2 cm hard mass

Hi
My dr recently found a 2 cm hard mass near my aerola.  i have micro calcifications in that area. In 2009 the radiologist recommended i get a cone mammo of that area because the  microcalcifications in the left retroareolar areas were ill defined.  My doctors office requested a bilateral screening mammogram instead of the cone mammo. I had that in 2010 and the radiologist stated it was a stable pattern with benign appearing calcifictions bilaterally but no evidence of malignancy.  The doctor just found a mass in that area now.She said she felt it was moveable but wasn't sure if the mass was moving or the area around it. I'm scheduled for a regular mammo again and a ultrasound  Any chance this could be benign?  thanks for your help

[japdip]

Answered previously .... Thanks

[Tinabudde]

Hi Cin, it could be a benign tumor or fatty lymph nodes, or many other things.  We all tend to think cancer when we hear of breast lump.  When I had my breast lump I asked for an MRI of the breast too I wanted to see it from all angles.  I did have cancer but it was small enough for a lumpectomy.  My mother had cancer in one breast and the other was benign tumors in the same exact place as the one she had the masectomy on, you just never know but it is good they are testing you again.  Let us know how you make out.  hugs, tina

[cin0619]

Thank you so much for response.  Sorry I posted twice I thought the first one didn't go thru.  I appreciate you taking the time toanswer me im feeling a.little better about upcoming tests.





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[cin0619]

Tina. Thanks so much for your response.  I know im panicing pretty early about everything.  Thanks for helping to.calm me.down.

[cin0619]

HI I finally had ultra sound and mammo on breast mass today.  The tech for breast ultrasound asked me to hum while going over a certain area?  Any idea why she would ask that?  Thanks for your help!

[ncmichigan]

Sorry, but I've never heard of that or had it happen to me through multiple ultrasounds over the years. Maybe an US tech could answer that for you or your doctor or maybe someone here has had that experience. And yes, there's a good chance your lump is benign. If there's any doubt about  the mammo and US findings, a biopsy will be recommended.
That's the only way they can be 100% sure what any suspicious finding is. From your original post, it sounds like it appeared pretty benign in 2010. These follow ups will be looked at carefully and compared to those films, so the best possible opinion can be made for you. I know wating for the results is hard, but please try to stay positive and take one step at a time.
I'm wishing you all the best and hope you'll let us know how things turn out for you. We'll be thinking of you.
nc

[cin0619]

Finally got my results back from ultrasound and mammo.   The impression is left breast, category 4B.  There are findings of focal dense breast tissue corresponding to the palpable lump the patient feels within the anterior left breast.  No mammographic change is noted.  This represents a mildly suspicious abnormality and ultrasound-guided core biopsy is recommended.   Birads 4B: lesions with an intermediate suspicion of malignancy biopsy should be considered.  Does anyone know if this is highly probable for cancer or 50/50 or?

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi,

Your results would NOT be considered "Higly probable for malignancy." iIf  that were the case, you would hadve been given a BI-RADS 5.

Below is the criteria for BI-RADS 4:

"BI-RADS 4
Suspicious Abnormality - Biopsy Should Be Considered:
BI-RADS 4 is reserved for findings that do not have the classic appearance of malignancy but have a wide range of probability of malignancy (2 - 95%).
By subdividing Category 4 into 4A, 4B and 4C , it is encouraged that relevant probabilities for malignancy be indicated within this category so the patient and her physician can make an informed decision on the ultimate course of action."

The fact that your lump was described as "mildly suspicious" should be somewhat reassuring. However, no matter what the impression is going in, there is no way to know for sure until the pathology report comes back.

Please keep us posted regarding your biopsy.

Wishing you all the best,
bluebutterfly

[bluebutterfly2222]

Here is some additional information regard the BI-RADS 4 sub-categories:

"BI-RADS Category 4 is  subdivided into smaller sub-categories: "A" for low suspicion of malignancy, "B" for moderate suspicion, and "C" for high suspicion.

The exact clinical significance of the subcategorizations of BI-RADS category 4 remains a bit vague. Interpreting breast imaging has a wide variability,depending on radiologist experience and previous knowledge of BI-RADS guidelines.

Generally speaking as we move further into categories A,B, and finally C, the chances of the breast lesion being diagnosed as DCIS increases. About 70% of BI-RADS category 4C breast lesions turn out to be ductal carcinoma in situ, while DCIS is found in category 4B lesions only about 21% of the time, and only 10% of the time with category 4A breast lesions.

Overall, the average rate of BI-RADS 4 biopsies representing malignant cancer, is thought to be in the order of 20-40%".

Hope this helps,
bb.

[ncmichigan]

Wishing you all the best with your biopsy--- as bb indicates, the odds are still very much in your favor.  We all know the wait for the path report will be hard---it's the worst part of the biopsy experience in my opinion. Again, please try to stay positive---I really believe it helps. Please let us know how you're doing if you wish---we'll be thinking of you and hoping for benign results.
Sending you a hug (    ),
nc

[cin0619]

thank you everyone for your comments! i appreciate it. still waiting for my insurance to approve the biopsy then will schedule it.

