Core/Punch Biopsy

[goser]

My left breast is swollen and warmer than my right breast. I have had a breast MRI  which shows no inflammation/abnormality but a mass which showed via a  core biopsy to be a fibrodenoma
However I did not have a punch biopsy could the core biopsy have missed IBC
My doctor says it is all hormonal but can hormones affect one side of the breast

[goser]

I did have a breast MRI which picked up the fibroadenoma
However yes I am keeping an eye on it

[SueYoung55]

I wanted to share my story with you.

I kept pulling at my bra on the right side as it made me so uncomfortable. I kept getting fitted for new bras and no matter what I did the bra irritated me on the right side. This went on for about 3 years. I was having regular mammograms and ultra sounds because I had a little cyst.

Then, in Dec 2007 I had my mammogram and they told me it was all clear, no cyst evident. I said that this was a problem since the cyst was still there. Needless to say, the ultra sound showed the cyst (cyst wasn’t an issue, what was hiding behind it was). It also showed a black mass with tentacles, about 1.5 CM. The radiologist gave me about a 20 minute lecture that in all good conscience he could not allow me to leave without understanding that whatever that was did NOT belong there and that I needed a core biopsy immediately if not sooner. The core biopsy came back win invasive lobular carcinoma. The MRI came back with the mass being 10 cm instead of the 1.5 cm they thought originally.

My bra didn’t fit either. After diagnosis I took a real good look in the mirror. That 10 cm mass was in my right breast and went all the way back into my chest wall and under my arm. FOUR inches of cancer would make anyone’s bra not fit right.

I am not telling you this to frighten you. I am telling you this because I think you should keep your eyes and attention on this and get it checked regularly. Mine went undiagnosed for a very long time even though I had regular testing. ILC can be invisible on mammograms as mine was. My bra not fitting was my only symptom that there was a problem. I just didn’t know what it meant. As for the hormones being on “HIGH”? Yeah, my cancer was fed to it’s large size by estrogen and progesterone.

Best wishes.

[japdip]

Well, since your Dr. is a Breast Specialist I'll have to defer to his opinion about only one breast being affected by hormones. That is VERY small for a Fibroadenoma ... From you latest descirption of the difference in breast size I wouldn't think that you need be concerned about IBC. Actually few women's breasts are the same size. We always worry though, don't we ?? I think sometimes it's something we women do best :) ... Take care

[goser]

My breast is not considerably larger than the other. However the feel in my bra is different on tht left side. The doctor I am seeing is a breast surgeon. He refers to it as hormonal sensitivity, one breast reacting differently than the other to hormones

[goser]

I keep thinking the same thing but the firbroadenoma was only 7mm small

[japdip]

Purely a personal opinion but I would think that if hormones were involved it would be the same for both breasts ... unless of course it was somehow related to the Fibroadenoma which is also quite possible. As a rule the breast (with IBC) is noticeably larger in size than the other breast and this size can increase very rapidly. You might consider seeing a Breast Specialist for a second opinion if the breast doesn't return to normal soon.  Regards .....