Should I get a biopsy

[tina729]

I am 41 and diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease. My last mammo and ultrasound states "a 4mm oval hypoechoic lesion in my right breast. This may relate to cyst with debris or perhaps a small fibroadenoma." My doc wants me to have either an MRI or a biopsy seeing as my mother has had breast cancer. I don't know if I want to go through an invasive procedure like a biopsy but with my family history I wonder if I should? Any thoughts?

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear tina729,  The next step in determining for sure what this is would be a biopsy.  Decision to do biopsy is based on degree of suspicion of the findings, but into context of your situation.  It is difficult to make a recommendation to proceed or not without all of the information.  You may want to have further discussion with your doctor about this or seek a second opinion from a breast specialist, these are usually associated with large acedemic centers.

[ddm967]

Hi,

I have a similar situation to yours.  I had am MRI done of June 19th and the MRI found an enhancing nodule on the left breast inner quadrant at 10 o'clock 8mm in size and 5cm from nipple.  I had to have an ultrasound of the area this past Friday 6/26.  The radiologist looking over my ultrasound films recommended for me to have a biopsy of the tissue just to be safe.  He said he felt confident that I have cystic disease but that there were many cysts within a cyst (complex cyst) I suppose and there was an area that he could not make out well on the ultrasound views.  He wanted me to have a biopsy under ultrasound at a local Breast Center where I live to be sure.

I am going to go by the radiology center tomorrow to get the write up of the ultrasound he did on Friday to see what it says.  I wonder why he recommended the biopsy.  He says he's not concerned but he's concerned enough to order a biopsy. My mother had BC at age 38 & because I have a strong family history--that's another reason why he wants the biopsy to be sure.  I can understand that, but I'm still concerned there's more to this.

I am not too concerned about the actual biopsy itself but am anxious about what it might reveal.  I'm prepared for the worst but hope for the best.  I figure it's probably my fate anyways with my family history.  My only hope is that I catch it early.  The mammogram I had on 6/5 didn't pick up this 8mm nodule, the MRI did.  I know MRI's have alot of false positives and require unneccesary biopsies but I want one to be on the safe side.  

I think you should go thru with it.  I didn't think twice about it.  I'm doing it to see what it says. If mine is hiding cancer cells and they're found in the pathology report then I'm immediately having my breasts removed and will have reconstruction.  I'm 41 and I feel that's young and I don't want to have my breasts removed but I don't want to die of cancer either.  If I can contain it to the breast then I think I have a better chance of making it thru.  I'm optimistic that it's going to be okay--the dr is probably being cautious due to my family history.  I read that it's rare that cysts are cancer but there's always exceptions to that rule.

Good luck and keep us posted on how things go and what you find out.  I'd be interested in knowing how you're doing.  Think positive!!!!!!! :-)