Atypical Hyperplasia

[mackenzi]

My biopsy shows that I have Atypical Hyperplasia. I am 37 and have a family history of breast cancer. My grandmother died from invasive breast cancer. All of my grandparents except one had cancer. My mother had a melanoma removed from her leg at 26. I also have a cousin who has been diagnosed with mestasis breast cancer. I am very worried. I am very greatful that I had no malignancy with my biopsy. The AH has me confused. I truly do not understand what all of this means. From what I have read with my family history and the AH lots of women choose mastectomy with reconstruction. I go back to the Dr. Wed. and he will check my incision and go over my report. Does anyone have any helpful info on this and the questions I should ask my Dr. What are my chances of developing breast cancer? I guess like everyone the unknown is very scary!! Thanks for any info you can give.

[ms.cookie]

I also had surgery on my left breast on 8/24/06 and it too showed mild atypical ductal hyperplasia with no evidence of malignancy.  I work for my gyn and he reassured me along with my surgeon that I do not have cancer.  I have a feeling that now someday I will get cancer.  I can't dwell on this, it will make me crazy.  I have been thinking about having bilateral mastectomy before I do end up with problems later on in life. I mentioned it to a couple of girls at work and they think I'm crazy.  I will be 54 in a few weeks and I have no history in my family that I know of.

[ts_the1]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Just wanted to update you.  I had an Abdominal CT scan last week and unfortanately my spleen is going to be removed.  They found an 8.7 x 8.7 cm simple cyst, a 2 x 2 cm complex cyst as well as a couple of unidentified areas within my spleen.  I also had a follow up mammogram and ultrasound on my breast yesterday and the results were not conclusive with what was seen on the MRI's so now I am going to have MRI assisted biopsies on both breasts.  They have now also found a nodule under my left arm area.  They are telling me that I will definitely have the mass in the left breast removed but they are now concentrating on a cyst in the right breast that showed lots of radiance in the MRI.  I don't know what's going on but I am most certain it will all make sense when it's over.  To the person who asked what is atypical - what I was diagnosed with in my original biopsies was atypical hyperplasia which is a marker for breast cancer.  Please keep in mind that is does not mean cancer.  But believe you me, it is hard to get past but what my docs tell me is that when you are diagnosed with this, if you do not get breast cancer within 10 years, then you are most likely in the clear.  It is so important to keep the faith, stay close to your family and friends and get support everywhere you possibly can get it.  And by coming to this site, you have just widened your support group.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I will be in touch again soon!  Trish

[cyn17]

Trish - Wow, you have a lot on your plate! I'm so glad that your friends and family are there for you. Going through this 'stuff' sure is a wake up call, isn't it? I pray for the best for you...each step of the way. I know for all of us on this site, we are very diligent about our health and stay on top of all follow up visits. You've entered that world too. We're all cheering for you!!

[Montana girl 06]

ts_the1 I'll keep on praying. You are going through a lot right now. Keep us posted.

lbsel - I don't know much about hyperplasia but will keep you in my prayers also.

[boninclyde]

How did your appt go? Hope things went well. Please let us know.

[lbsel]

I just happened upon this site and sympathize with what everyone is going through.

I had a excisional biopsy last Thur. Today I got a call that it was benign but there ais "a lot going on".  It is some type of  hyperplasia.  I am 35- no history of breast cancer in the family.  I have three boys 8,5 and 2 and am in a panic. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow morning. Any advice on questions I should ask?

Thanks.

[ts_the1]

I got my results back today for the ab ultrasound.  It was found that I have a 8.7 cm cyst on my spleen and am being referred to a surgeon to discuss the plan on Friday.  I don't know what's going on but I've always been the type of person that when I do something, I ususally do it big.  I can't wait to see what they find next.  Keep my in your thoughts and prayers and I will keep you updated!

[ts_the1]

The doc called me as soon as she got the results from the aspiration and biopsy and said that they tested positive for atypical hyperplasia and needed to refer me to a surgeon.  Between her and the surgeon, they are continuing to put me through tests, which as I said, I have a mammo and ultrasound scheduled for 11/27.  I asked the surgeon point blank if this was cancer and he says that he would like to be able to tell me no but at this point, he can not.  Before the MRI's, he was only planning on doing a lumpectomy but now that those have come back as not satisfying to their likings, he says that the lumpectomy is definitely coming but I just have this feeling that there is more to it.  Waiting is the hardest part...I was told that the MRI's pin pointed the exact coordinates of the issues but more issues were identifed on the MRI's.  Please keep me in your prayers and I am going to hold strong.  I just keep thinking that there are people out there who have it worse than I do!

[boninclyde]

We are all tormented here when we find things like this out. Hard to imagine hell being worse. You will make it. I cried for weeks, vomited day and night, and lost my appetite (but no weight LOL) and prayed like never before. People here are great to talk to. Most of have been where you are. Finding as much info as you can on your situation will keep you busy, well informed and your mind somewhere else for a time. breastcancer.org is also a great site. Do you have the results of your biopsy? I believe you can have cyst in many parts of the body without it being cancer. Hopefully yours will not be.

