Topic: The radiologist told me it was cancer

Actually, I just had the same thing happen to me.  On a Monday, I was given a mammogram and an ultrasound and the radiologist told me it was cancer, but I knew that he couldn't diagnose me until the biopsy.  I had the biopsy on that Friday, and was told that it was cancer on the following Monday.  I asked to have a copy of my pathology report to see how progressive it was.

Kira, relax till you talk with the surgeon. Until that pathology report comes through, it isn't dx.  The radiologist was wrong to say that.  She might think it, but could not prove it till the path came in.  I've never heard of a doctor BS or Onco that would say that without path report either.  The good ones anyway.

Secondly.....it takes years, sometimes 10 years for a lump to be large enough to palpate.  You didn't delay, you did what ever woman does and that's to see if it's cyclic with your menses and then get it look into. 

Hoping you get B9 report, but if not, we're here to guide you though.  Thinking about you and hope you are finding things to keep your mind and soul busy till you meet with the doctor.

I had a similar situation, although the radiologist didn't say that it IS cancer but, rather, that it was highly likely to be since a spiculated pattern almost always occurs only with malignancy. He was correct, of course, but I was actually glad to have received the news in increments, if you know what I mean. It was less of a shock when I got the path report from the biopsy.

I totally agree with wishiwere about your having acted perfectly reasonably....AND about the fact that a cancer usually grows for quite awhile before becoming detectable, so your little "delay" makes no difference if, indeed, it is cancer. But finally, I also agree that you should try to keep yourself busy/distracted until you know your diagnosis....it is possible that the area is benign, but if its not, you should be completely assured that current treatments are effective and highly doable.

Hang in there, girl.....

~Marin

Thank you all for your kind words. This site is so helpful. I work in medicine, and take care of women who have breast cancer (as a general practitioner), but never even knew the highly specific details of the pathology or therapies until I read them here.
I came home and started crying to my husband, that I didn't want chemo....
My gyn called me later that day--she had felt nothing, but ordered the mammogram to be complete, and was kind of muttering about how there was no delay here--like I was thinking of lawsuits. She told me not to jump to worse case thoughts until I had some facts to deal with.
I do think the radiologist said that to me, because we work in the same field.
Melanie, I agree with you that the first radiologist was trying to be straight and kind, and didn't deserve a reprimand.
My older daughter is getting married in 4 weeks, and my younger one just finished her sophomore year in college, and I find that I'm just trying to minimize the impact on them and my husband.
When I went in the next day for the biopsy, the ultrasound tech gave me a lecture about how doctors receive special treatment, and we shouldn't.
Sometimes a little knowledge is a horrible thing. And limbo is the hardest state.
I'm not asking for any special treatment, just the kindness and consideration that everyone deserves.
I'm trying to keep busy, and learn enough to be able to have a productive meeting on Monday, but not too much until I need to know it.
Thank you for your kindness and support.
Kira

Personally, I would rather prefer the pathologist definitively find the proof this indeed cancer.  However I do understand the pathway  some doctors have in devulging their best guess right away. I also have experienced 2 diagnosises of different types of cancer in my lifetime and I have not experienced in my opinion, a good way for this news to be delivered.  I received the news once by a meesage on my phone and the second time a phone call by me to the doctor that did the core needle biopsy.  I hated both ways and would have preferred that my PCP deliver the news face to face since we have a patient doctor relationship that stems over a few years and he knows what I may want to know immediately and where to send me for more information and education.  He also knows that my trust in medicine and recommendations is at best pretty darn cynical.  Perhaps delivering bad news should be a seperate class in medical school and part of the curriculum each year.  I am happy that breast cancer treatment continues to evolve.  You are in the crummiest part of this whole journey waiting for path, diagnosis and treatment  I did feel better after I headed for information when receiving diagnosis because at that point I could prepare myself.  The business of knowing you have it without specific information makes me feel rather helpless.  Support from those have gone before you is readily available on this site.  Good Luck