Terrified

[Shoegal0305]

I have a thread already running on this, please forgive me for starting another, it's kinda gone very quiet and I'm really struggling.

Basically, I'm 47, got called for breast screening (part of a trial for under 50s). No lumps or bumps, no family history. Got the dreaded recall letter. Went back last week and was told I had two areas of calcifications in my right breast. They took a biopsy and put markers in to show the areas. Biopsy results came back yesterday, breast nurse said they were benign but one area no calcifications seen? She said I have to go back and have a vacuum biopsy next week. I'm beside myself with worry, I suffer from really bad anxiety anyway and this has pushed me over the edge. I keep trying to stay positive in the fact that she kept saying 'benign' but scared as to why I need the vacuum biopsy?

Advice???

Possibly because benign things can turn nasty if left? Ring your GP, they should be able to explain it to you.

@emmathedilemma thank you.

During my really pessimistic moments I'm giving myself a terminal diagnosis (beauty of anxiety huh!) but then I have moments of clarity where I think well they are looking after me and if it has the potential to be nasty it's caught now!

It's consumed me

Stay positive! Benign sounds promising. Waiting for test results and procedures is always the worst, I always expect it to be bad and (thus far) it's never been as bad as feared. Don't think the way they send out letters or get receptionists with half garbled messages helps either. I had a moan at my GP practice at the way the receptionist rings with blood test results, if they're not normal I want to talk to someone with medical advice not a receptionist who can't tell me anything!

@emmathedilemma thank you

Sorry, not sure I fully understand your post. Do you mean one of the samples didn't contain any calcification? If so then sounds like they missed - a vacuum biopsy takes a larger sample so they'll be more likely to get the bit of tissue they need.

@Spam88 the nurse said there were two areas they sampled, A snd B. Both were benign but one contained calcifications and one didn't? When I saw the mammogram last week I saw the two areas and they looked like grains of salt. So I'm assuming they are unsure what one of the areas is, albeit benign? I'm a bit confused myself haha.

I'm also thinking they maybe want to remove the area?

Think positively. Even if it is the worst news (which is unlikely as calcifications are most often benign) the absolute worst you have is either an early tumour in situ or a pre-cancer. Your case highlights exactly why early testing is so important!

The bits that look like grains of salt are microcalcifications. So both samples, if they sampled the right bit, should have had some of the microcalcifications in. So I think it sounds like they just need to repeat the one that they missed. I thought it was standard to X-ray the biopsy samples during the appointment though so they can check they've got the right bit before they send you on your way, but perhaps it varies between areas. Really doesn't sound like there's anything to be worrying about in what the nurse has said though.

@GrumpyHoonMain the nurse said both areas were benign?

@Spam88 I think they did get the correct areas? It sounded like one area however didn't show calcifications? So I'm thinking they want to sample again to see? Either way I'm bouncing between being absolutely petrified and really blessed that they've caught something early? I actually said to the nurse for I need to worry?' To which she answered no! Not that she would say yes mind!!!!

Anyone else?

Just got my letter. I'm going for a vacuum assisted biopsy. Why do I need this if it's benign???

Isn't it just because one of the samples they took didn't show what they know is there (calcification), so they need to take another sample to test? It sounds like they just need a bigger/more precise sample to be diligent.

@DesLynamsMoustache thank you I need you in my life!!! 😂😂

You are right, but my anxiety is taking over hence I need folk to help me see things as they are and not as my brain is perceiving it.

I’ve been where you are. They’re just being thorough. As in there’s a box needs ticking - the saw microcalcifications so now they need to have proof that those cells have been looked at under a microscope before they can tick that box. It’s even part of a computerised program which requires everything done in order. The vacuum biopsy is to get a bigger area just to make sure they’ve got what they need.

Gl, not fun waiting

I think all reason goes out of the window with stuff like this! I found a breast lump while pregnant and in about 0.0000003 seconds my mind had gone from 'Ooh what's that?' to 'Oh my god my husband will have to raise our baby alone.'

But look on it as them just being thorough! In my experience if there's reason to be concerned then they do tell you. In this case it seems like there isn't, so don't worry!

@Bunnyfuller @DesLynamsMoustache

Thank you. Honestly my emotions are a rollercoaster! I have hours of clarity where I tell myself exactly what you've just told me.

Then I have hours of physically not being able to move and just feeling numb, almost like it's a conspiracy and they've told me a pack of lies and when I get there they're gonna hit me with worse case scenario.

Anxiety is a shit.

@Bunnyfuller wouldn't they have looked at the samples after my initial biopsy?

Yes OP, but if there were no microcalcifications in the sample then it means they got the wrong bit (sounds like it was tested anyway and no disease was found). But they need to ensure they've biopsied the tissue where the microcalcs actually are, that's why they're calling you back. Vacuum assisted biopsy is just another biopsy technique that allows them to get a bigger sample. That's all.

@Spam88 thank you.

Honestly thank you all. You feel like you are the only one going thru this don't you? Which we aren't, but it's all relative to ourselves.

Please don't call your GP about this - you can call the Breast Screening Unit back and ask for a more detailed explanation (was there a leaflet with your appointment letter?) or you can call Breast Cancer Now. I appreciate you may not want to phone a charity with 'cancer' in its name, esp as all the indications are that your breast changes are benign, but they are best placed to advise you.

I did some googling (appreciate you should not be doing this) and did the nurse mention Sclerosing breast lesions? It fits with a vacuum biopsy being done if the previous biopsy did not give a definite result.

I agree with Spam88, it sounds like they want to take a bigger sample as they missed the microcalcifications in one spot last time.

Although it will seem like forever, the good news is you're being seen again so quickly.

@tribpot thank you so much.

No nothing was mentioned re sclerosing legions? Nurse phoned me and said (or all I heard!!! 😂) was benign, no micro calcifications showing in one sample. So all I keep thinking is well, what IS it showing? And I worry as to why they need me back? But all of your words are going in, they really are haha.

My friend has the BRCA1 gene and she is my hero haha.

How she is managing to put one foot in front of the other is beyond me. However she doesn't suffer with extreme anxiety. She has had mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs for about 13 year and had a preventative oophrectomy (spelling?) 12 years ago. She called recalled for breast screening about 3 weeks before me. Turned out to be nothing but with her risk factors she has decided now is the time to have her preventative mastectomy. Also she's now been told having her ovaries removed had probably not reduced her risk of breast cancer like was originally thought.

Letter today saying :

Thoughts?