atypical ductal hyperplasia

[faithhorn12]

Last week I had 5 breast biopsies of what turned out to be atypical ductal hyperplasia. Now my primary care doctor said "they"  want me to have surgery to remove it even though it's not cancer. Should I tell her I don't want surgery? I've had 2 other surgeries in the same breast the revealed nothing and left scars. Could'nt I just watch it? I see the who is scheduled to do it surgeon next week.

[bluebutterfly2222]

I am sorry you have had such a painful and difficult time with biopsies in the past.

However, what you are suggesting in regard to the MRI being able to "find out if your suspicious clusters are actually cancer"  runs contrary to anything I have learned about the diagnosing  of breast cancer!

MRI can SUGGEST whether a lesion is benign or malignant, but I don't believe it can  TELL the difference.  I am familiar with several cases where the MRI  suggested, for example, that there was no lymph node involvement associated with a malignant breast tumor, only to have the surgeon discover numerous positive lymph nodes after sentinal node biopsy and/or axillary dissection.

To my knowledge, only pathological examination of a suspicious lesion can provide a conclusive diagnosis, and sometimes it is difficult to be certain even when the cells are examined under a microscope. In such cases second opinions are sought within the laboratory, or are obtained from outside experts.

[ameritto]

HI..
I really am beginning to think that "Standard procedures" doctors do with these biopsies  are causing women great stress, pain ,scarring, causing financial stress..and perhaps, as I have been reading I am beginning to agree with those who cry doctors are performing way too many biopsies
NOT THAT I THINK FOR ONE SECOND that ignoring a potential threat is the way to go...but seems there has got to be a more humane, less invasive way to find if these "microcalcifications" are actually potentially dangerous to us, or just part of our bodies mechanism.I don't know, I am not a doctor, but I do know "stereotactic biospy" is not 'an exam' ..it is a puncture to your body, tissue is removed, and broken, and several women I know including myself have suffered pain, some ongoing pain, from this procedure that the medical community bills as " painless, and easy"

I actually had a nurse practially scold me for wanting to take a valium prior to the procedure ( MY THIRD ONE so I KNEW what was coming!)
She went on how it was quick and painless, until I asked her is SHE had ever had it (she had not!)
Now some women do not have pain, others, as myself do.
Next Monday I am going for a contrast MRi, to find out if my Bi Rad level 4 suspicious clusters are actually cancer.Why didnt they suggest this to begin eith? it is FAR less costly, I dont have to get sliced..or sucked, and they see results much quicker.
Just want answers...
I am worn out of doing this!

[faithhorn12]

Thank you for your answer, even if it's not what I want to hear! I guess I'll find out next week what the plan is. At least I'll be better prepared for what she tells me. My oldest sister had breast cancer 10 years ago (she had a double mastectemy) and has been well since. I hope to avoid all that if possible. So it sounds like ADH is more serious than I first thought. I will do what the doctor's suggest.
Thanks for your help.

[japdip]

The standard treatment for ADH is surgical excision and possibly Radiation and Hormone Therapy following the surgery. ADH may not be cancer but it increases your risk of developing breast cancer by a considerable percentage and I would definitely recommend the surgery + whatever treatment is deemed appropriate following the surgery.  Regards ....