Hi all - I met with a breast surgeon/specialist today to get another opinion about a lump(s) in my breast. A few weeks ago at a diagnostic mammogram, it showed up as a vague distortion on only one view (of about 8 they took) and didn't show up on u/s at all. Radiologist wanted me to get an MRI to be sure. I wanted a breast specialist's opinion.
She was wonderful and very thorough. She said the lump just "felt like dense tissue" to her and nothing showed up on the u/s she performed today either. She still thinks I should get the MRI just to prove things out, but she says she thinks "the overwhelming odds are that it's nothing."
Should this be enough to make me feel relatively at ease? I keep thinking to myself, "Did she do the u/s in the right spot? Should I have asked her to feel the lump from a different angle?" I'm having trouble relaxing and believing her. After a month of worrying, I can't unwind myself. I keep thinking of those cases where cancer didn't show up on the u/s and get all worked up again.
I know many other ladies on this board have much more severe symptoms, and I feel silly freaking out over something that I've been told is very likely ok. But that seed of doubt just won't go away. So of course I'm dreading this MRI (which I was secretly hoping the surgeon would tell me I didn't need).
Any advice/suggestions/pep talks would be appreciated.
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swimangel72… Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,616 |
Nov 3, 2009 01:53 pm
swimangel72 wrote:
Try not to get concerned - the MRI will pick up anything abnormal, so for peace-of-mind, be sure you make an appointment. Your surgeon is probably right - unless you have a very strong history of BC, you shouldn't get yourself too worked up over this............so many women have benign results, it's the waiting that's so excruciating. Keep yourself very busy and focused on the good things in life. Good luck and let us know what happens! 3/3/08 Right-side mastectomy with immediate muscle-sparing free tram; 3/9/08 Developed abdominal MRSA staph infection and hernia;Completed 4 months Navelbine and 1 year Herceptin; Arimidex - 4 more years! Diagnosed at age 53
Diagnosis: 2/5/2008, IDC, <1cm, Stage Ib, Grade 1, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ |
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Momcat1962 Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 111 |
Nov 3, 2009 02:54 pm
Momcat1962 wrote:
Don't feel silly about checking things out. That's what I did..still waiting for biopsy results...that's the tough part (for me right now anyway). Make te appt. Get the MRI. POM is priceless. Let us know how you are doing! |
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hrf Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 887 |
Nov 3, 2009 07:17 pm
hrf wrote:
I agree. Get the MRI. BRCA2+ first dx in Oct. 2004 2nd dx Feb. 2009 a new primary
Diagnosis: 2/6/2009, ILC, 2cm, Stage II, Grade 1, 4/6 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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gfbaker Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 19 |
Nov 3, 2009 08:00 pm
gfbaker wrote:
I agree to get the MRI. When I first went to the doc, they felt my lump and said it didn't feel like cancer, but it turned out to be. Chances are it is nothing, but get the MRI anyway just to be sure. MRI's are noisy but don't hurt one bit. Good luck to you and I hope for it to be nothing! Diagnosis: 5/6/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 1/13 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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Pepperhargr… Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 17 |
Nov 3, 2009 08:10 pm
Pepperhargrove wrote:
I am recovering from lat flap -- two weeks today and I am doing great. cancer free and clear lymph nodes. When can I exercise again? Last two drains removed tomorrrow! Do not be afraid -- early detection is a blessing -- get the MRI. Diagnosis: 9/1/2009, DCIS, 1cm |
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AnneN Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 140 |
Nov 3, 2009 08:12 pm
AnneN wrote:
Please get the MRI. Please don't wait. I had a lump on a 2006 mammogram and ultrasound that was misdiagnosed as a "benign cyst." I quit worrying and forgot about it until in 2009 my primary care doc reminded me that I was way overdue for another mammogram. That mammogram was inconclusive, so we did an MRI - which found a 7 cm tumor! And then a subsequent staging PET/CT discovered it had spread to four of my bones. I might have gotten by with a lumpectomy in 2006; now there is cancer in my collarbone, spine, and hip. My oncologist says that any time the mammogram technician can palpate the lump, it should be biopsied. She said, "Sometimes the imaging is wrong." I hope what you have is nothing - most of the time, it's nothing - but please don't let that deter you from getting it checked out. Good luck to you. Tumor is shrinking - now 3.2 cm as of June MRI. Tamoxifen/Zoladex/Zometa/complementary supplements.
Diagnosis: 3/20/2009, IDC, 6cm+, Stage IV, Grade 2, mets, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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