AWAITING SECOND OPINION
Is there a cancer hiding somewhere in this moderate to highly dense Fibroglandular breast tissue of mine?
From Sydney, Australia
HISTORY:
Age: 36yo
Menstruating since 11yo
Endometriosis - surgery in 2022.
2 children - 10yo and 5yo
Recurrent mastitis infections since the birth of first child.
Spontaneous and recurrent mastitis infections since 2019 - NOT related to pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Every time was treated with antibiotics except for this most recent episode which started a few weeks ago (July 2024).
Struggled to breastfeed both children. No supply or milk production despite starting motillium. Also paid a private lactation consultant with my second child. She alerted to me to my dense breast tissue and said I must have regular scans as cancers can hide.
My new GP said 'this is not normal - let's get a mammogram'.
FAMILY HISTORY:
Significant family history of hormonal cancers on paternal Fathers side. Both paternal Grandmother and paternal Grandfather have significant cancer prevalent on their entire family bloodline.
Every female on both of those sides has had breast, cervical, ovarian cancers or precancerous cells
Every male on both sides has had prostate cancer, enlargement and /or precancerous cells.
SYMPTOMS THIS TIME:
Pain and swelling in right breast
Pain deep into my right armpit
Right side Pea size palpable lump - felt by both GP and breast surgeon
Red rash that comes and goes - also a ring around the lump
Profuse night sweats
hot flushes - in the right breast only!
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Lost 10kgs within 6weeks
More frequent bowel movements
As of 01/08/2024 - yellowing of my eyes
BLOODWORK:
FBC completed.
CRP was 1.2 - previous confirmed mastitis infections were 138-147 where I was hospitalized. NO true mastitis infection this time.
Increased Albumin levels
Increased Iron saturation and ferritin (over 10x my normal levels)
MAMMOGRAM AND MRI
Haven't even found or noted the palpable lump that myself and both doctors can clearly feel. Both mention moderate to high dense fibroglandular tissue.
Mamm - says I should have routine 6 monthly checks / scans
possible ductal ectasia evident
MRI - says I am fine - notes a cyst - but this is not a round or oval - there is only spiculated mass in several areas, so where the hell is this apparent cyst??
*GP has confirmed that the Mamm and MRI are inconsistent and has requested both radiologists contact her urgently.
She has also requested the Breast Surgeon follow through with a guided biopsy at minimum.
As we all know, these little pests can hide in dense tissue.
GENERAL BREAST SURGEON
Advised me that he is a 'general' breast surgeon and all my symptoms etc are pointing towards something rarer like IBC. He was transparent with me and said he would refer me on to a specialized surgeon if the mamm and MRI come back clean, as he is also suspicious of my symptoms, bloods, and significant family history of hormonal cancers - including my Father and Biological Sister.
He is continuing to see me until we can get an appointment with Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, as he does not want anyone to drop the ball on this.
He agrees, I need urgent second opinion from surgeons / specialist who specialize in this field.
I am impatiently waiting for the WBCI to call me with an appointment. Their booking nurses were on holidays or had covid last week so no bookings could be made.
GP and Breast Surgeon have referred me to Prof Elisabeth Elder and Dr James French for a further investigation. So, I am awaiting their call as they are part of WBCI.
My questions -
How can radiologists get this so wrong? I have snapped all the images that look sus and will attach.
How do I advocate really bloody hard for someone to do a biopsy?
I have deep dived into research from all over the world to find answers, case studies etc.
And thank god I did, so I know to push really bloody hard for further investigations.
Seeing case studies with reputable surgeons and oncologists who see women being misdiagnosed every day due to the density of their breast tissue. Its petrifying!
I am not Dr Googling. But I am definitely researching reputable studies so I can best advocate for myself so I can live a long healthy life with my family!!
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any advice, surgeons' recommendations, words of wisdom welcome.
See my images attached.
Comments
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Hi @amyf798c, I'm sorry you are going through the stress of trying to figure out what is going on. We are not radiologists so we can't interpret your imaging. Since your generalist breast surgeon couldn't make a diagnosis he did the right thing by referring you to a specialist center. Doctors don't do biopsies unless they find an area that looks suspicious for cancer; there are medical guidelines for that. Imaging is not perfect; mammograms miss about 12% and MRIs about 6% of invasive lesions. Breast cancer is not considered an emergency like a heart attack so unfortunately there is often a wait for an appointment or procedure. In retrospect my tumor was missed for two and a half years and while it certainly grew during that time my diagnosis was still early stage and very treatable. I hope you get an appointment soon. It's hard but try to keep busy with other things to lessen the stress. All the best!
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@amyf798c Good on you too keep pushing. Just in case. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing but you will want to know for sure. I think once you see a specialist that you trust they will either do the biopsy which will give you better results or they will use their expertise to guide you on whether or needs to be done or not. Waiting has been the hardest part for me. But my biggest advice is to follow your gut and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Good luck!
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