Member of the "6 Month Watchful Waiting Club", Unite!
Comments
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It's fine jushavinfun. I'm sorry you are anxious . Waiting is always awful, but statistically most of the women going through testing get benign results. Most of us here have been diagnosed with conditions that significantly raise our risk, so it becomes a whole different ballgame when you are always wondering when the other shoe will drop.
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Hello all, I had my mammo yesterday followed by an US . I was told the radiologist said everything was clear . Well looking at the mammo as it was being done .. it clearly wasn't clear and the US was not clear . It also showed the lump . which at this point is not a abcessed cyst. I have been on antibiotics for 2 weeks . I didn't get a BIRAD and was not told what size the lump / nodule was . I knew to ask questions but at the time I was overwhelmed with a state of relief ... until evening hit and I had the re occuring itchy burning , needle pricks at the lump site as I was telling family the tes't were done and everything came out fine .. I 'm suppose to go back in 1 year for a mammo ..... So now what ?
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follow up to my last post ... As a matter of fact I mentioned that that I am a DES daughter and the tech that perfomed the US had never heard of DES . I was also told there had been no change in my last mammo and the mammo taken yesterday. I beg to differ . I have never had an itchy ,burning ,needle prick feeling in my left breast that I can recall and a palpable lump .
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I just made some calls and apparently I have had the lump since my last mamo and it hasn't changed from it's 1.2cm size . Imagine that .... I didn't know I had a lump in 2011
Swollen lymph nodes in my armpit and an itchy burning at lump site ... the lump that I knew nothing about .... ok ... back to my GP ... what next ladies ????
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Get a second opinion for peace of mind!
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I am also in the 6 month recheck cycle. I will try to briefly explain my story. It started in Nov., just as I was weaning my DD. I felt a lump in my rt breast. I went into a breast center for a diagnostic mammo, They also did an ultrasound that day because they said I am to dense. The tech said everything was looking good to her. Next, the radiologist came in. She said she didn't like what she saw. Said I lit up like a Christmas tree. She was rude & horrible bedside manner but I will save you from all those details. So, they scheduled me for an mri w/contrast. Before I even got home they called back & said there was a problem with my insurance. I proceeded to deal with my insurance for the next month to get an mri. I also changed dr's. I am now seeing a general surgeon who has many breast cancer patients. I like this dr MUCH better. My mri - the radiologist said that there was certainly an area of concern. But that without a biopsy it was unclear exactly what it is. But that there was the whole issue of my being in the weaning process. My follow up with dr - she felt confident in waiting 3 months, let me finish weaning & do repeat mri at that point. Sounded ok to my DH & I. Well, when time arrived for follow up MRI. My fantastic ins co denied the pre auth. We did all of the reviews & appeals ... No luck. At that point my dr ordered a follow up ultrasound. Results - all looked stable. Now it has been three and a half months & I have been having some discomfort around the breast area & down into my shoulder blade. Out of fear, anxiety I called the dr. And she ordered another ultrasound. The insurance will also not pay for biopsy now due to ultrasound being stable. Results again all stable. Possibly even smaller. Radiologist recommending 6 month follow up. Which is great news but ... I still worry. I hate the not having a definitive answer. And I have read & heard so many stories where it wasnt visible on ultrasound.
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Hi AZ, I've been reading your story for a while and know you are incredibly frustrated. I would be too. Welcome to our group.
Right now I am blessed to be in a special medical program for low income people because my hours had been cut to part time and I had had to drop my private health insurance right before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Until I can qualify for private insurance again I can't afford to go back to work full time, which is a big problem. I am afraid that when I do get insurance that either insurance will deny my annual MRI or I won't be able to afford to do them because of deductibles & coinsurance . It is a crummy situation to be in either way.
Yours being stable is a good thing, but of course you know that. I know that little "what if" is always in the back of your mind, but statistically those "what ifs" probably don't apply to you. As you get further out from the pregnancy and breast feeding things may stabilize. The realilty is, most of us have lumps and bumps and doctors are really well trained to recognize the most common stuff. Are there sometimes zebras in with the horses, yes, but they are more uncommon than you would think when you are reading on a breast cancer board.
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Well I guess I am in this group for now. All of my tests came back benign and the only question is about my rare atypical cells that showed up in biopsy of the nipple and my tender hypersensitive nipple, reddish breast that never really goes away nor gets worse just always there to some degree.
The doctor is getting my biopsy anaylzed again by a different lab but she is almost positive I do not have Pagets disease.
I will def. get another biopsy though after a little time and watch things closely for now.
This group has made me realize that there are many like me out there with no diagnosis of Cancer but questionable tests or biopsies or symptoms. I am trying to get on with my life again since worrying will not change what the future will hold.
