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waiting on core biopsy results

I've been in living hell for the past 4 weeks.  Screening mammo - 1st one (I'm newly 40) called me back for magnified view for calcs on left side.  They made me wait 3 weeks - I stressed the whole time - went in Monday - radiologist said "probably OK but 2 are considered "indeterminate" (oval instead of round) - they don't *appear* to be clustered (maybe 2 inches apart on magnified films) but since I have nothing to compare them to, they recommended biopsy.  Fortuantely I got in to see surgeon Tues. and he managed to schedule procedure for Wed. seeing how almost frantic I am.  Surgeon agreed probably 90% chance benign, but I am young, and we have no history on the calcs, so "better safe than sorry".  Not sure of a BIRAD - but both radiologist and surgeon stressed "indeterminate" not "suspicious"....I will not have results until Monday.  I can't sleep @ night, and appetite is gone.  Is this normal?  I just need to know already - a month of this, and I seriously feel ready for the loony-bin!  Is it really possible to have to undergo all of this, and have the results be normal?  I did *not* expect this going in for my first baseline...if this is an indication of future issues, I think I'll consider prophylacyic mastectomy - otherwise the stress every year will kill me!
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Stereotatic Biopsy was started.
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127512 tn?1193742216
Just think about you and wondering how are you doing? What were the results?
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Where are you at in doctoring for DCIS? Do you need more treatment? Maybe I lost track, but I tried to look through the posts and am not sure if your lumpectomy results were good. You're still in my prayers.
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Lumpectomy procedure went fine!  I was very calm - I'm concerned about the pathology - not the procedure!  Wed. I go for post-op appt and get the scoop.  Praying for no microinvasion!  Need to make calls to set up oncology consults so we decide how to proceed.  Pain is not much worse than from the biopsy - but the bandage is bigger.  And I've got the good drugs:o)  Plan to spend the weekend @ the Little League fields and perhaps a St. Pat's party - keeping busy helps me not worry about pathology so much!

Thanks so much for the support and prayers!

Stress
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Avatar universal
I read your posts & your comment on If I am happy with the result of choosing bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. Yes, I am! Within a 3 month time prior to my mastectomy I went through 5 stereotactic core biopsies. Two at the same time which took about 2 hours very painful! The stress on myself & family was hard. Being only 43 I choose tissue expanders after mastectomy. I did alot of research & there are great websites with all kinds of information. When my doctor's would speak to me I could understand about 90% of the time. If you want to e-mail me "anytime" I would be more then happy to speak with you. It takes alot of courage & strength to go through this. You do have support. I am one. My prayers & thoughts are with you!
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Avatar universal
It's good to hear from you. Let me know when your 6 month follow-up- appointment is scheduled. I hope all goes well. My 6 month mammo is due in mid-April. I'm much calmer about it this time around than I was in October but as it gets closer I still get nervous. We now have a digital mammography in our neck of the woods so I'm hoping for more info.
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Avatar universal
Go with your gut.  Right from the get go I was feeling like I just wanted to have a mastectomy.  My surgeon thought that was drastic, so I got a 2nd opinion, & that surgeon agreed with me.  It is YOUR decision.
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Avatar universal
Zig-
I haven't decided anything yet - lumpectomy will be Friday.  My doc says I "won't need anything as drastic as a mast" - but I'll wait for the pathology report and some oncology 2nd opinions to decide for sure.  My gut feeling is "take it all off -right now!" but I'm sure that has a lot to do with being newly-diagnosed.  I wouldn't have any problems (emotionally) with losing a breast (or 2!) - they really aren't that important to me - plus I am fibrocystic - so they are literally "a real pain" about 1 week out of every month...

Also, I'm trying to read up a little on side effects of radiation and Tamoxifen (should either/both be recommended) and I'm not real happy with some of the risks....seems like the pain of surgery would be the lesser of 2 evils if I could then avoid any other treatment with potentially harmful side-effects...

So much to think about!

Stress
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Avatar universal
Hello and thanks for asking about me. I am fine. My six month follow-up for my lumpectomy is next month, so I an starting to get a little nervous about that ordeal. I read the post everyday and try to keep up with you, Montana girl, Underforty Pam, and a few of the others that started posting last summer. I hope that all is well with you. And again, thank you for asking about me!
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Avatar universal
Wow. I have been following this forum and can't believe your news.  I was diagnosed this summer with the same thing.  Looks like you might have caught it still small that is the best.  The other comment it right you can get through this - keep being active in your case and positive.

You might have lots of decisions to make coming up.  Post again and I will check back daily if I can.  I had 1 lump, they went in to remove the lump right away for more testing to see if it was inflitrating.  That would help me make a decisison on lumpectomy or masectomy - when they were removing the lump they found a second one.  It was also cancer.  They did an ultrasound on the other breast and found non-cancerous lump that they wanted to just watch.  I then just went with a double masectomy with reconstruction.  No radiation or chemo was needed because now I only have 6% of getting cancer back. If you support, you can write here and I can help with the information that I know.  There are lots of helpful people here.  You might see an oncologist and they can give you location support goups. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
I'm sorry to hear that stressed but am glad they caught it early.  I will keep you in my prayers.
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You know, I haven't even had the follow-up excision yet, but I'm already leaning towards a mast!  I am pretty small (nearly B) and figure significant tissue removal combined w/radiation would leave me with not much, anyways!  I am not particularly attached to my breasts - they've served their purpose (breastfeeding 3 kids!)- the fact that I'm young makes recurrence a real worry - I'd like to minimize that chance as much as possible!  I guess everyone is different - but it wouldn't be a hard choice for me.  Once I know the details of what they find, I'll have to decide.  I worry about what else may be lurking in the tissue...
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Avatar universal
Well, it's not good news.  Despite the odds everyone kept saying were in my favor, they found a tiny bit of DCIS in the biopsy, so I need to go in so they can remove the margins and see what is what.  Surgeon is pretty optimistic area is very small - of the 10 cores taken, they found spots measuring about 1mm on 3 of the samples - everything else was benign.  So it looks like I have a new home to hang out - is there a support forum here?  I haven't checked out the whole site yet...

