Help to understand Breast MRI findings

[Mom968]

Last June i found a lump in my left breast. Had a mammo, immediately followed by a sono. Radiologist said follow up mammo in 6 months. Went in February for follow up sono. Findings BiRADS 3. My OB/GYN referred me to a general surgeon who ordered breast MRI with contrast.

FINDINGS: In the lateral aspect of the left breast in the slightly lower outer quadrant corresponding to the mammographic density, there is a rapid focus of enhancement which measures 7mm in greatest dimension. Ther are scattered well-circumscribed less than 5mm foci of enhancement seen which are progressive throughout both breasts. Vascular inflow phenomena is also seen. There is normal enhancement in the nipple areolar complex.  

IMPRESSION:  In the lateral aspect of the left breast slightly lower outer quadrant corresponding to the mammographic denisty, ther is a rapid focus of enhancement measuring 6 to 7 mm for which histologic diagnosis is recommended. This would be amenable to either excisional bigopsy or ultrasound-guided biopsy if this lesion could be seen under ultrasound.

I have a followup appt on monday with the general surgeon. I understand it is recommended by the radiologist that I have this biopsied. My question is what, in layman's terms, do the findings actually say??

I am very anxious about this. I am only 38, still have a young child and I've already had to wait with this lump for a year.

[Amy1973]

I would post this comment back to the doctor-patient forum.  They might be able to help you a little more.

I have BC.  I had my lump removed because I forced them to remove it. The surgeon wanted to wait because they said I was too young, 32.  It was cancer.  They wanted to wait 6 months.  It was infiltrating and would have spread if I would have waited.  I was able to have a mastectomy and remove all cancer with no chemo.

I would suggest that if you have a lump that they are watching and it is easy to remove, remove it.  The lump that they wanted to watch came back as non-cancerous with a needle biospy.  Not all biopsies are accurate.  

Be proactive and if you feel that it is not right, change their minds or get a second opinion.  I know this didn't answer your question but wanted to give you a little advice from someone with BC.

[Mom968]

Amy,
Thank you so much. I regret waiting the six months to watch and see if it gets bigger. After I had the second sonogram six months later the radiologist told me that it had not changed but to check with another sono 6 months later. I was so relieved. 4 days later I got a call from my OB/GYN saying that it had changed and she wanted to refer me to a surgeon. I was devastated. Since then there has been nothing but waiting. I am so not good at waiting. With each day that passes I get more and more scared. For about the past four months I've run a low grade fever, 99.8, I'm usually right at 98.6. That and am always tired. Hopefully just the stress of all of this.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I have an follow up appt with the surgeon on Monday where I will find out what she suggests I do. No matter what she says I will be going to Johns Hopkins Breast Center for a second opinion and have whatever done there.

[Amy1973]

I was just thinking about how the doctors went.  I am able to talk if you need to.

[Mom968]

Had follow-up on Monday with surgeon to hear about MRI results. MRI shows rapid enhancement in the area where the lumps are (2). Surgeon says probably nothing but they should come out so as not to have to worry about them anymore. I know this is probably what they tell everyone. They probably won't even hint at anything until biopsy is done. Biopsy is scheduled for April 2. Will have to have sonogram first to place wires directly into lumps, then head into Operating Room and surgeon will remove. Am extremely anxious about this, but did find out that my mom had the same thing in the early 90's--turned out to be nothing (she has very dense breast tissue also) and there is no history of BC in our family. So, trying to stay positive. Stress is wearing me out though. Do not have energy to go to work. Stayed home yesterday. Went to work today, although didn't want to.
Melissa

[Amy1973]

I know how you feel.  They found a lump in my lung that they are watching.  On April 2nd I have a 6 week CT to look for changes on my lung lump.  I am facing a breast cancer recurrence in the lungs.  They are not sure what it might be - just like your lumps.  I have no breast cancer in my family but I do have lung cancer in my family.  I too am worried.  I just keep looking at the good things and make each day count.  I try to focus on the kids and hubby and keeping myself busy with them.  I too also try to get time by myself.  I am writing down everything in a journal.  I want to make a book someday to give to my kids.  Maybe, if you keep a journal and write down things you might feel better.  That worked really well for me.  

I am glad that you are getting them removed.  Sounds like you have a good surgeon.  You are right, the surgeon will not tell you anything until the results have came back.  I remember my doctor telling me to look at the results of test like a pie graph and breast cancer is just a slice of the pie.  A lump can be many things and cancer is just a small portion.

I too - hope all is great.

[Mom968]

Amy,

I'm so sorry you too are going through this. Wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone. Sounds like you are a very positive person. How old are your kids? I sincerely hope everything goes ok for you on the 2nd.

While I am scared for me the biggest thing is I'm scared for is my kids.
My dad died of cancer. I took care of him for three long years and my youngest daughter was there the whole time (she was only 6 when he died). I hope my kids don't have to go through that with me.

I'm trying to stay busy and not dwell too much on it. I understand what you are saying about cancer only being a small portion of the pie. It's just that we see it all the time on the news and I saw it with my dad and most everyone on his side of the family. I guess I've always figured that would be the way I would die. Was just hoping it would at least be after my kids are grown and settled. After seeing my dad go through chemo and radiation and it not doing any good--just made him sick when he wasn't even sick to begin with (and he never got better), I swore that I wouldn't go through that. But once you walk in those shoes I guess you start grasping any chance you may have.

Amy, thank you so much for talking with me about this. I think I will take your advice and start a journal. I know my oldest daughter would be very interested in it and it may be a way to get my youngest daughter to actually read something! (She HATES to read!) I think you are right, it helps so much to talk to someone else (all my husband says is don't worry about something you don't know about yet). I think a journal would be a way to talk about it with my self and sort out some of these feelings.

Melissa

[Amy1973]

I have two kids a daughter that is 6 and a crazy little boy that 3.  I stay at home with the kids but also watch a few others and teach preschool at home.  I am very busy but love to be with my son all day.

The journal has really helped me.  I started writing everything down and went through a whole journal.  Now, I am transfering it all to the computer.  My husband surprized me and bought me a new laptop.  I told him that I want to write a book about everything.  I think that maybe it works out good for him also.  That way he doesn't have to listed to everything.  My husband sounds a little like yours.  My husband tells me not to worry about it.  He tries to stay strong.  I wished that he talked to me more about it but he doesn't like to think about it.  I think he is still in denial that I had breast cancer.  The main reason I started the journal was that I had no one to really talk to and writing it all made it all feel better.

After everything I went through I finally read a few books, Why I wore red lipstick to my mastectomy, Nordies at Noontime, and Lance Armstrongs book It's not about the bike.  The first two are about BC and they are good but sad.  Lance's book perfect for me because I read about a man who was told he had less then 10% chance to live and he overcame everything.  That made feel wonderful.  Take care- Amy