Newly diagnosed and scared
My biopsy came back positive on 10/31/25. I met with the surgeon and talked about a lumpectomy and radiation. Now, my MRI showed another mass in the other breast and a lung nodule. So now I need another ultrasound and maybe biopsy and a CT scan. I’m afraid that my easy diagnosis is about to be much harder. Does this mean it has spread?
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Hi @cosun10, I’m sorry about your diagnosis. As you have found out the process is not always straightforward. MRIs sometimes give false positives so that is why another ultrasound is being done. If the ultrasound finds something suspicious a biopsy will be done. There is no way of telling what the outcome will be.
Lung nodules are fairly common. Most of them are the result of a prior infection or inflammation.. As opposed to breast imaging lung imaging is much more straightforward. Radiologists can identify suspicious nodules looking at a CT scan. It’s unlikely that the nodule is cancerous but it’s a good idea to check.
Hopefully nothing new will be found and your planned treatment will stay the same. All the best.
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Thank you for the encouragement!
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Hi @cosun10 , and welcome to BCO. We’re so sorry you’re going through this, but glad you found us.
Getting additional findings after your initial biopsy can be incredibly scary. But it’s important to remember that these next scans are meant to clarify, not necessarily to confirm anything worse.
For now, here a page from our main site that might be helpful:
Also, a great thread full of advice for those just diagnosed: Just Diagnosed- Get Prepared
Take things one step at a time, and remember it’s completely normal to feel anxious. We’d love to hear how you’re doing as you go through this process. Please feel free to post updates whenever you’re ready.
Sincerely,
The Mods
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Hi @cosun10 . I had to do a double take on your process as it mirrors mine, I too was discussing lumpectomy and radiation with my surgeon but needed additional testing. The MRI showed an additional suspicious 1 cm mass in my left breast and clumped non mass enhancement, and a mass in my right breast with slightly irregular margins. The MRI also noticed a nodule in my right lung, like your's and I have already had the chest CT. The CT said the nodule was nothing to worry about, scaring from prior infection. I pray yours is the same.
The ultrasound to confirm MRI finding did not see the mass on the right side. I am scheduled for an MRI guided biopsy on both right and left breast tomorrow.
My cancer was diagnosed Sept 19 and I'm hoping to make a decision at an appointment with my surgeon on Dec 3. It is a slow growing cancer, but it seems to be taking forever to get to the resolution (the mammo that found the original mass was Aug 6). I am ER/PR+, HER2-, no node involved, IDC, ILC, and LCIS.
My research has told me that cancer in both breasts at the same time is very unusual. I told myself that I would not go down the rabbit hole, but I have done many internet searches and used chapgpt also. It's hard to know the questions to ask because we have never been through this.
Like you, I'm torn with emotion and scared too.
I'll let you know my outcome and I will follow you too, and I will pay for you.
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My initial staging CT revealed an 8 mm lung nodule on the same side as my cancer. The MO said it was probably nothing and we would do a follow-up CT later to check. I had the follow up 11 months later and it was still there, still 8 mm. The radiologist's report said it was stable and benign.
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@sastip it’s incredible how similar our stories are. My initial mammogram was on Aug 5 and I’m still working through it. I had my biopsies and CT today. I thought the plan was maybe to do a biopsy. I didn’t realize that it was a maybe do an US guided biopsy and have a MRI guided one if they couldn't find the mass. Now, I’m grateful they did find it. I also had my CT and hope for benign results too. My first biopsy was also ER/PR + HER neg. I don’t know about nodes yet. Results might be delayed because of the holiday but I’m still hoping for something tomorrow.
It’s good to hear that an 8mm nodule was benign. That’s the size of mine and it seems borderline for being big.0 -
@cosun10 I have been so back and forth on course of treatment, every time I think I have a decision, something else comes into play. Like you, I will be glad to get results in the MRI biopsy but like you said, the holiday may play a role in delay, I'm sure the Dr. offices are closed on Friday in addition to T-Day.
Maybe we will both have our answers within the next week or so.
I don't like the idea of radiation, which I would need if I go the lumpectomy route but at 62 I don't know which way to go with mastectomy: flat, implants or flap surgery. It's all so overwhelming. And then there is the nipple saving issue, who would have thought I'd be thinking of that.
I lived in CO from 2nd grade - high school, Arvada West.
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I haven’t considered different surgical options. I’m wondering if new results will change that. My younger self always thought implants would make a mastectomy ok. Now I realize how naive that was and how unimportant. It sounds like you’ve really delved into all of the options. I hope you come up with a plan that you feel good about.
Thanks for posting the video. It sounds like I will learn a lot from it.
I’ve been in Colorado most of my life. I love it here. I really embrace the whole CO lifestyle :)0 -
@sastip I hope your biopsy went well. The video was great. I loved the way he explained everything, I learned a lot. My CT was good, no suspicious masses. No results on the biopsies so now I wait until Monday. I’m going to get outside and try to forget about all of this for a little while.
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@cosun10 That is wonderful that your CT provided good news. My biopsy went well, trying not to do too much but T-day dinner is at my house…..
I have watched the video twice, he is easy to listen to and the flow of the lecture put everything into context.
It is hard to forget about all of this because of all the added things along the way and then waiting. Hopefully we are both going to have final plan next week. Hope your getting out was just what you needed.
I'll chat with you next week.
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I had similar situation with an mri biopsy needed for both breasts after initial diagnoses. My first has come back clear and waiting for the second and hoping to schedule a lumpectomy thereafter. Fingers crossed for all of us.
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My MRI biopsy on right breast showed fibroepithelial lesion, 'probably' begnin but should be excised anyway. I've decided to have a DMX, reconstruction decision pending appointment with plastic on 12/12.
This was a really hard decision to make, nothing like I have ever experienced.
Part of the reason for DMX vs lumpectomy (with radiation) is that the chest CT revealed that I have a thickening of the pericardium and mildly enlarged heart. Since I would have needed radiation on the left side, it could impact my heart issues.
Another factor in my decision is the LCIS component of the cancer, with it's bilateral chances and hidden patterns, I need peace of mind (even if its just a small amount).
I'm already feeling some peace to have reached this point, I know there are still decisions to be made about reconstruction but my brain can move past the huge decision about DMX vs lumpectomy.
Thanks for listening.
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