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I am member of the six month waiting game as well. Here's my problem.. I have some serious health problems that been unexplained. MY problem is that I have had the same nodular density in the left breast since 2007. I have to go through the diagnostic mammo & us everytime. I have made a mistake not going to same place everytime..lost paper work, lost films. So I never went back for diagnostic mammo after my last 2011 mammo till 2 weeks ago. Well, they said come back in 6 months again. Birads 3. They called me today and told me after careful comparison with (2007us films lost) & 2010 us films. That the location has changed form 4cm from nipple to 8cm from nipple. Also, just this past weekend, I notice left underarm this puffy area in the sentinell node area. Not hard, no infection, puffy glob! I am having metabolic issues as well as other abnormal labs. I don't have the money for this testing yo yo game. All previous us has always deemed the breast issues..clustered cysts.. only 1 breast. Post meno 6 years..no hormones. Breast pain, Rib tenderness as well. Anyone have the same issues on the area of concern location change?
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Thanks anonymous.. It really means alot! Take care. I sure understand your comments about the posters. ty
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Hi Haven,
I agree.. Most of these tests are useless & costly. I have spent so much money on inconclusive tests its insane. I am sicker then I have ever been, but not one doc can put the pieces together. They all just want there pockets padded & never fix ya.
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Pastalover,
I had a right axillary area, as well as the fat pad, ultrasound in April. Nothing showed up...a 7mm node was noted...a bit bigger than the rest but not concerning per the tech. That underarm still aches terribly...keeps me up at night and now I have what feels like a pinched nerve. The ache "zaps" down my arm and it feels like I have an invisible string connected to my index finger that "pulls on it" when I extend my arm...:/0 -
I know it must be frustrating for you and for many here with this ongoing stress and worry and problems with breasts but no matter what we should all be thankful we are in this group and not one of the the diagnosed groups and might not ever be in one of those groups.
I am sure all of those people in the diagnosed groups would love to trade places with us.
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Can I still be in this group? I am one of the 'diagnosed' ones, not currently in treatment, and on watch every three months!
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Bobogirl,
If I can ask.....if you are diagnosed why are you being watched??
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Hey momcat:
Was dxed in 2008 with a very rare tumor in breast -- low-grade, not d or l -- and it does not tend to mets but does tend to recur. If it recurs distant, avg prognosis is 18 months. Because it's rare, they can't predict the link between that c and regular breast c. My paternal grandmother died from regular bc at 42. I'm 43.
I've had seven punch biopsies, a partial mx, and a lumpectomy (this last ten weeks ago). Every time something comes up, they remove it regardless, just in case, since my tumor was so complicated and they don't know much about it. I believe I don't have another lumpectomy left. Next time: mx.
So every three months I have either a mammo or an MRI or a CBE. That's the whole story!
Hugs to you.
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Ok...I thought you hadn't had a lumpectomy, etc...that you were just "watched". What a stress!
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Well, I'm being 'watched' for a recurrence of the ca I had, and then I'm being 'watched' for a new primary bc! The watching is not as bad as the biopsies... just had an endometrial biopsy in June. Negative, but most pain I've ever had from a test!
I think when they finally decide that I 'qualify' for a prophy BMX I will be ready. Right now I am right on the line -- do not qualify. Of course, if they find something else even remotely suspicious, it will be MX, and then I will qualify for the other one.
So, hope I am still eligible for this thread, since I feel very watched!
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My turn on Wednesday for my 6 month mammogram, sonogram and clinical exam. I have put off thinking about it but now the hours are ticking away.
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I always start getting anxious again the week before my rechecks too. We'll be thinking of you.
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Wish ya luck on your re-check JanetM. Sorry to hear you have been through alot bobogirl. Take care!
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Thank you pastalover! Hugs to you too.
Thinking of you Janet!
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Hi, I was just following your posts and was horrified to see you are still taking estridiol. Estrogen is known for causing breast cancer! I had a hystorectomy in sept 2009 & could not cope with the hot flashes that followed, so the doc put me on a low dose of estrogen and by May 2013 I had 3 tumors, 2 IDC & 1 DCIS with a positive node. The path results came back ER+ 99% and the doc told me it was most likely the HRT that caused this.
Hope you have a b9 result but please rethink on taking anymore HRT as I was on it for under 4 yrs. Ask your doctor to tell you more about this. I go back on Thursday for the results of my second lumpectomy.
