Results from Mammo & Ultrasound

Anonymous · Guest

Hi
I am 46 yrs old, good health, mother of 2kids (13 & 9 yrs) and just did a mammogram and ultrasound today, results are as follows from the radiologist:

-- start of report --
Indications: Left breast Lump

History: No High Risk factor

Mammographic Findings:
Both Breast have the apperance of heterogenous glandular tissues with some fatty involution. A large opacity measuring 2.5 x 2.2 cm (with well defined lobulated margin) is seen in the left inner central quadrant. Another opacity measuring 1.2cm in diameter is seen in the left retroareolar region. It has a partly well defined margin.
No clustered microcalcification seen.
There is no disorganisation of the architecture of the breasts.
The skin and nipple shadows appear within normal limits.
Small axillary lymph nodes are seen in the left oblique view.

Ultrasound Findings:
Bothe breast show normal homogeneous tissue echo pattern.
There is a well circumscribed hypoechoic focus measuring 23 x 22 x 13 mm at the 10 o'clock position of the left breast.
A smaller fairly well circumscribed hypoechoic focus measuring 5 x 2 mm is seen at the 11-2 o'clock position of the left breast.
No dilated ducts.

Comments:
1. There is a large lobulated fairly well defined opacity seen in the left breast.
A smaller opacity with partly well defined margin is seen in the retroareolar region.
BIRADS - Category 3 - probably benign finding - short interval follow up suggested.
2. Ultrasound reveals two fairly well circumscribed hypoechoic foci in the left breast likely to be fibroadenomas. However, slow growing neoplasm may have similar appearance and follow up is recommended.

-- end of report --

After talking to the doctor, the doctor said that its best to remove the lumps though he is failry certain (90%) that its benign. A day surgery under GA is required.

I inquired if a biopsy should be the next step rather than surgery and he said, its best to remove the lump to be sure.

I am think of getting a second opinion before going to surgery.

Any advise as I am confused as BIRADS Cat 3 usually means probably benign and short interval follow-up recommended.

The larger lump has been there for several years and has not changed in size since I felt it many years back. It was the smaller new lump which I felt recently which triggered me to go for my first mammogram.

/msn
PS: Sorry for my long winded post.

ROSIE · New User Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 1

I just received my results too.. first mammo then ultrasound.. then I decided to do Ultrasound guided biopsy..
results came back positive.. 2 sites same breast right.. lumpectomy at this time is not a good option..

I chose the untrasound biopsy because it was the "least invasive" procedure to do to get a good result..

Now the surgeon that I was referred to wants to remove t he breast entirely.. but I am now looking into a skin saving mastectomy done by a phisician in San Diego California at scripps institute..

hope this helps.. I too am long winded.. good luck in your choices.. look into a stereotatic biopsy.. a little more painful than untrasound I hear.. but is guided using a mammogram while biopsying the tissue..
in my case they were able to numb me up using lidocane and then I got to watch them take 7 samples from each lump.. unfortunately both sites came back positive.. both sites are on opposite sides of the breast .. that is why lumpectomy is not a good option..

Remember surgeons "cut" that is what they do.. I hope your doctor is willing to be open to what different prodecures are there for women.. if not find one that is..
The internet has been a great source of information for me.. my surgeon that I saw first wanted to take the whole breast.. now I am talking to one that is going to try to save as much as possible..

Anonymous · Guest

thanks rosie for sharing. i hope you've found the solution that best fits you.

hugs

bethanyaok

Hi MSN!! Here's a link to a website that will answer many of your questions: www.imaginis.com. Read Evaluating a Breast Lump http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/lump.asp as well as the section on Breast Biopsy http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/biopsy/. Your doctor is recommending an Excisional Biopsy. You might ask why he is making this recommendation instead of a stereotactic core biopsy (which is less invasive and doesn't require general anesthesia). If you're not satisfied with his response, by all means seek a second opinion. I had an excisional biopsy but my BIRADS were 5...highly suspicious. And yes, it was cancer. For that surgery they used an anesthesia that caused a twilite sleep, Versed. I would also ask him/her why use GA and not Versed??

Here's a link to Understanding Mammography Report: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mammogram_report.asp

And a link about BIRADS ratings http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/acrbi.asp

I think if you read some of these links you'll have a better understanding and can make a decision about whether to have the excision al bx or go for a less invasive one. If the masses are fibroadenomas, I don't think it is necessary they be removed. Regardless, I believe it's necessary to have a biopsy of some sort and not wait 3-6 months. A biopsy is the ONLY way to be 100% certain the lumps are BENIGN! It sounds likely that they will be B-9!!

Hope this is helpful, please post again and let us know that happens!!

