Skip to content
Forum Index → Forum: Not Diagnosed but Worried → Topic: ultrasound and biopsy
« Forum: Not Diagnosed but Worried: Meet others worried about developing breast cancer for the first time.

Topic: ultrasound and biopsy

Log in to post a reply
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
  • Posted on: May 5, 2008 10:40 pm
kizzmit5 wrote:

Hi, I have been roaming around the site for about a week and its been really helpful. I do have a question though that I haven't come across here. I'll give a bit of history.

I'm 32 and a few years ago I woke up with a large lymph node under my right arm. It was very visible, I don't recall it being red or anything, but it went away in about 2 months or so. During that time I found a small lump on the same side the lymph node was on. The lump was maybe half the size of a pea. Now about 2 or 3 years later here I am. The lump is about the size of a carbonzo bean? I went and had a mammogram and so I was scheduled to see a surgeon so he could check things out, but that isn't until June. The womens health clinic called me today saying they want me to have an ultrasound and that the doctor wasn't concerned because it looked like I had cysts. (I found out today there were a few spots) I didn't think to ask if they were doing a biopsy with the ultrasound.

So my question is, are ultrasounds usually done without a biopsy and then if they see something they don't like do they do another one with a biopsy or do they do that all in one shot? Thanks for any help! 

Posts 1 - 7 (7 total)
gg44
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 98
May 6, 2008 01:04 am, edited May 6, 2008 01:05 AM by gg44 gg44 wrote:

When I went to get my mammogram they did an ultrasound also. I had a small smooth cyst and was told it didn't look like cancer but they scheduled me for a core needle biopsy with ultrasound. It was'nt all that painful and only took about 15 minutes for set up and all. It did come back as idc and dcis. They made sure I had no pain.Good luck with yours.


Dx 3/21/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 1, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Jule
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 109
May 6, 2008 04:48 am Jule wrote:

I had a mammorgram and then an ultrasound that very day. Then I had the bopsy scheduled for after the ultrasound. My biopsy was done with the assistance of the ultrasound like gg44 did. It went very smoothly with little to no pain.

Julie
Dx 4/23/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage , Grade 2, / nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
kizzmit5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
May 6, 2008 08:36 pm kizzmit5 wrote:

Thank you both very much! I guess I thought it would be better to do the first ultrasound with the biopsy instead of having to have 2 ultrasounds. Thanks again and for letting me know there isn't much pain if any involved. I had to look up what idc and dcis were but thats good, now I know some more terms just in case.
kizzmit5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
May 14, 2008 02:09 pm, edited May 14, 2008 02:09 PM by kizzmit5 kizzmit5 wrote:

Hi,

I had my ultrasound today and the lump that is easily felt wasn't showing on the test. They said its probably part of the breast tissue. I'm a bit confused. Does that mean that I'm lumpy? Cuz it really feels different than any other lump. Its much harder and it doesn't move. Thanks for any help. 

A great way to keep your mind off of results is to read Charlain Harris vampire series, the first one is "Dead Until Dark"
leaf
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2368
May 14, 2008 04:26 pm leaf wrote:

Women have different breast textures. Some women have very smooth breast tissue, and some have very lumpy breasts, and most are somewhere inbetween.

The only SURE way of diagnosing a lump is by biopsy, which is why some wise women here say 'The best lump is the lump in the jar'. Dr. Susan Love in her book says that if you really think there is something wrong in your breast, then insist on a biopsy, no matter what the doc says. She says if you are wrong, you will have peace of mind, and if you are right, you may have saved your life.

Cancer can have many different textures. Most breast cancers present as a painless lump, but just about any scenario is possible. Most cancers show up on either mammo, ultrasound or MRI. But there are a few women here who have had cancers that did NOT show up on mammo, ultrasound, or MRI. This is VERY unusual, but it can happen. Imaging is NOT perfect, but its the best we have. I was surprised to find out that deep cysts can also feel hard. But usually ultrasounds are pretty good at telling if a lesion is fluid filled or not.

I had suspicious calcifications. On my first ultrasound, they recommended biopsy. When I went in for an ultrasound-guided biopsy, they couldn't find it under ultrasound. So they did a mammo-guided biopsy. They found LCIS, with is quite unusual (without anything worse.) Usually LCIS (by itself) does not show up on any imaging, but most people don't consider it cancer, either, in spite of the name.

If you're going through hell, keep going-Winston Churchill
kizzmit5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6
May 15, 2008 01:33 am kizzmit5 wrote:

Thank you very much for you response. That helps to know. I have had discharge and thought the lump may have gotten big enough to cause that or that it may just be hormonal. I have never had children. I have hypothyroid too. So the discharge may be from that. I just worry because when I got there they didn't have the info from my doctor and they weren't aware there were 2 spots to look at until I told them. I didn't feel very confident in what they were doing but maybe my doctor will be better at what they were seeing. Again, thanks a lot.

A great way to keep your mind off of results is to read Charlain Harris vampire series, the first one is "Dead Until Dark"
leaf
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2368
May 15, 2008 06:11 pm leaf wrote:

I'm sure I would have been scared if I knew they weren't aware there were 2 spots. Those poor radiologists have ZILLIONS of images to read every day. For the radiologist, its just one additional imaging/biopsy, but for each of us it is our health and family and friends. Hang in there. If you have further questions or want to vent, please feel free to post!

If you're going through hell, keep going-Winston Churchill

↑Back to Top

© 2008 Breastcancer.org. All rights reserved.