I have been having a clear discharge from my right breast, and I am scheduled for an MRI next Tuesday. My mammo came back ok, but the breast surgeon is still concerned, so I had a choice to get an MRI or go right to a duct excision. I am a nervous wreck. My doctor said it will take a week to get the results back and they will just call me. Is that typical? What if its cancer - they'll just tell me that right over the phone? I think I'd faint! Would they ask me to come in to discuss the results and options/next step if it was bad news?
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Shirlann Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 6756 |
Sep 4, 2008 08:43 pm
Shirlann wrote:
Oh honey, don't go there until you need to. Remember 80% of these "thingys" are benign. An MRI is a good choice, and a duct excision would have been too. It sounds like your doc is a good one and is doing the right things. Try not to get to upset, and yes, they do occasionally tell you over the phone, mainly because if they just called and said, "I can't tell you anything, can you come in with your husband this afternoon?" That is just as bad. So don't faint, come here. Of course they will go over everything if the news is bad, but don't go there yet. They often say, "Yes, it is cancer, but it is small, please come in on such and such". The reason is believe it or not, it works well for both of you. So try hard to hang onto the number 80% and just get busy and clean. It helped me. Gentle hugs, Shirlann By the way 80% of us get well and do just fine. I am 10 years post treatment. |
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barb3246 Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 31 |
Sep 11, 2008 03:42 pm
barb3246 wrote:
Well I had the MRI on Tuesday, so now I am just waiting and worrying. I have not slept well for the past 2 nights, and I can't concentrate on anything. As hard as I try not to, my mind keeps wandering back and thinking negative thoughts. I am trying to hang on to that 80% number, but its very difficult for me. My mother passed away from breast cancer almost 17 years ago (she was only 57), and watching what she went through was the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. To this day its still very hard for me to think of her without tearing up, as I am doing right now. I don't think I would have the strength to go through what she went through. The women on this forum all seem so brave, and I feel like such a coward. I am really hoping that the negative mammo was a good sign, but from what I've read, it still could have missed something that the MRI will pick up. Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. |
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Beesie Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3790 |
Sep 11, 2008 04:04 pm
Beesie wrote:
Pretty much everyone gets nervous waiting for test results and in your case, with the history of your mother, it's even more understandable that you are worrying. You know the "80% benign" stat, but that's an average and in your case, the odds are probably even more in your favor. Nipple discharge is rarely cancerous. And the cases that are serious usually involve bloody discharge - clear discharge is not usually a sign of a serious problem. Here's some information from the Mayo Clinic about nipple discharge: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nipple-discharge/WO00093 Another thing to keep in mind is that the "80% benign" rule applies to those having a biopsy. If you consider all breast abnormalities that require further checking, the % that are benign is actually 93%. So even if your MRI is inconclusive and your doctor suggests a duct exision, you will still be working with 80% odds. http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/diagnosis.asp Lastly, if you do fall on the wrong side of the odds, please know that breast cancer treatment and prognosis today is very different than it was when your mother was diagnosed. Thanks to better screening, more BC is caught at earlier stages and most women who are diagnosed with BC today will survive and go on to live long lives. I know it's impossible not to worry, but try to keep reminding yourself that the odds are very much in your favor, whatever happens. Good luck! |
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shari1232 Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 106 |
Sep 11, 2008 04:15 pm
shari1232 wrote:
Not sure if this helps, but information is power... most of the time... When my biopsy results came back, they called to tell me it was malignant. Worrying changes nothing. Hang in there, distract yourself when possible, and do your best to try to just face things as they come... there's a balance between gaining information and over-indulging in information that only you can find for yourself. It's so much easier said than done. Cancer or no cancer, you are not alone! Dx 8/6/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, 0/6 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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