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hello all - i am 39 (well, will be next month) and found a lump in my left breast last week. went to doc, who sent me for a mammogram and u/s. the doc there was quite concerned, and wants to me decide whether to have a biopsy or lumpectomy. i am supposed to talk with my original doc tomorrow, and he (the mammo doc) wants me to meet with an oncologist already to coordinate my care. i do not have a diagnosis of cancer at this time, but he still feels that would be a good option. there is no history in my family, but i have been on lots of hormones and fertility drugs over the last 5 years.
so, if it were you, would you start with a biopsy or go straight to removal of the lump? what is recovery like if i opt for removal?
i am trying to stay calm - my spouse is deployed for the next 9 months, and i am feeling really alone, but trying to be strong.
i appreciate any feedback or advice.
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Want to leave a comment? Login or Register now!I think that if you don't have a diagnosis of cancer then it really doesn't matter if you have the biopsy first or just go for the lumpectomy. Unless the lump is a large one which would probably make your breast "malform" upon healing. Then again why go straight to cutting when a biopsy could show that you have nothing but a fibroid which can possible dissolve with medication.
Since I don't have a straight forward answer for you then I suggest you speak with the Oncoogist. He/She can give you options but then again their best suggestion would probably be a more educated one after a biopsy is done.
Did I just confuse you even more. Don't feel bad, Ifelt that way too.
I didn't know what to do until I spoke with my healthcare team, The primary care physician, the Oncologist and the General Surgeon. I don't mean just one time I mean extensively until I could clear my mind of everything else and focus on getting myself back to normal.
I hope you don't have cancer. I did. But thanks to God, my family, my healthcare team and everyone who helped make up my entire support system, I am cancer free today!!!!!!!! Don't worry too much about what you don't know. Find out what's really going on then focus on how to change it. In the mean time I will pray for you and ask God to give you a special healing blessing while he is carrying you in his arms.
There is absolutely nothing too hard for God and no need he wont provide for you.
Keep in touch,
Fe
Hi, I think that if you don't have a diagnosis of cancer then it really doesn't matter if you have the biopsy first or just go for the lumpectomy. Unless the lump is a large one which would probably make your breast "malform" upon healing. Then again why go straight to cutting when a biopsy could show that you have nothing but a fibroid which can possible dissolve with medication. Since I don't have a straight forward answer for you then I suggest you speak with the Oncoogist. He/She can give you options but then again their best suggestion would probably be a more educated one after a biopsy is done. Did I just confuse you even more. Don't feel bad, Ifelt that way too. I didn't know what to do until I spoke with my healthcare team, The primary care physician, the Oncologist and the General Surgeon. I don't mean just one time I mean extensively until I could clear my mind of everything else and focus on getting myself back to normal. I hope you don't have cancer. I did. But thanks to God, my family, my healthcare team and everyone who helped make up my entire support system, I am cancer free today!!!!!!!! Don't worry too much about what you don't know. Find out what's really going on then focus on how to change it. In the mean time I will pray for you and ask God to give you a special healing blessing while he is carrying you in his arms. There is absolutely nothing too hard for God and no need he wont provide for you. Keep in touch, Fe
I had three mammograms in May, they believed it was cancer, but until they did the biopsy I knew for sure that it was.
I saw the surgeon, and he proceeded to do a lumpectomy. A week later I saw the radiation oncologist, he told me that he will give me external beam radiation every day except on weekends for seven weeks.
Yesterday I went to see the oncologist, and all he said was that he wants to see me again when I finish radiation, because he will put me on some medication, and he will see me every six months for the next five years.
My daughter had a mammogram last year, it looked like something malignant, they did a biopsy and fortunately she only had fluid. She had a lump the size of a lime.
I think that you need to have the biopsy first.
The biopsy didn't hurt, it conformed the doctor's suspicions, and the doctors told me that it was caught at an early stage, and that I'm very lucky.
I don't feel lucky being diagnosed with cancer, but at least it was caught early.
Today is three weeks since my surgery, I haven't had any pain, and to be honest with you, I am not looking forward to radiation, but I know that it's something necessary, so I'm getting used to the idea.
I am sorry that your husband is not with you, but I am sure that he supports you from wherever he is.
