Breast biopsy appt with specialist

[PaperbackWrighter]

Hi all, this is my first-ever post and I wish it wasn't on this sorry subject! I was referred to the breast clinic on 2-week pathway after finding a lump. The breast nurse found lots more on both breasts, said better than one, she wasn't too concerned, and then I had a mammogram. All good.

A week later, I had the ultrasound (they didn't have staff to do all in same day). Radiologist doing ultrasound said showed dense breast on both etc nothing to worry about. Until he got to the top of my right breast where I'd found the original lump. He said he'd found an area of concern and needed to take a biopsy. He did one then another as said the lump was subtle (doesn't feel it to me, like a child's marble under the skin). I asked how many people ended up with cancer diagnosis from breast biopsies. The nurse said 50/50 but the radiologist was straight in again with, 'This looks concerning.' However he did add it looked small and treatable.

Rung today and asked to an appointment with the consultant in person on Thursday. I think I probably have to face what's coming but has anyone ever been told similar to me at the US (lump looks suspicious but then the biopsy's been OK)? Or is the face-to-face appt the clue? I also seem to be on a waiting list in my nhs app under 'Hospital referrals and appointment' where it says Breast Surgery, Hospital Name 'Waiting for appt' and 'Average waiting time for treatment: 9 weeks'. Surely I can't be on a waiting list for treatment / surgery when I haven't even seen the consultant?

Any thoughts gratefully accepted!

Hi try not to worry too much before the appointment, it won't change anything

In my experience, the radiologist has a very good idea, so I would assume what they said is probably correct, but they can't tell you for sure until biopsy results are back. So they said it looked "small and treatable", that's good.

There's a long running thread in General Health that's very supportive.
(I'm 1 yr post surgery/chemo etc, all good)

Thanks @JackieGoodman I suspected he knew what he was talking about. The strange thing was the breast nurse had called that specific lump 'benign feeling' in a letter to my GP and the mammogram hadn't picked it up. And the radiologist was midway through telling me my many lumps were harmless and didn't put me at increased risk of BC, then bam he ultrasounded that one!

I'm so glad to hear you are clear 1 year on 😍

Last year my friend had a routine screening mammogram, nothing found.

They also did a sonogram. Something suspicious was seen, and it turned out to be cancerous. She had a lumpectomy and chemo and takes tamoxifen. Just had her one-year check-up and is fine.

Hoping that yours is either nothing or that you have a comparable outcome, OP.

As previous poster said try not to worry until your appointment on Thursday. Easier said than done.
When I went for my lump scan etc the radiologist could tell it was cancer and the surgeon said 90% certain of cancer but couldn’t confirm until the biopsy result came in.
They do have regular meetings for treatment plans etc so even if you haven’t had confirmation if your file came up in the review they may have just added you onto the patient pathway…..
it is a horribly worrying time and experience so I really hope you have good news on Thursday.
I know my mum had a biopsy once and the lump was suspicious but came back negative (she was very upset they had put her through the trauma of biopsy etc not understanding that they do it so they know for certain..).
If the result is confirmed cancer on Thursday there is hope. I was diagnosed late thirties and now 6 years clear.

Sending you all the best wishes for Thursday xxx

Sorry to hear what you are going through. In my experience, the radiographer does have a very good idea of what you are dealing with.

Having said that, I have had many lumps which have ultimately turned out benign and every time I have had a face to face appointment to get the results and also was booked in for surgery due to indeterminate biopsy results. Also, every time I have met with a consultant, they have been described as with ‘Breast Surgery’ because they have been surgeons, even though I haven’t necessarily needed surgery on that occasion.

I think you are doing the right thing preparing yourself for what it sounds like is probably coming going off the radiographers comments but I wouldn’t try and read anything into the appointments thing.

good luck.

That's great @Bananawotsit that you're six years clear. I'm encouraged by your mum's experience but am steeling myself for the news I don't want to hear. I'm 50 so it's still pretty early. Thanks also for your good wishes xxx

Great that your friend is doing so well a year on @shrubrose and thanks for the good wishes.

Thanks @BoilingHotand50something - very helpful to hear of your experiences, and glad they have turned out to be benign. I'm not looking forward to Thursday, but at least I will know what's what. I'm sure I don't need to tell you the limbo period has been and still is awful!