Stress
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Avatar universal
I have had calcifications in both breasts for the past 7-8 years and never had any problems. They never changed and were of no concer. This past August, I was diagnosed with a 3mm DCIS. The spot was so tiny, I was apprecaitive that the radiologist even picked it up. I had the lumpectomy, got clean margins, with no other signs of cancer. I was very lucky as I did not need chemo or radiation therapy. I also opted not to take medication the difference between taking/not taking medication and a recurrence was very small, 3%.
It sounds as if your DCIS is also very tiny but in several biopsy samples, right? Is that why you are opting for the PMB? I wish you the best. I have told my children that I do no think that I could handle the stress of the waiting and the wondering again, so I understand your decision. I admire your courage.
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127512 tn?1193742216
stresscase I am sorry about your diagnosis. I do wish you well. This is doable. They have great meds out now to help you fight this. I had DCIS but upon masectomy they found a small invasion 0.09mm. If not for the masectomy they would not have found the invasion so I am glad I did it. breastcancer.org is a very good site to join. Specially the discussion board there.

ziggy it is great to see you posting. How are you?
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Avatar universal
I'm so sorry to hear your news.  I felt the same way--they said it would be nothing!  The good news is that it isn't a death sentence--we will get through this!  Check out www.breastcancer.org.  There are many forums there that will be helpful.
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Avatar universal
I feel exactly as you do!  I have small breasts with 4 areas of calcifications.  3 areas were stereotatic biopsied.  All had atypical ductal and/or lobular hyperplasia, with 1 area being borderline DCIS.  My surgeon recommended surgical biopsy of that area & wait & see with the other areas.  I said I wanted a PBM!  She said no, so I got a 2nd opinion & that surgeon agreed with me.  I will have it done at the beginning of summer.  I'm with you--I breastfed my kids, so they have served their purpose.  I now want to get through this looking the best I can & not having to worry about breast cancer every 6 months when I'd have to go in for MRI's on the areas the other surgeon wanted to watch!  I'm hoping to be able to skip radiation & chemo, & maybe gain a little cleavage in the end!
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Avatar universal
Yes, it's normal to be stressed.  I've been waiting for 6 weeks for further views plus ultrasound and am now waiting for an MRI in 10 days.  I so know the feeling of not being able to sleep or eat.  I think I've lost a few pounds.

I had calcifications on my baseline mammogram at 33 that turned out to be fine on additional views. Now 5 years later I have calcifications in a different area that are indeterminate.  

Like others have said, most of this stuff turns out to be benign. It doesn't make the waiting any easier though. Hang in there and I will remember you in my prayers.
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Avatar universal
I just had 4 area of calcifications on my mammo at 40.  I did have a baseline at 35 & they weren't there then.  It was a shock to me also as I don't have a family history.  They told me 80% of the time they are nothing, so I didn't worry, I was mostly mad I had to go through a stereotactic biopsy without sedation!  1 of my areas came back as being close to cancer, & the others were also abnormal.  I'm chosing to have a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy so I don't have to keep going through this.  I am curious how it went for Kimbie?  Are you happy with the Results?  Please let us know what your results are StressCase.  We'll be praying for you!
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Avatar universal
I've had 3 biopsies that all turned out benign, and I stressed the whole time, too. I've found it helpful to come back to this site regularly and post others to get my focus off my problems and into helping others. I've also learned to focus on the fact that a very high majority of biopsies for calcifications are benign. It's still hard for me to wait but being able to talk about how I feel with others who understand is good therapy for me.
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Avatar universal
Hi! The waiting is the hardest part! Unfortunatley most results go through a pathologist & then you get results. Hang in there. I have been through a bilateral prophylactic Mastectomy myself & Pre-op 11 mos. ago. Nothing made it easy waiting. Find support. The best therapy for me was to research, talk about it which I did almost constantly. How can you not. Hope you are having the support you need. If not like I said find support. There are alot of breast cancer survivors who care! I am one. God Bless you!!!
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Avatar universal
Unfortunately you're not the only one who has had to wait a long time for resolution of tests. It seems so unfair that we go through this, like you said, every year. I can tell you that after 4 or 5 years of this, I don't get nearly as stressed as I used to. Last summer I went from June through September before finally receiving benign results. Hang in there! You're not alone!
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Avatar universal
Thank you that makes sense - with lack of a history to have to go to the biopsy.  I mean, they have no idea how long calcs been there or if they have changed.  This radiologist did tell me they aggressively follow-up on "indeterminate" whereas other facilities might "wait and see".  It is just frightening how quickly it went from "We just need more pictures" to "You need to consult with a surgeon and schedule a biopsy" - it makes my head spin!

Also good to know this is not uncommon after a first baseline - I had gotten the impression it *was* very unusual....
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Avatar universal
Dear stresscase123,  It is not uncommon for an abnormality to be found on a baseline mammogram.  Most of these turn out to be benign, but without a source of comparison a biopsy may be the only way to determine the nature of the abnormality with certainty.  
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