Aa
abnormal mammogram
I had my mammogram & my family doctor called me in & said they found a large dark gray mass. Was going to send me in for a biopsy & called back and now wants me to go straight to a surgeon to consult with me?????
Doctor said my mammogram from last year showed a spot but radiologist failed to notify us so now it has grownto this large mass. I don't feel anything?
I am terrified, what could this mean???
Doctor said my mammogram from last year showed a spot but radiologist failed to notify us so now it has grownto this large mass. I don't feel anything?
I am terrified, what could this mean???
Thank you EVERYONE for your support & knowledge!
Good things happen!!
Was scheduled for my surgery 4 days ago, all prepped, had a tumor, BIRAD 4, highly suspcious w/ tenacles.
So very scary...
They did a mammogram before surgery & then just shook their heads, 2 1/2 laters, still taking pics. Ending up doing an ultrasound & NOTHING!!
They were quite stunned (Radiologist Dr. & Surgeon), it WAS there 2 days before surgery & then gone.
All the Dr. said after he brought my family in (after they were anxiosouly waited 3 1/2 hours AFTER slated surgery not knowing what was going on!)was "Does anyone have the goosebumps like me"
I am a Christian & I had hundreds of people praying for me & I am proof miracles do happen & God heals!
Why I had to go thru this last month that seemed surreal, I'm not sure but I pray I can uplift someone's faith...I know firsthand how traumatic it is to go thru all this...but someone out there, just know , there is a God & He cares and answers prayers!
Good things happen!!
Was scheduled for my surgery 4 days ago, all prepped, had a tumor, BIRAD 4, highly suspcious w/ tenacles.
So very scary...
They did a mammogram before surgery & then just shook their heads, 2 1/2 laters, still taking pics. Ending up doing an ultrasound & NOTHING!!
They were quite stunned (Radiologist Dr. & Surgeon), it WAS there 2 days before surgery & then gone.
All the Dr. said after he brought my family in (after they were anxiosouly waited 3 1/2 hours AFTER slated surgery not knowing what was going on!)was "Does anyone have the goosebumps like me"
I am a Christian & I had hundreds of people praying for me & I am proof miracles do happen & God heals!
Why I had to go thru this last month that seemed surreal, I'm not sure but I pray I can uplift someone's faith...I know firsthand how traumatic it is to go thru all this...but someone out there, just know , there is a God & He cares and answers prayers!
Could it be that they are going to do a needle localization? That is where you will go back to mammography and the radiologist will insert a needle(after numbing it with lidocaine) into the suspicious area. The needle will remain and you will go to OR and the the needle will guide the surgeon as to how much and where to take out the area. Once removed the doctor will send the specimen back to mammography to see if the area contains the needle and suspicious area. Pathology can then say cancer or no and if the margins are clear around lumpectomy site.
I've not heard of others being done this way. Sometimes the hospital lab can do a "frozen section" for a quick answer and maybe this is what they want the needle biopsy for -- it would give them a headstart on things when they go into surgery. Have they mentioned anything about checking lymph nodes? Their plan might be that if the needle biopsy results come back positive they would go ahead with that while you are having the other surgery. When I asked my surgeon, he said that he wouldn't do that but wait until they had final results from the biopsy before addressing further surgery, etc. Normally, full biopsy results take 4-7 days so any results they would get that quickly would be preliminary.
It sounds like you need to corner your doctor or surgeon and get them to explain everything to you. That can be hard with some doctors but let them know that you want to know what is going on. It is your right to know. Take someone with you to help you listen and make a list of questions to ask. You should know going into the surgery what your options are and what the surgeon is considering.
We'll be sending good thoughts your way next week. Please keep in touch with how things are going.
It sounds like you need to corner your doctor or surgeon and get them to explain everything to you. That can be hard with some doctors but let them know that you want to know what is going on. It is your right to know. Take someone with you to help you listen and make a list of questions to ask. You should know going into the surgery what your options are and what the surgeon is considering.
