boomer22

I went through this over seven years ago in my early 40's. It turned out to be stage two cancer. No history at all in my family. I did lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I just went through my check-ups and everything is good! I always told people when I was going through treatment to tell me their "happy cancer stories". I like to think I am one of those happy stories now. You are in my thoughts.

mimk6

At 35, the age my mother was when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, I had a suspicious mammogram that required a surgical biopsy. My youngest child was just turning three and I probably did not sleep more than a few hours from the time of the mammogram until I had the results of the biopsy. Everything was fine. It was a life changing experience for me in many ways -- so life changing in a positive way that I'm glad it happened. As many here have said, the odds are so in your favor. Good luck.

Consolation

HeartArt, I have had several such experiences.

In the first case, I had a palpable mass--which I still have--that the doctor tried a needle biopsy on, and when he could not aspirate it recommended that I have it removed. I was all set to do so on a Monday, but the Friday before received a phone call from the hospital demanding several thousand dollars in advance because they thought that my health insurance would deny payment on the grounds that it was a pre-existing condition. I decided to postpone the procedure, for which I was ultimately glad. That was about 25 years ago, and I have not to this day had the mass removed. (I had had it since at least teenage years.)

When I was 35, I had a baseline mammogram that revealed something in the other breast. They did another mammogram a few months later in which the thing looked a little different. My doctor sent me to the top specialist in NYC, who said it looked different simply because of the varying scans, and was nothing to worry about. (Big relief, big fear until that verdict!!) Both doctors agreed that having the first mass removed would have been a mistake because the resulting scar tissue would have made my breasts harder to read. Five years later I had another mammogram that revealed the same thing. I haven't had one since, due to lack of health insurance and $$.

I have a number of friends who have survived breast cancer for at least 5 years, and look good for the long term.

Take it one step at a time. I agree with not telling your kids until you have more info. At the same time, don't leave them with the impression that you are going to conceal info from them.

My very best to you.

Karen Colleges

I like the idea of one step at a time, and to deal with whatever, as it comes.
In the early days of my mammograms with 'suspicious' readings, I freaked at everything. Now, I try to freak only when I have reason to.

Long story short, lots of mammograms here, lots of ultrasounds, 3 biopsies. The last one was a positive. Yep, I freaked on that, but in retrospect am a little embarrassed. I had low grade, 2 miniscule bits of cancer, probably the best case possible.
I still freaked.

It took a couple days, but after I really understood what we were dealing with, I was okay, and got over the freaking. Had the lumpectomy, radiation (just to be sure), and am taking tamoxifen.

Bottom line--- good for you for taking care of this, most probably early in the game. If the biopsy is positive, keep in mind that the cure rate for breast cancer is amazing now.

You can handle this. (I went by myself to get the results, if I had known it was going to be positive, I would like to have had someone with me. If it was negative, I didn't need anyone.... I know that doesn't make sense.)

Oh, I asked the CC group how to tell bad news to a college freshman from 10,000 miles away, and the responses were great. I went with the matter of fact, 'mom has a problem and is getting it taken care of next week. The outcome is going to be fine. I just wanted you to know.'

The funny thing (now that it is over a year since I finished the radiation), I forget that I had cancer. People say 'how are you feeling', and I say 'great, how are you....'

silvervestersmom

About 12 years ago I had a series of suspicious mammograms that resulted in having them twice a year with extra compression. I didn't tell anyone, even my DH who had lost his first W to b/c. After about 3 years the mass disappeared and then I was able to tell him.

I have a discoloration on my cheek that looks like a squamous cancer. It isn't, according to the biopsy, but I knew the reaction of DH when 3 different dermatologists said it was a "presumptive squamous" and I felt I just didn't want to share the mammogram findings w/ him.

teriwtt

Heartart - perhaps we can go through this together, in a cybersense sort of way.

I had kind of forgotten about it today, but I am going for a diagnostic mammogram on Wednesday after a routine mammogram showed some 'changes'. Had the routine one done a couple of weeks ago, and they called me earlier this week to ask me to come in for the diagnostic one. They said they see some calcification and want to follow up. Frankly, with the false positive rates, and likelihood that it's nothing, I haven't told anyone... until just now as I write it in this thread. I went through this many years ago with my thyroid (suspicious growth/several diagnostic tests/needle biopsy/eventual removal of half of the thyroid) and almost killed myself with worry over the several months of diagnostic testing before the surgery revealed the tumor was not cancer.