Good luck today @PaperbackWrighter - nearly over the dreadful waiting and hope you get some positive news and if not, some clarity around what you are dealing with and the next steps.

Thank you @BoilingHotand50something thats very kind. Just a few more hours and I’ll know… but better to know.

Hi @JackieGoodman I'm quite new to mumsnet and wasn't sure how to find the long-running cancer thread you mentioned that's in General Health. Do you know its name by any chance? Thanks xx

Hi. I am guessing it wasn’t good news. So sorry if so. I have had a look and I think it may be this thread that was being referred to:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5059016-cancer-support-thread-94-sweetness-and-light-the-two-noblest-of-things?page=28a

@BoilingHotand50something that's the one, very supportive.
Best wishes @PaperbackWrighter

Thank you so much @BoilingHotand50something and @JackieGoodman yes I did receive the diagnosis I didn't want to hear. Invasive lobular breast cancer, looks to be affecting one lobule but they need to check via MRI if any other lobules as could mean a different kind of surgery. Fingers crossed! I'm doing OK. The consultant and nurse I saw, both assigned to me, were incredible. It's not a nice situation but I've landed on my feet with them I think. That's a relief as leading up to Election time you don't hear great stuff about the NHS, do you? I'm having to switch off from the news at the mo though I will of course vote!

Anyway, thanks both for the thread details and the support.

Hello, OP.
Thanks for letting us know.
Pretty sure that my friend had invasive lobular breast cancer. Just saw her this morning - it's like it never happened. Wish the same for you.

ShrubRose

Most people I know feel their treatment for breast cancer through the NHS has been good. Definitely my experience too.

Glad to hear you are getting good care. Thinking of you.

Sorry @ShrubRose thought I had replied to say thank you so much for kind message and great to hear your friend is thriving 😍

Thank you @JackieGoodman and @BoilingHotand50something - much appreciated.

Yes I hear a lot of good about NHS cancer care too.

@ShrubRose I've also just thought, I hope you don't mind my asking, would you mind checking with your friend, only if appropriate, if she did have the lobular one (I know you mentioned above that you thought she did)? Only if it's something she wouldn't mind being asked or you wouldn't mind asking. Because it may well be the last thing either of you want to talk about together!

I've freaked myself out by reading (but only on the Breast Cancer Now site, not been wildly Googling) that the lobular kind doesn't always respond to chemo or hormone replacement therapy. But I note you said your friend had chemo and is on tamoxifen and is all clear. xx

@PaperbackWrighter Yes, it was invasive lobular carcinoma. I had written it down at the time, and I just looked it up in my journal. The diagnosis was in January 2023.
BUT - I got it wrong about the chemo. Just spoke to her - she had radiation, not chemo. And she was told that she didn't even necessarily need radiation, but it was a good idea in case she couldn't tolerate either the tamoxifen or the aromatase inhibitor. If she had to discontinue them, she could get radiation, but it would be more effective at the outset. In the event, she's doing well on the tamoxifen.
Hope this helps, OP.

@PaperbackWrighter I've freaked myself out by reading (but only on the Breast Cancer Now site, not been wildly Googling) that the lobular kind doesn't always respond to chemo

I'm terribly sorry if my mistake caused you to worry unduly, OP. I'm glad you checked with me.

Hi @ShrubRose thank you so, so much for this info. Has really helped to know. And, absolutely not, your mistake hasn't caused me to worry at all. I'd been a bit dismayed to find out last night that some cases of lobular don't respond to chemo OR hormone replacement therapy like tamoxifen. So the fact your friend takes tamoxifen to good effect is really heartening to me. And it sounds like she didn't need chemo as she barely needed radiotherapy from the sounds of it. I feel some reassurance now. Thank you again for giving me this info, and so quickly too. Really appreciate it😘

Hi @PaperbackWrighter
You're very welcome. I'm glad you feel some reassurance.
If you have other questions, please post. Everybody's case is a bit different, of course, but there might be something I could tell you about my friend's experience that would help.

I do hope your course runs smoothly.
xx

@ShrubRose thank you so much xx