Freaking out and crying. Need to have two biopsies after today’s mammo and u/s. Help me please

[kammie72]

Last night, I had a nightmare that I was told I had stage 3 cancer after my mammogram and ultrasound. I woke up relieved. Today, my nightmare has the potential to be real. I had a diagnostic mammo and ultrasound today. One because there’s a lump in my armpit that my gyn felt was nothing and my regular annual. Well, I needed extra pics on the mammo and the u/s took longer than it ever has. I knew something was up. Tech never told me to get dressed. Dr will see you. Then, after 15 min, the tech comes back and told me I need the armpit lump biopsied as well as suspicious stuff in my right breast. I asked to see the dr who read the images. Why, said the tech? She doesn’t have any more information. I said if I need to have TWO biopsies someone needs to say something, a doctor! So she takes me to the dr who saw the images. I walk in and immediately start crying. Dr said you okay? I said no, what’s wrong with me. Then she tells me the lump under my arm might be inflammation but it’s vague and she’s not sure. And whatever is in my right breast looks suspicious. She said I think you might be fine but we need to know for sure. It’s not certain. Then they give me a biopsy appointment for Jan 10. Jan 10th! I will keep calling to get an earlier one but I kind of want to live in bliss until the ax falls then. But it’s not bliss because i keep thinking about my kids and how they will die without me because it’s just me and I start crying hysterically. If anyone has any words of comfort I’ll take them. I’m trying to be positive and not think the worst!! I know God wouldn’t take me away from them…please me not drive myself sick with worry..already looking up stories from breast cancer survivors..

 

[MATD]

That’s the sad part of testing, the unknown and the wait. Nobody can relieve this worry. It’s a sad part of life. Only your own strength can get you past this. Googling and jumping to conclusions, not good to do. I really feel for you, and pray for a good outcome. Psalms 23.

 

[kammie72]

Thank you. That’s a good Psalm!

 

[bigjetplane2]

Prayers for you. I have read many, many stories on these forums about people in your exact situation and it turns out to be nothing at all.

 

[SB2017]

Please find my post from September! I had to have a biopsy! I was BESIDE MYSELF and 10,000% convinced I would have cancer!! It was the worst few weeks waiting and wondering but it was benign! This forum was my saving grace and there’s lots of stories in my post of women with breast lumps and it turned out to be nothing!

 

[Sweet T]

You will get through this. You should be proud of yourself for making your health a priority.
Best of luck.

 

[kammie72]

Please find my post from September! I had to have a biopsy! I was BESIDE MYSELF and 10,000% convinced I would have cancer!! It was the worst few weeks waiting and wondering but it was benign! This forum was my saving grace and there’s lots of stories in my post of women with breast lumps and it turned out to be nothing!

I’m praying I have the same outcome! Thank you!

You will get through this. You should be proud of yourself for making your health a priority.
Best of luck.

Thank you for saying so!

 

[Scared1234]

My friend had the same thing happen. One lump was fine (the US confirmed) and one looked suspicious. She was able to get her biopsy the next day but the doctor told her “this doesn’t look good.” She had the biopsy and had her result within a few days, and it turns out it was a benign lump. She is considered high risk due to family history and now goes for a mri every 6 months and then a mammo.
I had a BC scare around Thanksgiving and had to have a diagnostic mammo and US. I completely understand how scary it is. Thankfully the breast cancer center moves a lot faster than other places. Mine area is just being monitored every 6 months with a mammo and US, for 2 years.
Mia there somewhere else that could get you in sooner for your biopsy? I’m sure the holidays and covid are making for a scheduling nightmare. Maybe you could get it done somewhere else?

 

[kammie72]

My friend had the same thing happen. One lump was fine (the US confirmed) and one looked suspicious. She was able to get her biopsy the next day but the doctor told her “this doesn’t look good.” She had the biopsy and had her result within a few days, and it turns out it was a benign lump. She is considered high risk due to family history and now goes for a mri every 6 months and then a mammo.
I had a BC scare around Thanksgiving and had to have a diagnostic mammo and US. I completely understand how scary it is. Thankfully the breast cancer center moves a lot faster than other places. Mine area is just being monitored every 6 months with a mammo and US, for 2 years.
Mia there somewhere else that could get you in sooner for your biopsy? I’m sure the holidays and covid are making for a scheduling nightmare. Maybe you could get it done somewhere else?

i could probably keep calling to get an earlier appt to see if there are cancellations. Omg “this doesn’t look good” is so scary. The radiologist told me she thinks I’m okay but clearly not enough NOT to send me for an biopsy. Thank you!!

 

[Scared1234]

i could probably keep calling to get an earlier appt to see if there are cancellations. Omg “this doesn’t look good” is so scary. The radiologist told me she thinks I’m okay but clearly not enough NOT to send me for an biopsy. Thank you!!

I think that’s pretty common and they biopsy anything that might not be normal.

 

[SB2017]

i could probably keep calling to get an earlier appt to see if there are cancellations. Omg “this doesn’t look good” is so scary. The radiologist told me she thinks I’m okay but clearly not enough NOT to send me for an biopsy. Thank you!!

When they sent me for mine they told me MOST lumps are benign, but the only way they can know for sure is to biopsy so it’s standard procedure to test anything new. Everything new is labeled suspicious. Did they give you a BIRAD rating?

 

[Walking Circles]

My mom had the same thing happen. Turned out to be benign inflammation, her doctor told her it's pretty common.

