Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My biopsy is in the morning. I have pretty much resigned myself to accept whatever the results are. Now, I have to wait until next week to find out. I don't know which is worse, waiting for the biopsy or the results.

Just trying to keep busy.

Hang in there, Denine!

When my mom went for her biopsy the Dr. told her it was cancerous just from looking, and of course she was right. I certainly don't think that is standard, and Mom didn't really believe her anyway. The Dr. was so sure she told Mom if it came back benign they were going to repeat the biopsy immediately, because she was POSITIVE the tumor was cancer.
I don't know which is worse, either. Even if the doctor tells you something at the biopsy you still have to wait for the pathology results, and that is absolutely maddening.

We are all hoping your biopsy results come back benign and there is nothing for you to worry about!!

 

[Denine]

Thanks guys!

I am hoping I can get someone to tell me something tomorrow. I am an RN and need to know! I have been trying to diagnose this thing before tomorrow based on reading descriptions of different things benign and not. I just wish I could have found more pictures of US lesions.

DH says I am never happy unless I am researching something!

Merrypoppins: Enjoy your quiet! DD (5) just attacked DH as walked in the door from work.

 

[snappy]

Denine, your results may vary, but I received results from the stereotactic needle biopsy the day after in 2004. The doctor (surgeon) called me at home himself with the results, the radiologist was non-committal.

Ask about the procedure for notification, if you have not already (since you are an RN, it sounds like you are plenty savvy. Some doctors will let the patient decide if they want to be notified by phone, or wait until the next appointment.

Your painting sounds great, Merry.

I too am really hoping for the best for you. It is good for morale for all of us here to hear the happy endings.

 

[Denine]

I don't know if they will tell me anything tomorrow or not, but I am going to ask. It is driving me crazy not knowing.

Obviously I am killing time. DH went to the store, DD is watching Star Wars and I just took a shower after doing yard work and giving DD a bath. I really want DD to go to bed so I can watch baseball and have a glass of wine with DH.

I will be back either Friday evening or Saturday morning. DD has a t-ball game tomorrow night and I have to work Friday morning.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Denine, fellow RN here. I could tell from the tone in the room and the body language that things were serious. Good luck tomorrow. We'll be with you in spirit.

Maureen, I take care of many, many people admitted to the hospital with AF. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.

jsg, obm fessed up on the PB Father's Day thread. Too funny.

Hope Laura's having a good time.

Merry I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have the kids both leave home. Your house is going to look beautiful when it's done. Ours is a mess right now. Deck is partially torn up, the whole project is slow moving because of baseball. DS had a great game tonight and they're moving up in the playoffs, so we're not home much right now. DH is frustrated.

Dawn, for me, it was a cumulative effect. The more chemo I had, the harder my body was working to keep up with it all. The neulasta/procrit injections helped keep my numbers up, but they weren't great, and at times they were really low. I think it's par for the course. I'm glad the agita seems to be better for you.

The couple I asked for prayers for is hanging in. You cannot imagine how rough things were for them - it doesn't get much harder than what they've been through. The prayers are very much appreciated.

GAGWTA

 

[lookingforward]

Hi, everyone. My poor mom is still in the hospital. They tried to "convert" her atrial defib but found a blood clot in her right atrium of her heart. So they could not do it. Now they are keeping her in the hospital on blood thinners until she gets to a certain level. The hope is to get rid of the clot so they can convert her heart defib in a month or so. Not sure if she will go home or stay in the hospital. She is so bruised up from the blood thinners and blood tests, I am so worried.

Meanwhile, I am blugging along with radiation. 14 more to go, more than halfway done. My skin is turning red, like I spent too long in the sun, but its holding up okay. It is so BORING, going day after day.

GAGWTA!

 

[lookingforward]

Maureen, I take care of many, many people admitted to the hospital with AF. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.

Thanks! Anything you could tell me about this would be appreciated. She does have a clot in her right atrium, so thats not good news. I am worried.

 

[lookingforward]

Thanks guys!

I am hoping I can get someone to tell me something tomorrow. I am an RN and need to know! I have been trying to diagnose this thing before tomorrow based on reading descriptions of different things benign and not. I just wish I could have found more pictures of US lesions.