Best wishes.I would do do biopsy first to make sure it's cancer. What if it's not? I had three mammograms in May, they believed it was cancer, but until they did the biopsy I knew for sure that it was. I saw the surgeon, and he proceeded to do a lumpectomy. A week later I saw the radiation oncologist, he told me that he will give me external beam radiation every day except on weekends for seven weeks. Yesterday I went to see the oncologist, and all he said was that he wants to see me again when I finish radiation, because he will put me on some medication, and he will see me every six months for the next five years. My daughter had a mammogram last year, it looked like something malignant, they did a biopsy and fortunately she only had fluid. She had a lump the size of a lime. I think that you need to have the biopsy first. The biopsy didn't hurt, it conformed the doctor's suspicions, and the doctors told me that it was caught at an early stage, and that I'm very lucky. I don't feel lucky being diagnosed with cancer, but at least it was caught early. Today is three weeks since my surgery, I haven't had any pain, and to be honest with you, I am not looking forward to radiation, but I know that it's something necessary, so I'm getting used to the idea. I am sorry that your husband is not with you, but I am sure that he supports you from wherever he is. Best wishes.
Biopsy scar was only 1/2 inch, not 12. sorry
KaylynEDIT NOTE Biopsy scar was only 1/2 inch, not 12. sorry Kaylyn
3 reason's
1) larger tissue sample gives better information. sometimes samples can be small and on the edges, missing important information.
2) The lump will be gone and benign or cancer, the physical worrysome lump will be gone.
3) if it is cancer, you just had 1 proceedure that did the work of 2 proceedures.
These choices are always tough to make, especially on your own because family is far away. You'll find that there are a lot of choices and a lot of "Right Answers" in women's health care issues.
The Biopsy I had was a Steriotatic Core Biopsy. Sore and needed ice packs for several days. I was Awake under local anesthesia( numbing medicine) while laying face down on a Mammiogram machine while being squished. scar was about 12 inch , no stitches. I drove my self there and back.
The Lumpectomy involved doing a sentenal lymph node biopsy. It was day surgery. It was a breeze, I slept through the whole thing, ;) Larger incisions, Larger pain, My "Area of Concern was quite big" not a lump but Multi-focal areas. It was tougher to recover from by a few days, ice was my friend. But back to work with in the week.
Good luck with your choice. What ever you decide will be the best answer for you.
KaylynI think that I'm a minority voice in this Lumpectomy preferred over biopsy. 3 reason's 1) larger tissue sample gives better information. sometimes samples can be small and on the edges, missing important information. 2) The lump will be gone and benign or cancer, the physical worrysome lump will be gone. 3) if it is cancer, you just had 1 proceedure that did the work of 2 proceedures. These choices are always tough to make, especially on your own because family is far away. You'll find that there are a lot of choices and a lot of "Right Answers" in women's health care issues. The Biopsy I had was a Steriotatic Core Biopsy. Sore and needed ice packs for several days. I was Awake under local anesthesia( numbing medicine) while laying face down on a Mammiogram machine while being squished. scar was about 12 inch , no stitches. I drove my self there and back. The Lumpectomy involved doing a sentenal lymph node biopsy. It was day surgery. It was a breeze, I slept through the whole thing, ;) Larger incisions, Larger pain, My "Area of Concern was quite big" not a lump but Multi-focal areas. It was tougher to recover from by a few days, ice was my friend. But back to work with in the week. Good luck with your choice. What ever you decide will be the best answer for you. Kaylyn
Tabitha I would get the biopsy, you need to know what it is your dealing with. A biopsy will yeild alot of information, such as a definitive diagnosis, type of cancer (if it is), hormone receptor status etc. I believe knoweledge is power, the more informed you are will aid in your decision making. God Bless you and your husband. Tabitha
Angle hugs and butterfly kisses.
Queeney
Have a biopsy first to get your diognosis, than find a good surgeon and discuss yiour options. Angle hugs and butterfly kisses. Queeney
SarahSometimes because of the type of lump it is, they have to remove it anyway. My MD gave me a choice between a biopsy the same day with the promise of a diagnosis or to wait several days for a lumpectomy since he had to remove it anyway. I opted to wait. I am glad I did because after a while you get tired of too many procedures. Depending on how much time you have to wait for the lumpectomy, you have to decide what is comfortable for you. Best of luck to you and remember that with good treatment, cancer does not have to be a death sentence. I will send prayers your way Sarah
Judy
Yep, Wanda's right...the waiting is so hard!!! I, too, would do the biopsy assuming they can do that right away. If it's a benign lump, they may recommend having it removed anyway, but at least you'd just be waiting for something benign to be removed. And remember, odds are it's nothing, so try not to worry, but you're doing the right thing about getting it checked out ASAP. If you decide (now or after a biopsy) to have the lump removed, the recover isn't bad at all. Mine was an outpatient procedure, and I was home and pretty much back into my routine (just more tired) that afternoon. And for a few days afterward, I just had to take things a little slower, but certainly wasn't debilitated. Best of luck to you!!! :D Judy