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?

I don't think the consultant's phrasing was at all helpful. When I was diagnosed they said that they could usually tell whether it was cancer from the ultrasound and that they thought there was 'something there'. So I knew I had cancer but they were neutral about the severity.

When the biopsy results came back the consultant said he had seen my results and that they were 'very unpleasant' or something along those lines. I immediately assumed it was terminal. Turns out it was highly treatable with a good prognosis. They really should think/get training about how these things are phrased. Good luck OP.

@2bazookas what is BGTTTS?
I think maybe if I had more information I'd feel better. As it was I asked no questions. I think it was such a shock. Therefore I left knowing it was worrying/concerning but without knowing really what aspects made it so or HOW worrying it actually is.

Could you call one of the breast care nurses and ask for some support whilst you are waiting?

I worked in breast for a long time - some of the consultants liked this approach as a warning shot. I’m really sorry

Personally, I would prefer the blunt honesty. I hope everything works out well OP.

I’m someone who has gotten the cancer diagnosis. I’ve also gotten several other really awful sets of results. My health is awful. That is why I am firmly in the tell the patient everything camp.

It’s also important because sometimes the patient has to be the one advocating for themselves. The scan that showed my cancer had two doctors sign off on it as being perfectly fine. The problem was obvious if you compared two test results, but they only looked at each in isolation. I had to make an appointment and put it in front of my doctor to show her the error and demand a biopsy. When doctors keep things quiet, it makes it harder for patients to advocate for themselves.

It is standard protocol ime to tell you what they’ve found there and then. The consultant is telling you to prepare yourself that it’s cancer.

I’m sorry to tell you that, and I’m sorry they were not more explicit with you. Sending you lots of love x

I think you would be worried either way. I would rather be prepared than get a shock.

I am sorry, this must be so worrying and frustrating.
Do you know when you can expect your results?

My radiographer showed me the lump and told me I needed to get my head around the fact I would need surgery. No gilding the lily there.
By the time the biopsy came back I had already thought about the options and what I wanted to do. Having the extra two weeks to think about it was scary but at least it meant I could give them an answer immediately.

Try to stay calm OP, I know it's frightening but they really do know what they are doing.
xx

Personally I think the whole point is to give you an idea of what you could be facing, on the day if they can.
I would far rather it was like that.
I was told on the day that from looking there were two most likely outcomes, one being cancer, but the biopsy would confirm the diagnosis.
It wasn't cancer, but I would have worried about the biopsy results regardless of what was said. It's just an unpleasant situation through and through.

@Blackopal results are on Thursday which I appreciate is not long at all considering biopsy only done on Friday.

@FindingMeno no one actually mentioned the word cancer. Just worrying and concerning. Or possible outcomes. I wish i'd asked. I can't believe I didn't! I think I may feel a bit better if I knew what kind of likelihood he felt it had of being cancer.

After my biopsy I was given a score out of 5, with 1 being very unlikely to be cancer and 5 pretty definite. They gave me 3 - indeterminate - which wasn’t much help during the hell that is waiting for results.
I’m sure they explained it better but my brain was a bit scrambled.
Good luck x

I’d always rather know. If there’s calcification then it is serious. Your consultant treated you like a grown up. This is a good thing.

I wonder if you’re projecting your understandable worry and anxiety over having cancer onto your consultant. Trying to find something to worry about other than the likelihood of cancer. That would be quite human.

I hope you get excellent treatment whatever the prognosis. Good luck

That wait for the biopsy result is awful. I was told when they got the results i had breast cancer and we we discussed surgery and treatment from there, based on the facts.

I think if they'd told me they were worried but couldn't elaborate any further than that I would've catastrophied the whole thing on Dr Google which wouldn't have been helpful, but I would've been so much more stressed because I had a hint at information rather than the facts.

I wish you all the best, I don't think he should've said anything

Hmm, I think Dr's are often incredibly stressed and overworked, so don't always have the energy to overthink everything that is said. He probably just saw what was on the scan and told you what to expect.

Hi, I believe the words worrying are used when cancer is a possibility as a way of warning patients the diagnosis maybe a serious one. Most but not all people prefer this approach especially if they asked if cancer is a possibility. The UK does not use the BIRADS system. They use M, U and P (1-5) grades with a 5 being thought to be malignant. They are similar but subtly different grading scores. Good luck.

I appreciated being told my lump looked suspicious because by the time I got the confirmed result I had prepared myself. With regards to taking someone with you during covid, my husband was allowed in when I was given results but for anything else he waited outside in the car.

Just sending

I would much rather have the facts than be kept on the dark.

It would be different if it was a routine screening appointment and the consultant had blindsided you with the idea of having cancer out of nowhere, but this was a referral for a lump and whilst giving people bad news is not something I assume the consultant enjoys, I am sure he weighed up the benefit of giving you his professional opinion based on his experience and clinical observation over worrying you unnecessarily. Clearly he decided that giving you the facts and allowing you time to process the information was the preferred option under the circumstances.

I’m sorry you are going through this

[quote 3beforeme]@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.[/quote]
In the kindest possible way I think this is what the doctor was trying to do- prepare you so it’s not a huge shock if it is breast cancer. Any good doctor would only ever say that if they highly suspected you biopsy would show breast ca. perhaps during the consultation given the history of repeated benign lumpectomies he felt you thought it would be a similar unconcerning thing and he wanted to prepare you for bad news. I really hope all is on for you but a doctor giving an honest medical opinion is not a bad thing. Shrugging and saying ‘wait for the biopsy’ when an experience oncology surgeon can clearly see breast cancer would be incredibly insincere.
Again I so hope it’s all negative but fingers crossed if it is breast cancer the treatment is swift and effective.

3beforeme
No, technically Thursday isn't long to wait but I imagine in this circumstance it may feel a long time to you.

Will you have someone with you on Thursday?

@Blackopal DP is coming with me and I feel terrible for worrying him too especially when it could potentially (and hopefully) all be for nothing! I keep trying to remember exactly what the doctor said in case I've somehow over dramatised it in my own head.

Generally, if doctors suspect there is something serious then they will tell you one way or another, as much to prepare you. Although this was a very difficult thing to hear, it would have been unprofessional of him to have pretended that nothing was wrong. When they see dozens of people every day they very quickly learn what is likely to be a benign lump and what isn't.

All good wishes to you.