DH says I am never happy unless I am researching something!

Merrypoppins: Enjoy your quiet! DD (5) just attacked DH as walked in the door from work.

Waiting is awful! My surgeon has a strict policy that you have to come in for biopsy results. Some doctors call. I remember finding out that she had my results a full day before my appt.

I am PRAYING that you get good news. Hang in over the weekend!

 

[snappy]

Good luck today, Denine.

I will be thinking of you today for sure.

Lookingforward, sorry to hear your mom has that blood clot on top of the the AFIB. I hate that you are going through this with her while you are in treatment. Please take care of yourself through this stressful time.

Linda, glad your couple is still in the game. I have been praying for them and will continue to do so.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Denine - Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you today!!

Maureen - Thinking of you and your mom, too!

Linda - I told DH I mentioned his purchase on this thread. I hear he has an impressive wish list over there on the PB. I am not going to look.
More good thoughts for your friends!

I spoke to Mom yesterday. She said she is still a bit swollen from the extractions. I guess she called the surgeon's office and asked if being on the pain meds would mess up her surgery. They said the pain meds are fine, but I also think she left out the majority of the story!

 

[Iluvthemouse]

Hi ladies. I have followed this thread for a year or so. I havent posted but I have prayed, rejoiced, cried and laughed with you all.

Now I find myself in the same scary position.

Nov 2007 had my annual. My dr did breast exam and doublebacked on 1 area. He didnt say anything and frankly I felt the lump after but my breasts are always lumpy. I had a baseline mammo when I was 35 and this was 3 months before my 40th b-day. I had a routine mammo in March 2008 and it was clear --"no abnormalities". But the lump was still there and it never changed, sometimes tender (probably because I was pushing on it so much.LOL). So today I went to the dr (my other dr who I loved had just retired in April) and she says she feels 2 lumps and is sending me for a breast ultrasound MOnday June 16. She did say my breasts were indeed lumpy> Of course I have convinced myself of the worse scenario and I started crying in the car thinking of my DD and such. Uggh this is very hard. Now I am worried I waited too long and whats going to happen, am I going to die? You all know the drill. Sorry this is so long. I havent told DH yet because I didnt want him to worry.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hi ladies. I have followed this thread for a year or so. I havent posted but I have prayed, rejoiced, cried and laughed with you all.

Now I find myself in the same scary position.

Nov 2007 had my annual. My dr did breast exam and doublebacked on 1 area. He didnt say anything and frankly I felt the lump after but my breasts are always lumpy. I had a baseline mammo when I was 35 and this was 3 months before my 40th b-day. I had a routine mammo in March 2008 and it was clear --"no abnormalities". But the lump was still there and it never changed, sometimes tender (probably because I was pushing on it so much.LOL). So today I went to the dr (my other dr who I loved had just retired in April) and she says she feels 2 lumps and is sending me for a breast ultrasound MOnday June 16. She did say my breasts were indeed lumpy> Of course I have convinced myself of the worse scenario and I started crying in the car thinking of my DD and such. Uggh this is very hard. Now I am worried I waited too long and whats going to happen, am I going to die? You all know the drill. Sorry this is so long. I havent told DH yet because I didnt want him to worry.

Well, first of all, take a deep breath and have a hug!
I have fibrocystic breasts and they are lumpy. I have had 2 mammograms and a breast ultrasound and I am 37. Not every lump is a bad lump. I know when I drink too much caffeine some of my lumps are pretty painful.

I know the waiting is HORRIBLE. Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for your results (I want to say they told me everything was fine before I left the radiology clinic). Hang in there! We are here if you want to talk about it. Definitely tell your DH - this is not something to handle by yourself!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I have followed this thread for a year or so. I havent posted but I have prayed, rejoiced, cried and laughed with you all.

That's so nice! Thank you! I agree, it may not be a bad lump at all. But it's good you're having it worked up. Keep pushing, even though it's a PIA to go through the process. We'll be right here with you. Glad you posted.

 

[snappy]

Iluvthemouse, glad you knew about our thread. Like Linda, I really appreciate that you have followed it. I am sorry you are not joining us under better circumstances, but as Ann's husband said, don't bleed till your shot.