Smile

Bethany
_________________
Bethany
breast cancer dx 4/17/00
4 AC, 28 rads, tamoxifen
7 years NED, and counting!
BRCA2+ 2/1/07

Lost Dad to Lung Cancer June '05

Anonymous · Guest

thanks bethany,
Yes been reading this website and many others.

just managed to make an appt to see another breast specialist for second opinion.

let's see what procedure for biopsy he recommends.

will decide thereafter.

thanks again and warm regards

AlaskaAngel · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: Decisions, decisions

Hi msn,

I had one mammo when I was young in 1988, then one about a decade later, and they started doing short-term 6-month follow ups because my breasts were fairly dense. In June, 2001 the rads doc was unsure enough to do an ultrasound at the same time for 2 lumps thought to be fibroadenomas, and then to be on the safe side he gave it a BIRADS 4 and recommended biopsy, partly because of strong family history. The surgeon did not biopsy, but recommended a 3 month follow up ultrasound. At three months, the same 2 lumps were seen pretty much unchanged but a third lump was seen that was questionable enough that again biopsy, BIRADS 4 was recommended. The surgeon failed to follow up and when I phoned her she argued with me and said "we" had decided not to biopsy. We don't have any other imaging facilities here and I didn't know what to do so I finally independently scheduled another ultrasound as a way of getting things back on track, and by the time I actually got it, another 2 1/2 months had gone by -- (partly because the surgeon had gone on vacation and by the time she got back to argue with me I was too "polite" about it all). Again biopsy was recommended, BIRADS 4. I had the biopsy this time and the third lump was a 1.6 cm IDC with DCIS. No biopsy was done of the other 2 lumps. I then had a competent surgeon in the Lower 48 biopsy both other lumps before I would go ahead with treatment, and both of those were fibroadenomas and were benign.

What would I do differently if I had it to do over?

1. NEVER again trust a doctor who is that stupid, even if the doctor trained at UCLA and continues to be a fully qualified practicing surgeon in our town who claims to be a "breast cancer SPECIALIST".

2. If at high risk, go for the biopsy.

3.I personally would chose excisional biopsy.
_________________
Dx Dec 2001 at age 50
Lumpectomy Jan 2002, 1.6 cm IDC plus some DCIS
Node neg
ER+, PR+, HER2+++
CAF x 6, 35 rads+boost
NED
Tamoxfen 1 3/4 yrs
In 2 clinical trials
bc for mom and 1 sis and 1 aunt and 1 granny
ovarian cancer for 1 aunt

Anonymous · Guest

thanks AA.

Definitely will not leave it just to the doctor to decide. will be getting a 2nd opinion in a few days from another doctor with all my results and see what is the recommendation.

will keep u all posted.

thanks for all the sharings I get here.

/msn
PS: just wondering if removing lumps of these sizes, will affect the overall shape of the breast dramatically.

AlaskaAngel

Unless you have very little breast to begin with I would think either an FNA or a core biopsy would change the breast very little. Removal, especially if you choose to have the larger one removed, I would think would put a visible dimple in if your breast is average. But I'm no surgeon.

There are no calcifications and you are not in a high-risk category and the radiologist feels that if it is cancer it would be a slow-growing cancer, all of which are strongly in your favor for a benign result.

A.A.
_________________
Dx Dec 2001 at age 50
Lumpectomy Jan 2002, 1.6 cm IDC plus some DCIS
Node neg
ER+, PR+, HER2+++
CAF x 6, 35 rads+boost
NED
Tamoxfen 1 3/4 yrs
In 2 clinical trials
bc for mom and 1 sis and 1 aunt and 1 granny
ovarian cancer for 1 aunt

Anonymous · Guest

hi all
2nd opinion done and doc said risk is very low for my case by still suggest removal of lumps to be sure. no effect as i feared. ops scheduled in the next few days and wish me luck all.

bethanyaok

Hi MSN...I'm glad you got a second opinion! Women on another breast cancer board I post on always say that the only place for a lump is in a jar! I have had the excisional biopsy, and it really was not too bad a procedure. The healing takes a couple of days, and I can barely find the scar from the one breast that had just the biopsy. It is probably a good thing that you won't have to wait long for your procedure. Waiting breeds anxiety! ANd soon, you will have the biopsy results which more than likely will be BENIGN (YAY!!!) It's good to know for sure and not be left to wait and watch and worry. Take good care, and please let us know how it goes!

Bethany
_________________
Bethany
breast cancer dx 4/17/00
4 AC, 28 rads, tamoxifen
7 years NED, and counting!
BRCA2+ 2/1/07

Lost Dad to Lung Cancer June '05

Anonymous · Guest

thanks beth and all,

yes waiting breeds anxiety of the highest order. I will keep all posted when the prcedure is completed and results are out.

meanwhile thanks for all the support and god bless.

Anonymous · Guest

got the results and its B9. (yeah !) so relieved and thanks to all for support advise and prayers.

bethanyaok

MSN...This is the news I was hoping to hear!! You must be sooooooo relieved! Thanks for letting us know!!

Bethany Very Happy

_________________
Bethany
breast cancer dx 4/17/00
4 AC, 28 rads, tamoxifen
7 years NED, and counting!
BRCA2+ 2/1/07

Lost Dad to Lung Cancer June '05

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