Feeling foolish and waiting for biopsy
Despite being 39 w/ 0 history of breast cancer in my family I went in for my 5th mammogram and ultrasound in 5 years on Monday. Little background - I started finding so many lumps that instead of continuing to go in for tests all the time I was referred to a breast specialist who was basically like "Hey, learn what normal lumps feel like for you but if something feels different come in" so I haven't had an issue since 2019. In 2021 Ifound another lump, this one didn't go away after a few months like the others, I waited longer / got busy, and then when I saw a dent in my right breast I made the appointment to have it checked out. Now I'm scheduled to have an ultrasound guided core needle biopsy Monday (1 week after my ultrasound/mammo)
Reasons I feel foolish - 1. I had absolutely 0 worries about this lump, I was SHOCKED when the nurse said I needed to come back for a biopsy. I mean, I was joking around that they were gonna find Jimmy Hoffa's body in my breasts (they are very, very large), so I feel stupid for not even thinking a biopsy would be on the table. 2. I feel foolish for being ill informed - I had no idea what a BIRAD score was until I read this forum, so I have no idea what mine is, I'm worried it's high maintenance to call and ask and wonder if it would just freak me out so maybe I would rather not know. 3. I feel foolish for being as nervous as I am (Rationally I know I don't have a history in my family & most biopsies come back as noncancerous), almost like I'm co-opting something that doesn't belong to me and being worried is illegitimate, and 4. I feel foolish for waiting to get this checked out, work was super busy blah blah.
Waiting for the biopsy is bad enough and I only have to wait a week. I suspect waiting for the results will be even more unpleasant. Thanks for listening to me ramble.
Comments
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Lady, I'm sorry you're feeling foolish. I think we all wonder if we're over or under reacting to something in our bodies. I'm sorry you're needing a biopsy, but glad you have doctors who are listening to you and are taking your situation seriously. I hope it's "nothing" or at the very worst, Jimmy Hoffa.
I'm adding this post to my Favorites so that I can follow your situation. Do let us know. Waiting is the pits, though. We all get that!
(((hugs)))
Carol
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1. There's no way to know in advance if a lump is something to worry about.
2. I didn't know what BIRAD was until the last six months or so. Over five years after my first bad mammogram. Lol. You don't need to know the number at all. Especially if it will only stress you out.
3. It's normal to be nervous! Totally normal. However, most women who have breast cancer do not have a family history of it. So not having a family history doesn't mean much.
4. Breast cancer is not an emergency. I don't know how long you waited but unless it was years, most likely it won't matter in the long run!
Bonus Comment: Waiting is the WORST part of the whole process. Not knowing really screws with our brains. Even if it does turn out to be cancer, you'll feel better after getting a diagnosis and a treatment plan in place! Hopefully it's just a dumb old benign lump stirring up trouble for no reason!
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We're so sorry that you find yourself here with this worry, ladymoph121! The waiting is so tough. Please do keep us posted!
The Mods
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Update - well I had my biopsy this morning, that was super fast and now I wait some more. I'm pretty horrible when it comes to asking questions for or about myself (which is ironic bc I'm an attorney) so I don't know anything more, but if I have future appointments my best friend said she'll go with me - she has her doctorate in a science topic so she has a better baseline knowledge of a lot of things and is just wildly smart and will ask enough questions possibly to the point of annoyance (she’s awesome
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Ladymoph121,
I have biopsy this Wednesday. It is lucky you have such a friend to visit doctor with you, my husband just sit there, both of us have technical background.
Nowadays it is hard to see doctor, and I found the most uncertainties coming after biopsy, I need to study almost all the situations cause I don't know mine is which one, if I can have 2 appts easily or can get report prior to appt, that will help lot. Take a break, hang on with friends these days. I plan to go shopping these days.
Best wishes for a b9 result!
Cathy
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Well, guess I’ll move over to the just diagnosed forum, because I got my results today and I have invasive ductal carcinoma, triple negative. As with most things I plan to use humor and my cats to deal with this
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ladymoph121,
I am so sorry to hear this, hugs! With today's technologies, treatment will be very successful. A lot of info here, and you can do google, don't read those old articles.
I just did my biopsy today.
Cathy
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ladymoph121, I’m sorry that we had to meet this way, and I’m glad that you found us. This is a warm, witty, supportive, and fierce bunch of mostly women with a small sprinkling of energetic, passionate, supportive, and knowledgeable men
I’ll echo what everyone above said. Waiting in your case is not going to change your outcome. I had a 4 cm Grade 3 tumor. I waited with great medical advice for several weeks longer than expected, and was assured my outcome wouldn’t be worsened. One thing I learned it that there is so much waiting and it’s the worst. The first wait, which you’ve survived, is over. The next hardest one is figuring out what is next for your treatment and when it will happen. For me, having that first date was hugely helpful. Sometimes it’s chemo then surgery, sometimes it’s surgery, then chemo. Occasionally radiation is early, but usually follows the first two. You will have a Medical Oncologist (MO) and a surgeon, hopefully trained in Breast Surgical Oncology (BSO). Those two (who may include others) will get together for your best treatment plan, including you. Do expect the choices to be fairly narrow, that’s because the NCCN has lots of evidence of what is clinically proven to have the best long term outcomes.
You have time for more than one consult with each doctor. Find one who is right for you. If you want, click I my username and you should see the dilemma I had over my surgeon choice. I found the right surgeon was able to refer me to the ideal MO. Someone both she and I can work with. That pair are vital, and can guide you well with the other specialists you might need.
One thing I didn’t know about when I came here is that most medical institutions have patient portals. I’ve been able to access every single imaging and pathology report there and dive into it to my hearts desire. I work as in engineering management with a background in writing technical documents. I know enough to know what I don’t know when reading, so I fill some of the gaps with online research. Having those reports has been very helpful to my peace of mind. Now, we are all different, so you will figure out what is most helpful to you.
Please don’t hesitate to ask anything here. The seasoned survivors, and others who are more recent and in the thick of treatment are here for you. Hugs.
Cyndi
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I am so sorry! I go for my biopsy tomorrow.
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