We'll be sending good thoughts your way next week. Please keep in touch with how things are going.
Thanks for all your comments. It is hard to stay calm! My surgery is 11/17. What doesn't make sense to me is the Surgeon, my Family Dr & Radiologist are saying I have cancer w/o the surgery yet???
BIRAD 4
Highly suspicious & mass has tenacles????????
Also they called today & said they were doing a Needle biopsy one hr. before the surgery & sending a piece of the mass/tissue right to the lab, then I'll have the surgery to remove the mass. The surgeon is sending the mass right to the lab.
Why the biopsy first????? And why rushing the the biopsy right to the lab before they take me in the operating room??
Just confusing & everyone seems concerned.
BIRAD 4
Highly suspicious & mass has tenacles????????
Also they called today & said they were doing a Needle biopsy one hr. before the surgery & sending a piece of the mass/tissue right to the lab, then I'll have the surgery to remove the mass. The surgeon is sending the mass right to the lab.
Why the biopsy first????? And why rushing the the biopsy right to the lab before they take me in the operating room??
Just confusing & everyone seems concerned.
I do mammograms and Birads 4 is suspicious for cancer and bx should be done if clinically fit. There is also a Birads 5 and it means highly suspicious for cancer. Most often bx are done on 5 and most often on 4, but as with anything you can not be sure its cancer or not without a bx.
After seeing my Family Physician & Surgeon again, they are both saying to me, they believe IT IS cancer & have scheduled me for surgery on Nov. 17th.
It scares me, that they both are coming right out & saying that. I have a friend in the medical field & after reading my mammo report she believes so too.
How can be so sure, even before surgery???
Is it because of the BIRAD of 4 or the "octupus" shape they are describing it???
Lots of fear now!
HELP...anyone!!
It scares me, that they both are coming right out & saying that. I have a friend in the medical field & after reading my mammo report she believes so too.
How can be so sure, even before surgery???
Is it because of the BIRAD of 4 or the "octupus" shape they are describing it???
Lots of fear now!
HELP...anyone!!
sorry -- hit wrong button
To quote from an early posting by one of the nurses at the Cleveland Clinic:
"BIRAD category 4 on mammogram is defined as: Suspicious abnormality. Most category 4 abnormalities are benign but a biopsy may be the only way to identify the 25-50% of these cases that may turn out to be malignant."
BIRAD 5 is usually given for lesions that are highly suggestive of cancer. The shape of the lesion ("octopus" shaped) is probably what has them guessing this way. Some things just look more like cancer but this does not mean 100% that you have cancer.
Don't panic. You won't know until the biopsy results are back and the next few weeks will be unbearable if you let yourself go with the worse case scenario. Take this time to educate yourself about treatment options and look at all the advances that have been made in treating this disease. Even if it is cancer, your chances of beating it are very, very good.
To quote from an early posting by one of the nurses at the Cleveland Clinic:
"BIRAD category 4 on mammogram is defined as: Suspicious abnormality. Most category 4 abnormalities are benign but a biopsy may be the only way to identify the 25-50% of these cases that may turn out to be malignant."
BIRAD 5 is usually given for lesions that are highly suggestive of cancer. The shape of the lesion ("octopus" shaped) is probably what has them guessing this way. Some things just look more like cancer but this does not mean 100% that you have cancer.
Don't panic. You won't know until the biopsy results are back and the next few weeks will be unbearable if you let yourself go with the worse case scenario. Take this time to educate yourself about treatment options and look at all the advances that have been made in treating this disease. Even if it is cancer, your chances of beating it are very, very good.
To quote from an early posting by one of the nurses at the Cleveland Clinic:
"BIRAD category 4 on mammogram is defined as: Suspicious abnormality. Most category 4 abnormalities are benign but a biopsy may be the only way to identify the 25-50% of these cases that may turn out to be malignant."