Hugs to you all
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New guidelines recommend Aromasin for high risk post-menopausal women:
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/201307180 -
Hi everyone I am new to the site and so happy that I found it. I'm a little overwhelmed with it all. The reason I came on here was to see what types of implants to get and I'm finding so many topics on fibrocystic disease that I needed 20+ years ago and didn't have. Twenty years ago so many people thought I was crazy for what I did but I have never regretted my decision. Twenty years ago I felt so alone.............Here is my story, well some of it anyway I went through countless 6 month waits.......
Here is a little history about me and my experiences with fibrocystic disease. My horror started at the age of 24, a week after I was married I found my first lump. It was fairly large and 32 years ago if you found a lump and it didn’t go away after a month you had it removed, that was my experience anyway. So I had it removed by a general surgeon and it was found to be a cyst. Great news I agree until the lumps kept coming. Over the next four years I had three children and breast fed them all. I remember the pain but I wanted to do what was right for my children. I tried to tell my doctor about the pain that kept shooting through my breasts but he just said it was from nursing. After nursing and trying to get on with my life the pain always there I found several more lumps that didn’t go away after a month. The new thing was aspiration. So I had several aspirations and too many surgery biopsies to remember. The pain never went away as well as the lumps. Then came the aspiration under ultrasound (the new game plan), so as I watched the radiologist locate the lumps that he could feel but also see on the screen he inserted the needle to aspirate the first lump, however; he soon realized that he was getting no where fast. After 17 sticks and several apologies he finally realized that what I had was little lumps that clustered together to form large cysts, so aspiration was not helpful. The next morning I was not only bruised and sore but I found several more lumps. Back to the BS and she did another biopsy to remove as many as she could. Guess what happened the next month? You guessed it more lumps. By this time I was not only in pain but very fearful of the”What if”. What if this lump was cancer, if she missed some thing? I couldn’t tell which lumps were new or have been around for awhile so how could she? (my lumps never went away) She kept telling there will be a quiescent period at some point, I waited but that never happened. Several years passed and by this point there were too many lumps to count on both breasts. (By the way I did try all of the medications to help with pain and the ones which were suppose to help keep the lumps away. I tried not eating or drinking any thing with caffeine. None of these solutions helped). I had to stop holding my children against me because it just hurt too much, a support bra does not help with that. Not only did this NON disease affect me but it also affected my family. My BS finally told me about bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy, and instead of being afraid I went home and did some soul searching and research. Unfortunately there were no support groups for me. I didn’t have cancer! What I did have was the constant fear and pain. I felt alone with really no one to talk too. I made the choice to have my breast removed. Next came finding a plastic surgeon. The first one I visited was a male and told me to go home and if I was still serious about the mastectomy to come back in a year. The next plastic surgeon was a female and she actually listened to me. I told her my short story and how I was ready to hold my children against me again. I talked for 45 minutes of what I felt were the pros and cons but that I though for me the mastectomy was my only choice. She agreed to do the surgery. The surgery went well and yes it was painful but I was lucky that I didn’t have any complications. The second surgery to take out the expanders and insert the permanent implants was done 6 months later and it also went well. The second surgery was a piece of cake compared to the mastectomy. I had the support of family and friends but no one really knew what a hard choice this was for me and how I longed to talk to someone who had similar experiences. Twenty years later I am still happy with my choice. I chose to live life again. I hope this helps some one out there.
Now, once again I need some advice on implants I need a revision done due to capsular contracture and probable leaks. I am waiting for insurance to see if they will cover this.
Thanks
Kat
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i too am a member of 6 month watch and wait. i stepped outside the boundaries last week. 2 complex cysts, 4mm and 7mm, also one area of microcyst cluster. Given birads 3 on ultrasound and birads 2 on mammogram. I opted to get 2nd opinion from breast specialist last week. She reviewed all films and agreed with radiologist of 6 month follow up. have mother who had bc early 40's. she is still alive and no cancer, over 22 yrs now. I was not happy being in the watch and wait group. Breast Specialists said we could do core biopsy today, that was last thursday. i immediately said lets do it. 1st cyst 5 samples were taken. on 6th on it popped. I tried to get an indication of what bs thought. one comment when looking at one of the samples was I dont know what this is??? Then bs said they have been stable for 1 yr 3 sets of mammogram and biopsy. cancer does not grow like that being stable. a marker was put in that area... hmmmm..... 2nd complex cyst broke and disappeared as soon as core needle entered. not sure if biopsy of there was even taken.
So now i went from watch and wait to dreadful panic since the biopsy. Have been a complete mess. I asked myself what did i just do. I could have continued to be in the watch and wait, but my mind is in the gutter thinking results are bad. made it through waiting over the weekend. lab said more than likely results will be back to dr on Tuesday and samples were logged in Friday early morning. Why Tuesday and not today? Again another indicator something not right.
