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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Breast lump, pregnant, and having a needle biopsy - questions?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Breast lump, pregnant, and having a needle biopsy - questions?
by Mammaof3, Jun 11, 2003 12:00AM
I am 36 years old - no one on my mom or dads side have ever been diagnosed with Breast Cancer as far back as anyone knows. 6 months ago I had a routine mammogram (first one ever for me) and then they did a ultrasound because they saw something. They said looks like no cancer but to watch it for 6 months and do a follow up. (The week after, I got pregnant. I am now 28 weeks preg) I went in two days ago for the follow up ultrasound and the spot in question was normal, but they found another lump and said they could not tell if it was fluid filled or solid, so they wanted to do a needle aspiration. I have that planned for tomorrow. All they said was that it could be fluid filled, it could be caused by changes in my breast from pregnancy since it was not there 6 months ago and they have to check it because it is a change. I am a very nervous person to begin with and being pregnant makes it that much worse. My questions are (1) Everywhere I read it says that an ultrasound is the easiest way to tell if it is fluid filled or not, why would it be hard to tell, like in my case? (2) If it is cancer, do you think catching it in a 6 months time is normally soon enough to be considered early detection?
Thank you for any insight on this - I am so nervous.
Thank you for any insight on this - I am so nervous.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Jun 11, 2003 12:00AM
Dear mammaof3, An ultrasound is the test of choice to try to distinguish between a fluid-filled vs. solid area, however no test is perfect. A needle aspiration is a simple next step of confirming that this is a cyst, if they can aspirate fluid then it is a cyst. Considering how quickly this showed up, and the changes that can occur with pregnancy, increase the likelihood that is a cyst, but rather than assuming that, hopefully the needle biopsy will confirm this.