[cin0619]

Hi
I"m still waiting to get the core needle biopsy.  The radiology clinic where i had the mammo and ultrasound is requesting I get a surgical consult before they will schedule the biopsy even tho it is a needle biopsy. Has anyone heard of this before? I'm now waiting for my insurance to approve the surgical consult.  Thanks everyone for your help. I can't believe this has dragged on for so long.

[cin0619]

HI everyone:

After several delays i finally went for surgical consult today regarding core needle biopsy.  Surgeon is recommending i have excisional biopsy and remove the lump completely then biopsy the lump. He feels the lump must come out either way so feels I should remove it rather than do core needle biopsy. The lump is 3.1 cm.  Is this standard? I thought they always do needle biopsy if possible first. The lump is very easy to feel so no question they can get to it easily to biopsy. I am worried that they feel it is malignant and needs to come out. I asked him if he thought it was and he would not comment either way.  Any thoughts on this? I can't believe this has been going on since May my doctor office has been taking forever to process the referral to my insurance etc even though I have been calling them weekly.  Thanks for all of your help.

[ncmichigan]

I'm glad you FINALLY got your surgical consult. Sometimes surgeons will give an opinion on a mass and sometimes they won't---I don't think that's too unusual. We've had women who were  told it was probably cancer and have has benign results, so there's always hope. I've had three excisional biopsies on 5 different areas and the last one was for clustered microcalcifications. I was always glad to have them rather than just a core or sterotactic biopsy. IF it turned out to be cancer, I just wanted it completely out so I wouldn't need two surgeries. The calcifications were because of benign fibrocystic changes (but they coincidently found LCIS, too) but at least I know for sure what I'm dealing with. Benign masses can continue to grow, and if the surgeon feels it should be removed either way, I would follow his advice. You may want to check back with him to find out exactly why he's recommending removal---it may just be based on the size of the mass or the location, but he should be able to explain it to you. Based on the information bb gave you, even with a BIRADS 4B, the chances are still pretty much in your favor that it's benign.  Even if it ends up positive, hopefully it will be caught early and highly treatable. Try to stay positive and not stress too much, OK? I know that's easier said than done, especially when you've had this going on for so long. Hopefully, you'll get it behind you soon and you can stop worrying about all the "what ifs". We'll be thinking of you and wishing you all the best. Please let us know how you're doing if you wish.
Hugs♥,
nc

[cin0619]

Hi

Thanks so much for your response.  I"m still waiting for the approval for the procedure and hopefully will have it done immediately after it is approved. I can't believe my doctor found this mass in May and I have had nothing but delays this long. I really hope not malignant especially since it could of been growing all of this time. I don't know how long it has been there it has never shown on the mammogram and still does not.  The doctor either under estimated its size or in the 2 months it took for me to get an appointment for ultrasound it grew so it has been very stressful.  Thank you everyone for your support!

[cin0619]

After 3 months of dealing with this finally got diagnosis from biopsy today.  It is as follows:

Extensive ductal carcinoma of comedo type, invasive carcinomais not identified sclerosing adenosis extends to within 0.25 mm of margin.  Surgeon recommending lumpectomy and removal of nipple (lump was very close to it) and sentinal node biopsy, If the cancer has not spread anyone have an idea what treatment I"m looking at? Dr referring me to oncologist. His recommendation was the surgury and follow any other treatment oncologist recommends.  Thanks ladies for all of your help. I appreciate it

[ncmichigan]

I'm SO sorry to hear about your diagnosis of DCIS but I'm glad it isn't invasive. As bad as it is, I'm sure you're glad to finally have a definitive diagnosis and you're able to move forward to treatment I truly hope your SNB is negative. The usual treatment for DCIS is lumpectomy and radiation, but in some cases chemo may be necessary. I don't want to worry you, but I know that you want honesty. Comedo type is worse than non-comedo and the fact that it's extensive may mean you'll need more more treatment. I haven't had experience with this since I only have LCIS, so maybe some others can give you more specific information or their personal experiences. Of course, each person is an individual and your oncologist will outline the best possible treatment for your specific case. Hopefully, you have trust in him/her and will follow the recommended treatment. I think you should be able to get plastic surgery for reconstruction of your nipple if you wish.  I'm hoping your treatment will go more smoothly than your diagnosis, and you'll soon be able to put all this behind you and move on to a cancer-free life. The journey is never easy, but you sound like a strong, positive person. As always, I'm wishing you all the best.
Hugs ♥,
nc

[cin0619]

Hi NC:
THanks so much for your response.  I kind of expected a diagnosis its just been stressful waiting so long and constantly on my primary doctor to get my referrals through. Now trying to get referral thru for consult with oncologist.  I can't wait to dump my primary doctor she and her staff are a nightmare but can't do it until i get my final referrals thru cuz don't have the time to start all over with a new doctor.  Hoping to get a 2nd opinion hopefully from a breast surgeon but my primary has to do referral for that as well.  My surgeon is just a general surgeon and I would feel better to get an opinion of someone who actually specializes in this but afraid to wait too long if my primary doctor takes too long doing the referrals. My surgeon would like to do the lumpectomy quickly but i need to see oncologist first.
There didn't appear to be anything on path report about HER only ER and PR positive not sure why it doesn't mention it.
Thanks for your help and encouragement!