To think the doctor shouldn't have said this following mammogram?

[3beforeme]

I found a breast lump and was referred to the breast clinic last week. Had a mammogram, ultrasound and four biopsies taken. After this the consultant took me in a side room advised that the mammogram had showed up calcifications and there were some "very worrying things" and he was concerned.

I'm just confused as to what the point was of telling me this? I mean obviously we won't actually know anything until the biopsy results but consequently I have spent the last few days scared shitless and on countdown to my results appointment. I'm just confused as to why he would be so negative at all. It seems cruel. Why not just give a standard "let's wait to the biopsy results"? It seemed speculative and unnecessary.

Also looking to hear anyone else who has been through similar and had negative feedback? Was the feeling of the consultant generally right?

Perhaps they have had people cancel check ups and wanted to make you aware that this is to be taken seriously.

I really don't think scaring people into keeping appointments is the way forward. I also can't believe many/if any people miss their biopsy results appointment without a very good reason.

Hmmm yes I see what you mean, but sometimes it’s a very fine line between not wanting to worry people unnecessarily, but being truthful.
Although I totally see this has left you in an unpleasant place now. However it should not be for long, if he truly suspects a cancer that biopsy result will be quick.
Sorry this must be very scary

He’s just being honest

I'm all for honestly but I think just advising that we won't know until the biopsy would have been more than honest enough. The range of concern could literally be anything from a lumpectomy (had 3 of those before so essentially nothing) all the way to you're probably going to die. Why say it at all at this stage?

I suppose its just different people's approaches. I prefer clinicians to be open and honest with me but some people don't.

Did you ask him to clarify?

I think people deserve their medical results in a timely manner and should know what is being investigated. Keeping patients in the dark is immoral.

Not to mention, people aren’t stupid and we live in a world with access to unlimited information. If you know which tests you have had and know what they have booked you for next, it is not difficult to figure out what the problem might be. Rather than have a patient find several diseases online and start panicking, isn’t it better if a doctor explains the possible conditions and the odds of each one being found.

So sorry OP, that must have been very worrying. Did you ask him for further info?

There is a school of thought that if the HCP strongly suspects something from what they have seen with their naked eye then they should prepare the patient. Some Doctors agree with this, some don’t.

Lumpectomies are not nothing or easy.

Yeah, "firing a warning shot" is advocated in quite a lot of medical communication courses. It has pros and cons.

@3beforeme

I found a breast lump and was referred to the breast clinic last week. Had a mammogram, ultrasound and four biopsies taken. After this the consultant took me in a side room advised that the mammogram had showed up calcifications and there were some "very worrying things" and he was concerned.

I'm just confused as to what the point was of telling me this? I mean obviously we won't actually know anything until the biopsy results but consequently I have spent the last few days scared shitless and on countdown to my results appointment. I'm just confused as to why he would be so negative at all. It seems cruel. Why not just give a standard "let's wait to the biopsy results"? It seemed speculative and unnecessary.

Also looking to hear anyone else who has been through similar and had negative feedback? Was the feeling of the consultant generally right?

Sorry to say this but in my family’s experience everytime a consultant is worried enough to warn you like this the scan / biopsy results are probably going to be a formality. I have had family members start radiotheraphy and sometimes even chemo while waiting for results - so maybe he’s preparing you for that? Did you get a biopsy as well?

In my experience a Breast care doctor would only say that if they very strongly suspected cancer....to prepare a patient ...they can tell the difference between cancer calcification And benign calcifications

Sorry OP meant to saying ....hope you are not waiting long

Perhaps the GP was in some way trying to prepare you for if things aren't good, but it was insensitive and clumsy of him. I hope it all works out alright for you, though x

@DriftingBlue well obviously I'm aware they're looking for breast cancer and the tests I had and why. I just don't understand the reasoning of telling a patient it's concerning. I mean it's concerning enough just being there. They won't actually know until the biopsy why add more worry!
@Aliveandkicking23 I've had 3 lumpectomies on both breasts before and while I wouldn't want one every day or anything compared to the possible alternatives it would be no issue at all for me personally.

@MissyB1

There is a school of thought that if the HCP strongly suspects something from what they have seen with their naked eye then they should prepare the patient. Some Doctors agree with this, some don’t.

Yes this is how my aunt’s cancer was diagnosed and she was put on chemo immediately. It was probably the diagnosis by sight that saved her life as it was so highly aggressive.

OP if it does turn out to be cancer don’t hesitate to message me. Been there 5 years ago.

@ozanj yes they did 2 vacuum biopsy's of the calcifications and then one of the lump and another for something else (I can't even remember what now 😩)

@MissyB1 thank you. And so sorry to hear that you've been through it. Just the waiting around for possible breast cancer results seems to have tipped me over the deep end so god knows how i'll cope if it actually is.

I get where you're coming from, but there's obviously concern and the consultant telling you is to give you time to process the information and prepare yourself. They don't sugar coat it and personally I'd rather be realistic than have false hope and be crushed when the results are that it is cancer.

They can usually tell that something looks concerning by sight on a mammogram (cysts etc are transparent, cancerous lumps look solid, not smooth), and most doctors prefer to be upfront with their patients the whole way through.

I'm sorry you are going through this

DH had lots of biopsies taken during lockdown No.1, every time he was told by the doctors that they were as sure as they could be from what they could see that we were dealing with cancer. He preferred it that way because at least we could be prepared when it was bad news.

OP I have had similar
It was actually phrased more like "probably cancer".

It wasn't.

I don't generally talk about it because people seem to think the doctor was right to assume the worst. I think he should have kept quiet till results came in.

When I got my cancer diagnosis pre-biopsy they said 'you shouldn't worry, this doesn't scream cancer'. It put me into a false sense of security that was completely shattered when the actual diagnosis came through. I think you are right that doctors shouldn't say one way or the other unless they are sure, but then again I think I'd rather be more concerned and later find out everything is fine than the way I had it.

Either way sending god vibes for you. Waiting on results is crap.