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Original poster

Breast biopsy

13 replies

airist · 13/05/2023 14:31

Hi
I had a mammogram and ultrasound sound this week for a lump (which was fine, a cyst) but they found an internal tethering abnormality in the other breast and have told me I'll have to come back for a biopsy. Has anyone had anything similar? For context, this wasn't my first mammogram so they had something to compare too and couldn't see a lump but rather a tethering (nothing visible externally)

It's going to be a couple of weeks for the biopsy and then another couple of weeks for the result so a bit of a wait

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Original poster
airist · 13/05/2023 19:17

Anyone had architectural distortion of the breast and it not been cancer?

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poetryandwine · 13/05/2023 22:23

Sorry, OP. I didn’t want to read and run. I have been called back after routine screening but so far it has always been benign calcifications.

I think it sounds fortunate that the other breast was investigated. Whenever I have been called back, attention has been focused on the breast with the flagged mammogram. Nevertheless I know well that the waiting is hell and I am very sorry you are going through this. If you feel like it, please do update us. Very best wishes

Original poster
airist · 13/05/2023 22:39

Thanks @poetryandwine, I know I'm grateful that they've spotted something but it's really confusing. I can't seem to find much information about it, the radiologist mentioned that it could be a radial scar but everything I can see online suggests it's highly likely to be cancer Confused

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poetryandwine · 14/05/2023 01:40

I am so sorry for that. Writing as an academic, I know that when I venture to research outside my fields of expertise I can misinterpret and I know that has been true for friends also. I wish you well and I will be thinking of you.

But it is also true that BC is one of the cancers where there has been a lot of progress in recent decades. I know many women who have a case in their past and are now considered cured. I find that reassuring, if hardly optimal. I hope you do, too.

Silkierabbit · 14/05/2023 02:21

I have breast cancer and not come across this. Hope it turns out to be nothing. At mine they said it was cancer so I would be encouraged by the fact they've said maybe benign. I think of biopsies 3 out of 4 aren't cancer. Even in the worst case it would have been caught incredibly early and then the treatment is often minimal and survival very close to normal levels at stage 1.

Original poster
airist · 14/05/2023 07:26

Thanks @Silkierabbit and @poetryandwine, I guess there's nothing to do but wait a few weeks. This is made worse because my mum had stage 2 breast cancer which we were told was eminently curable but unfortunately in her case it was not and she died a few years later so it's hard to be positive about the worse case scenario.

Apparently a change in the breast architecture is the third most common indicator of cancer after lumps and calcifications - yes, I should stop looking up this information, but I'm also an academic and it's hard not to!

Thank you for replying, I know there's nothing to do but wait but it's nice to hear some voices 

@poetryandwine I hope you are ok and your treatment goes well Flowers

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Original poster
airist · 14/05/2023 07:26

Sorry! I meant @Silkierabbit FlowersFlowers

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PinkRobotDuck · 14/05/2023 07:31

I had a breast cancer with no tethering or lump that could be felt.
Treated with Radiotherapy and surgical excision. Did not require chemo.
I would say the waiting is the worst!! Though, of course, I had a good outcome.

Original poster
airist · 14/05/2023 10:29

Just received a message that my biopsy appointment has been scheduled for 3 weeks time - so that's at least 5-6 weeks before I have an answer

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poetryandwine · 14/05/2023 15:02

And it will not be easy. Can you aim to treat yourself very well during this time?

poetryandwine · 14/05/2023 15:05

I am so sorry about your mum’s illness. That souns scarier than having it caught later, when you are girded for a bad outcome.

Mmmmpavlova · 14/05/2023 15:08

I had several lumps AND calcification in one breast, and could tell the consultant who did my ultrasound/biopsies was concerned. It turned out to be all benign, but the wait was frankly terrifying. You have all my sympathies, OP - but it might be some reassurance that things can look worrying on imaging and still be ok.

Original poster
airist · 14/05/2023 16:55

Thanks everyone  I'm going to try and focus on what's important at the moment (my family) and plan some nice distraction as @poetryandwine suggests. I don't want to experience any pain twice - once through worry and once through reality. If I have to worry I'm going try and wait until I really have to. I'm sure that'll be harder said than done but I've been for a lovely walk in the woods and really looked around Daffodil

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