In case you have not heard the stat, about 80% of biopsies come back with benign results. So the odds are in your favor. Having said that, it is better to err on the side of caution. I am sure most doctors see it htat way now too. I think it is worth spending the $$$ on diagnostics on many women to to pick up the tumors as early as possible on the few that are a problem.

I agree that you need to open up with your DH ASAP. It is a real relief to share your worries with your partner. It is hard to disguise how scared you are anyway, I imagine he will know something is up.

Is your biopsy scheduled yet? What type of biopsy will you have? Please let us know and I promise we will be with you in spirit throughout this.

 

[Denine]

I am back. Thank you all so much for caring. You are wonderful!

I never had the biopsy. I went in and they had everything set up. They did an ultrasound to find the area and either couldn't find it or it had changed. So, I had 3 more mammo views done using digital and she determined that it was most likely benign changes from my reduction in 2000. She tells me that you can see the changes on the 2003 mammo but they are more profound now. I have to go back in 6 months for another mammo to be sure.

I wish someone had seen those areas before instead of scaring me to death for a week!

I still don't have a definitive answer, so I don't feel as relieved as I should. I kind of feel in limbo.

lookingfoward: Pixie dust for your mom!

Iluvthemouse: Hopefully everything will be OK for you. Good luck on Monday!

jackskellingtonsgirl: When is your mom's surgery? I am sure everything will go fine!

 

[snappy]

I hate that you feel your are in limbo. A definitive answer would have been easier to live with, I agree.

I can't say what I would do in your shoes but there is always getting a second opinion. Did you feel comfortable that the radioligist knew her "stuff"?

I assume it was the radiologist discussing the changes.

I would also advise you to request copies of the mammogram reports and start a file. Especially since you will going back in six months.

Did they mention anything about doing an ultrasound or MRI?

I guess I am a little gun shy and would feel like you do, godd description, in limbo. You are not alone in feeling that way. I think many women go through this when told there is an area that they want to "watch."

I hope you are able to enjoy this weekend and have a nice father's day celebration.

Thanks for posting what happened Thursday.

How is everyone this morning?

 

[lookingforward]

Personally, I would request a breast MRI. I too had a "surgical changes" and it is often difficult to read these by mammo..digital or otherwise. The MRI is definative in most cases (I think a few rare type cancers don't "show" up). Maybe they can order you an MRI for a more clear picture.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Denine - How frustrating! I think talking about an MRI with your primary Dr. might be a good idea. Even if it shows nothing it would be money well spent.
Mom's surgery is Tuesday, and I will fly up Thursday.

 

[Sha]

Sorry I dont have time to read the thread and hear how you all are doing. I am keeping you all in prayers as best as I can while traveling. Germany is beautiful!!! and very clean. I have paid to use a bathroom... and I have had some good beer (and I dont drink that anymore). The people are wonderful and I definitely wish I could explore more than my family heritage on this trip.

Hugs to all!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Denine, I've posted before that the same thing happened to me - after I just ended treatment. The first mamm afterward on the non-BC breast showed a spot. In fact, my surgeon told me, "I'm sorry, it looks like a new cancer". I was devastated, and thought, if this cancer grew through all this chemo I had, I'm a goner. Biopsy was negative, but they wanted to go ahead with an excisional biopsy to be absolutely sure. I waited several weeks because I just wanted to enjoy my kids' birthday, and it was agonizing. I showed up for the excisional biopsy and the spot was gone. My surgeon then and there gave me the option of taking the whole area out, but I decided to wait 3 months for a re-check. The spot has never returned. We think it was a premenstrual change. I was p'd at my surgeon for scaring me like that (and the original radiologist at my medical practice). I now get all my mamms and MRIs at the hospital (mine).

An MRI is actually not definitive. Only a biopsy is - because a pathologist examines the actual tissue under a microscope. There are many false positives with MRI, which then get biopsied. In your case, it's difficult and unreliable to biopsy an area you can't definitively find. I'd probably compromise and ask for a 3 month re-check, and/or get another opinion, possibly an MRI (which may or may not be helpful). Scar tissue can be tricky.