope that your biopsy turns out to be negative, as mine did.

Answer 4

The only actual pain you will feel is the numbing injections prior to the actual biopsy. The biopsy samples are taken with a spring loaded apparatus that works so quickly that it is over before you realize what happened. After an ultrasound guided needle biopsy your breast may have a slight bit of bruising afterward but no pain during the procedure and only a bit of swelling and bruising afterward. Going to the dentist for a large filling is much worse in my opinion. The hard part is waiting for the results.

Answer 5

My prayers are with you. I am a 3 year survivor. I found a lump in march 3 years ago, but put off going to the dr. for a month because we were going to Italy. I had biopsy the Friday before Memorial day, lumpectormy in June and started Chemo in late July. Sometimes you can start chemo before any surgery, or you may not need chemo or radiation, depends on the severity/size of the tumor(s).

It's probably ok to put off any treatment until after your son's graduation and Hubby's birthday, but your husband may want to postpone his celebration in light of your situation. Just take it one day at a time.

Contact me if you need someone to talk to whose been there and done that.

Good luck!

Answer 6

talk with your hubby, he needs to know, talk with your doctor, it may be possible to delay treatments til you celebrate hubby's 60th. my doctor told me to take my time making decisions. a month or so shouldn't make much of a difference.