BIRAD 5 is usually given for lesions that are highly suggestive of cancer. The shape of the lesion
"BIRAD category 4 on mammogram is defined as: Suspicious abnormality. Most category 4 abnormalities are benign but a biopsy may be the only way to identify the 25-50% of these cases that may turn out to be malignant."
BIRAD 5 is usually given for lesions that are highly suggestive of cancer. The shape of the lesion
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The only way to know for sure if this is cancer or just a benign growth is to do some type of biopsy. There a number of ways this can be done. Sometimes you can get a reasonable answer by doing a needle biopsy. Unfortunately, sometimes when you do a needle biopsy and the results are inconclusive, the surgeon will recommend that you do a surgical biopsy (lumpectomy) as well to get a final answer. Another reason you might choose a surgical biopsy is if you are concerned that something might be there that could be missed by the small sample taken in a needle biopsy. The surgical biopsy will give you a more conclusive answer. I've had three surgical biopsies and they really are not that bad -- now they're usually done on an outpatient basis.
Whichever you choose, keep in mind that the odds are in your favor. There is a good chance that this isn't cancer. If it is, you're doing all you can to catch it early and that gives you the best chance to beat it.
Good luck and let us know how things go for you.
The only way to know for sure if this is cancer or just a benign growth is to do some type of biopsy. There a number of ways this can be done. Sometimes you can get a reasonable answer by doing a needle biopsy. Unfortunately, sometimes when you do a needle biopsy and the results are inconclusive, the surgeon will recommend that you do a surgical biopsy (lumpectomy) as well to get a final answer. Another reason you might choose a surgical biopsy is if you are concerned that something might be there that could be missed by the small sample taken in a needle biopsy. The surgical biopsy will give you a more conclusive answer. I've had three surgical biopsies and they really are not that bad -- now they're usually done on an outpatient basis.
Whichever you choose, keep in mind that the odds are in your favor. There is a good chance that this isn't cancer. If it is, you're doing all you can to catch it early and that gives you the best chance to beat it.
Good luck and let us know how things go for you.
MORE CONFUSED!
Just got back from surgeon.
Mass went from 12mm to 15mm, or 1.3cm, surgeon said it was irregular looking, he said like an "octupus".
Right, outer breast close to armpit.
Also BIRAD 4.
He said I could have a biopsy or surgery to take out mass. I am more confused than going into appointment. Should I just have the mass taken out completely??
Just got back from surgeon.
Mass went from 12mm to 15mm, or 1.3cm, surgeon said it was irregular looking, he said like an "octupus".
Right, outer breast close to armpit.
Also BIRAD 4.
He said I could have a biopsy or surgery to take out mass. I am more confused than going into appointment. Should I just have the mass taken out completely??
If my mammogram test results say:
Birads 4A, mildly suspicious abnormality upper
what does that mean?
Last year it said a there is a 12mm focal possible nodular mass.
I was never notified of this, but in my recent yrly. mammogram, the Dr called & said my mammogram last yr. showed this spoy & nows it's grown & they are sending me right to a surgeon?
Should I have the mass removed, even if it's benign?
Birads 4A, mildly suspicious abnormality upper
what does that mean?
Last year it said a there is a 12mm focal possible nodular mass.
I was never notified of this, but in my recent yrly. mammogram, the Dr called & said my mammogram last yr. showed this spoy & nows it's grown & they are sending me right to a surgeon?
Should I have the mass removed, even if it's benign?
Dear kasers: Without reviewing your mammogram and doing a clinical examination, it is impossible for us to make specific recommendations. Often, a surgeon is the specialist who would be involved in doing the biopsy, so this may be the explanation for the consultation.
It's hard to believe that your physician didn't receive the mammogram report from last year.Weren't you told anything about the results of that mammogram? I guess it's due to my education and profession, but I demand to see every report from ALL tests. The referral to a surgeon sounds like the best thing to do at this point. He/She is the best one to explain, advise and guide you regarding the next step. Wishing you the very best during this difficult time.
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