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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Lumpectomy this morning
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.
Lumpectomy this morning
by Iamspirited, Jul 21, 2005 12:00AM
The surgeon examined me yesterday and concluded that there were cancerous properties of the mass on my breast. He based this on the ultra-sound report, the size of the lump, that it was hard and irregular, that I am postmenopausal (58) and that it was into the breast tissue. He felt it was urgent to remove it.
We will discuss treatment options when the stitches are removed.
The lump was surrounded with yellow-fatty tissue and then a black/reddish tumor in the middle of it all. He said he was still worried.
The ultra-sound report is medical gibberish to me, but basically this is what it said:"There is a prominent hypoechoicmass within the lower right breast in the 6 o'clock position that measures 2.6x1.8 cm in diameter. The mass contains diffuse internal echoes and has irregular margins. There are a couple of smaller hypoechoic nodules located slightly anterio and lateral to the larger mass measuring less than 1cm in diameter. No visible calcifications are evident within the mass.....Questionable etiology as described."
Can someone translate this report for me? What are the odds for this proving to be cancerous?
Thank you soooo much,
Spirit
We will discuss treatment options when the stitches are removed.
The lump was surrounded with yellow-fatty tissue and then a black/reddish tumor in the middle of it all. He said he was still worried.
The ultra-sound report is medical gibberish to me, but basically this is what it said:"There is a prominent hypoechoicmass within the lower right breast in the 6 o'clock position that measures 2.6x1.8 cm in diameter. The mass contains diffuse internal echoes and has irregular margins. There are a couple of smaller hypoechoic nodules located slightly anterio and lateral to the larger mass measuring less than 1cm in diameter. No visible calcifications are evident within the mass.....Questionable etiology as described."
Can someone translate this report for me? What are the odds for this proving to be cancerous?
Thank you soooo much,
Spirit
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Jul 22, 2005 12:00AM
Dear Spirit: An ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce through tissue and cast images based on how the sound waves bounce off of tissue and or fluid of different densities. Ultrasounds are best at differentiating between solid and cystic (fluid-filled) structures. Hypoechoic basically means that the image looks more solid. Irregular margins means that the edges of the mass are not smooth and circular. The ultrasound revealed a couple additional masses slightly in front and to the side of the larger mass. No calcifications were seen. The features on ultrasound that may be concerning are the solid masses that have irregular edges. This means that further evaluation is necessary. It is not diagnostic of cancer. The biopsy will give you the information you need once the pathologist reviews the specimen. It is difficult to provide "odds" in this setting.