So i have mixed feelings on should I have stayed in the 6 month group and just go on as normal. I made a mistake. I have been a total basket case. Bad. Been taking some xanex which has helped some. I do not work so sit around waiting....But I did core biopsy as family history, not only my mother but my brother at same age had cancer 46 yrs old,kidney. He had it good remove kidney and on his way. No treatment, follow up only.
In my opinion the watch and wait was always concerning but nothing compared to waiting for biopsy results. Boy then you really get the answer. a BIG yes or No. How i keep praying it is a BIG B9......
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110, i pray in agreement with you that the results are benign, in the name of Jesus!
I can't imagine the anxiety you must feel. I'm a basket case myself, having just discovered 9 new cyst. Well, actually two are occuring and two of the new ones are large. I feel doomed for many reasons, one being, having the extremely dense breast and the other is ..... i just found out that two people i know have recently had benign cyst removed due to size and both were discovered to have atypical something or another, which was explained to me to be a very high risk for developing cancer. Also, just knowing cancer can hide behind any given cyst is also super scary. I've lost so much weight since finding out about all these new cyst and the dense breast tissue matter. I don't know how many of you know about the blog "But doctor, i hate pink" but i've chatted with Ann (the author) on private message via facebook and she informed me, she too had a farm of cyst, so when a new one developed ..... she assumed it was JUST ANOTHER CYST - ---- WRONG!!! She now has stage IV cancer that's in the liver. : (
I wish this forum on here had a section for women diagnosed with fibrocystic breast, in addition to a dense breast forum. Perhaps, they do and i just don't know about it but if they don't ...... it sure would be helpful to share our fears and experiences with others. Oh, before i get responses that say 80% of all cyst are benign, let me just say that isn't the issue. The issue is not being able to distinguish between the feel of a simple cyst, complex cyst, what could hide behind a cyst or a malignacy. Yes, that's why we're members of the 6 month club but a lot can happen in 6 months!! Just saying ....
Be well and best wishes!
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thanks domesticwomen. i too have fibrocystic breasts on all my reports. they have indicated simple and complex cysts and being fibrocystic changes. birads 3 due to the 2 complex cysts.
the 2 that are reoccurring seem as if they would be simple? just fluid filled.. i have read that happens often especially when done by fna. my bs said with core biopsy they would not be able to return or fill back up as too much tissue had been removed. but mine again were not simple. i do have 2 more simple ones they are leaving and not doing but watching..... bs found one on the other breast not found on mammogram and us was not done on that one. it is a simple small one. the other simple is a collection of microcysts and bs is not doing anything with that as they are simple.
Initially the bs just recommended 6 month follow up but i pushed for the biopsy. I have been regretting my decision since then. I have been so emotional and beleiving it is bad due to family history.. I have alot to do around the house but just cannot get myself into doing anything but reading on the board and writing looking for someone to talk to. and of course praying.....
I should have stayed in the 6 month club. I did not know it was going to be this hard. I once had ovarian cyst and thought nothing of it. no concern. no big deal. I am feeling so different here now. Bad feeling. People say go with your gut in different decisions of life. my gut is not saying good things and I am terrified.
I too have not eaten much, cant eat. not hungry. i know this isnot helping, i have tried to eat some but after a few bites throw the rest away... I can understand you regarding this as well.
good luck on your next 6 month recheck. i wish i would have done the same.
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Hello ladies,
I'm new here and not sure where to begin.
I guess... at the beginning! (go figure)
This spring I decided to have a full work up marking my 40th birthday!
I have had 1 mammo in the past due to family history and cautious Dr. so I knew what to expect, or so I thought.
The day after I got a phone call.(Friday)
Need a closer look. Appointment set for Monday. (Longest weekend ever)
It came back clustered microcals.
Come back in 6 months.
So in doing some research I found this site.... God Bless!
I have always done my monthly self exams but I think I may be a bit hyper aware now. Checking about every 2 weeks.
Never noticed anything until yesterday ....
A tiny BB sized lump near that damn cluster.
I am 4 months into my 6 and thinking I will check again in a few weeks, if it is still there I will make an appointment.
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Hello,
I just had my follow up MRI. The doc said that two centimeters sized lumps were found but she thinks that they maybe hormonal. I had the test done last week and my period is starting this week. Could this just be my period? I"m scheduled for an MRI biospy in two days. I'm not THAT worried only because my doc seemed confident that this may just be hormonal.
My one worry was 6mths ago I received a diagnosis of DCIS and when I went for a 2nd opinion the 2nd opinion dr found no evidence of DCIS or anything even close. Obviously I can't be too confident here but I was curious to know if my period will always interfere with my results and if so maybe going forward I should schedule check ups after my cycle.
Its very frustrating.
Sigh...
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