 

[Scared1234]

I was freaked out as well, but kept reminding myself that BC is fairly curable for most, and even stage 4 people are living life and living for a very long time. I’m always scared of cancer, but of most cancers, BC would be a more preferred one to get!

 

[Nano22]

Last night, I had a nightmare that I was told I had stage 3 cancer after my mammogram and ultrasound. I woke up relieved. Today, my nightmare has the potential to be real. I had a diagnostic mammo and ultrasound today. One because there’s a lump in my armpit that my gyn felt was nothing and my regular annual. Well, I needed extra pics on the mammo and the u/s took longer than it ever has. I knew something was up. Tech never told me to get dressed. Dr will see you. Then, after 15 min, the tech comes back and told me I need the armpit lump biopsied as well as suspicious stuff in my right breast. I asked to see the dr who read the images. Why, said the tech? She doesn’t have any more information. I said if I need to have TWO biopsies someone needs to say something, a doctor! So she takes me to the dr who saw the images. I walk in and immediately start crying. Dr said you okay? I said no, what’s wrong with me. Then she tells me the lump under my arm might be inflammation but it’s vague and she’s not sure. And whatever is in my right breast looks suspicious. She said I think you might be fine but we need to know for sure. It’s not certain. Then they give me a biopsy appointment for Jan 10. Jan 10th! I will keep calling to get an earlier one but I kind of want to live in bliss until the ax falls then. But it’s not bliss because i keep thinking about my kids and how they will die without me because it’s just me and I start crying hysterically. If anyone has any words of comfort I’ll take them. I’m trying to be positive and not think the worst!! I know God wouldn’t take me away from them…please me not drive myself sick with worry..already looking up stories from breast cancer survivors..

Last year, because I changed my PCP, I had to wait 6 weeks for my old scans to be compared to new scans (due to COVID!) because they saw something suspicious. I was freaking out for six weeks. Constantly calling my dr to see if they got the old scans. I’m sure I was being annoying. Finally they get the scans and breast specialist recommends biopsy. I freaked. Had two done on same breast. Turns out to be cysts. I swear that experience took years off my life. I believe most cases turn out to be nothing. Sending good thoughts.

 

[kammie72]

When they sent me for mine they told me MOST lumps are benign, but the only way they can know for sure is to biopsy so it’s standard procedure to test anything new. Everything new is labeled suspicious. Did they give you a BIRAD rating?

They didn’t give me that. I don’t think it was 5 because my gyn called me after and said the nodule has “a benign appearance” but they won’t know for sure until they get the pathology. I’m really trying to have faith in that he said “I’m not terribly worried” but he sure didn’t say it’s probably nothing!

I was freaked out as well, but kept reminding myself that BC is fairly curable for most, and even stage 4 people are living life and living for a very long time. I’m always scared of cancer, but of most cancers, BC would be a more preferred one to get!

Good point!!!

Last year, because I changed my PCP, I had to wait 6 weeks for my old scans to be compared to new scans (due to COVID!) because they saw something suspicious. I was freaking out for six weeks. Constantly calling my dr to see if they got the old scans. I’m sure I was being annoying. Finally they get the scans and breast specialist recommends biopsy. I freaked. Had two done on same breast. Turns out to be cysts. I swear that experience took years off my life. I believe most cases turn out to be nothing. Sending good thoughts.

I do know most are benign so I’m holding on to that. I can imagine how nervous you were but thank heavens all was well!! I plan on living a long time but I have to get my thinking and perspective straight. I don’t want to spend my years anxious and I’m sure no one in this group does. Hugs all around!

 

[mollyfin]

I hate that you have to wait so long. It sounds like the doctor isn't hugely worried, though.

 

[Sweet T]

Some European countries (e.g. Switzerland) have stopped recommending screening mammograms. I’m not saying who is right on that. I’m just suggesting that they recognized how traumatic going through all of the additional testing is and that might cause women to not want to seek out medical advise in the future.
I’ve been called back several times abd still freak out thinking about it.
Good luck !

 

[kammie72]

When they sent me for mine they told me MOST lumps are benign, but the only way they can know for sure is to biopsy so it’s standard procedure to test anything new. Everything new is labeled suspicious. Did they give you a BIRAD rating?
[/QUOTE

ok mine was BIRAD 4!!! I know most are benign but 20-25% of those are malignant!

Some European countries (e.g. Switzerland) have stopped recommending screening mammograms. I’m not saying who is right on that. I’m just suggesting that they recognized how traumatic going through all of the additional testing is and that might cause women to not want to seek out medical advise in the future.
I’ve been called back several times abd still freak out thinking about it.
Good luck !

thank you!

 

[kammie72]

I had a breast biopsy today. I was so nervous when the dr came in all about business! She said the nodule they found could go either way (I hated that) and then at another point, I asked her if it was scary, and said, "it's sort of scary." At the end, she said cancer would be third on her list of things it could be, and if it is, it's tiny and would be early-stage. I guess I'll take that with the 3-5 business day wait they gave me! @SB2017 I don't know how you did it!

 

[bigjetplane2]

I had a breast biopsy today. I was so nervous when the dr came in all about business! She said the nodule they found could go either way (I hated that) and then at another point, I asked her if it was scary, and said, "it's sort of scary." At the end, she said cancer would be third on her list of things it could be, and if it is, it's tiny and would be early-stage. I guess I'll take that with the 3-5 business day wait they gave me! @SB2017 I don't know how you did it!

Praying for you! Everything will be ok.