[Montana girl 06]

It is hard to deal with the possiblity of cancer. You have been through a lot in a few weeks and I'm sure your mind is swimming. I've found prayer, support of friends, keeping busy, and dwelling on the happy things in my life really helped me. Keep us posted. I'll keep you in my prayers.

[ts_the1]

Good evening!  My nightmare started on September 19th with a mammogram.  Since then, I have been through 2 ultrasounds, needle aspiration, mass biopsy, 2 MRI's and am now scheduled for another ultrasound and mammogram.  I was diagnosed with AH and have been told that the MRI showed up some questionable "radiant" areas in both breast.  Also during the MRI, it was discovered that I have cysts on my spleen for which I had an abdominal ultrasound for today.  The doc says that they are trying to come up with a plan and that there is a possiblity of the "C" word.  He also says that I will be having a lumpectomy for sure but again, they are trying to come to a conclusion as what to do.  How does someone get through this mentally?  I just turned 40 a few weeks ago and feel like I am falling apart at the seams.  There is no history of any kind of cancer in my family so I am really scared at this point.  Thanks ladies for being here!

[boninclyde]

Maybe you could ask the dr. here what AH is. I am not sure either but this is what my first biopsy said and mine was cancer.

[przy]

Hello, I was recently diagnosed with AH. I am so happy I found this site. I am feeling very nervous about the outcome of my next biopsy, but have gotten little support from friends who think it's no big deal! Everyone is quick to say they have had irregular mammograms as well and it's nothing to worry about. Should I be worried? LP

[Montana girl 06]

Unless they've had AH my guess is that they really don't understand what you're going through at all. My breast problems don't include AH, so I can't give advice. But, I know all about the worry that goes with biopsies. Hang in there.

[angel1962]

I was just diagnosed with Atypical Hyperplasia yesterday and I am scheduled to have surgery on 10/16/06, they will remove a benign mass and some of the tissue around the mass. This is scary stuff to have to go through. My first biopsy a couple of years ago was for micro calcifications which is another type of precancerous tissue. I have had 3 maternal aunts and 2 cousins that have had breast cancer, none with my mother yet. I have also had cancer of the cervix in 1996 and had a hysterectomy.
It is nice to have someone to talk to who is going through this also. Family and friends don't think it is serious because it isn't cancer yet but they need to understand that this is what leads to cancer.
How long are you usually sore after this sort of surgery?

[carme]

Had double mastectomies 12/03. Didn't get to heal normally due to infections. It felt like someone beat me up or I worked out way to hard and was sore for a week only to have 2 more surgeries 21 and 45 days later for the infections...so being sore was long term.
My friend just had  a mastectomy last week. She was down for 1 day. Off the painkillers the next day. God bless you and keep you. Let us know what happens.
Carme

[Montana girl 06]

It's hard for others without our problems to understand how worried we are, even when the doctor assures us there is no cancer. Sometimes getting as much info as possible on the problem helps to ease our worries. Finding others with the same problem helps, too. I hope you can find answers that will ease your worries.

[jlady]

You go girl......fight, fight, fight!!!

I'm with you all the way!

[carme]

I apologize if I offended anyone, but all this woe is me about side effects from any treatments...get real...it's cancer...it can kill you.

[ziggy123]

I am offended by your suggestion that I and other who choose to not take medication do not want to fight. We do not always get to pick our battles but the last time I checked, these were my options not yours.

[carme]

Some of you ladies are too much! It's cancer...if they recommend a treatment, then you should be ready to deal with the "side effects" if you want to live. I spent 5 years in the Tamoxifen trial...so we could have a drug that might help some of us. Yes, there were side effects, but at least it kept breast cancer from showing up in me for a few more years than my younger sister, who did not participate in the trial. If you want to live, you'd better be ready to fight.

[Montana girl 06]

Sorry about the mixup. Someone is having surgery Sep 29 and for some reason I thought it was you having a larger area removed. I hope they find a treatment plan you're comfortable with. I haven't had to deal with bc myself yet, so can't offer an opinion there.

[ziggy123]

I had my small (3mm lump) and another small area of microcalcifications removed on August 31st. Path report came back with 3mm spot as malignant but calcifications okay. All reports for any spread was nagative. I am seeing an ocologist on Thursday, because no one is sure of how or if to treat me. Radiation is out because spot was so small and if I have it I cannot be treated with it again should anything show up down the road. I do not want tomoxifin (sp?). I watched the horrible side effects it had on my mother. Arimidex is an option but frankly I would rather not take anything and just be closely watched. What do you two think?

[boninclyde]

Is Ziggy having more surgery? I thought it was over with. Guess that's what you get when you have been away for awhile. What's going on with Ziggy?