I, too, will get the results before I leave that day, which for me, would probably only involve at worst, a recommendation for an ultrasound, or biopsy. If it gets to that point, I will let my family know.

Hopefully as time passes this weekend, you will get over the shock, and be able to see it in perspective. Hang in there.

mathmom

I've had three needle biopisies - the first when I was still in college - each time they couldn't extract any fluids and I ended up with surgical biopsies, all with benign results. I just have lumpy breasts. Good luck, it's not much fun, but as you know the odds are good.

If only my skin biopsies had such nice results!

4Giggles

heartart- every mammography is 'we need more pics" now have a mammo and sonogram. last year had two needle aspirations , one of which required a needle biopsy, the stress is the worst part of it.

turned out to be benign, my mother had breast cancer twice 12 years apart, that was 6 years ago. since family history is strong now going to have a breast mri yearly.

I told H, and one very close friend, but chose to go by myself. i did not tell my teenage children.

wishing you luck

teriwitt- wishing you luck as well

keep us posted

whatever4

I have had a couple needle biopsies, several ultrasounds, and lots of mammograms. All cancer-free. As mammography technology keeps getting better, it's common for things to "show up" that simply weren't visible using the previous technology. Since I have a family history of breast cancer, following a mammogram it's almost more common for me to get called back for additional testing than not. And everything's been clear so far.

I'm hoping the same will be true for you!

(Note: I told my husband, but not my kids, prior to the needle biopsies, which were done in an office setting. To me, it was just a test so there was no point worrying them unless/until there was an indication there was cancer.)

ShesOnHerWay

I had to have a needle biopsy a few months ago. The nurse told me that within the last 18 months there are new mammogram machines that have much more definition that they have ever had before. As a result, they are doing many many more needle biopsies than before because they have never had the level of xray definition in the past. The percentage of benign findings is LARGE. They do the biopsies as a precaution.

I, too, was terrified - of both the potential results and the procedure. It was truly no a big deal - the procedure that is. The findings were fine and they left a marker in my breast so that future mammograms would show that they had biopsied the site already.

I didn't tell anyone about the procedure and I'm glad I didn't. I would have worried them for nothing. If, and only if, it turns out to be something significant, there is time enough to tell people.

keymom

Have someone go with you for the biopsy. I was going to go alone for mine and my husband showed up because he knew I was scared. It turned out to be cancer and they told me they were 99% sure right when they did the biopsy. I don't mean to scare you but without my husband there it would have been horrible.
I went through chemo,radiation and lumpectomy and now have a 94% chance of being cancer free in 10 years.
Prayers your way

Also as an aside, when having mammograms, if you are able, have a digital mammogram read by a dedicated breast radiologist. I found out during my treatment that not all mammograms are equal and not everyone reading them are either. I am lucky to have a diagnostic breast center (the one where Brett Favre's wife was diagnosed) in the hospital where I work. The radiologists, nurses and technicians were wonderful.

toledo

I've had two biopsies, which may be the step after the needle biopsy. The first one was 17 years ago and was done under anesthesia, after the need biopsy was not able to draw any fluid. My second biopsy was just a few years ago and the technology was amazing. It was called stereotactic and was so quick and easy. Here is a link to that procedure:

Stereotactic Biopsy, Breast

Both of my biopsies were benign. I hope yours will be, also.

MidwestParent

HeartArt,
I had a questionable mammogram, but the only thing the doctor did was repeat the test. 2nd one was fine. My sister on the other hand had a questionable mammogram followed up by ultrasound and biopsy. Everything was also fine. She was in a similar place as you - two sons, ages 14 and 18 at the beginning of her "saga". She didn't tell them because she felt there was nothing to tell them until she knew something. She still didn't tell them afterwards, because she felt there was still nothing they needed to worry about. Because the cells obtained during her biopsy are the type that can be a precursor to cancer, she is followed up every six months through a "breast center" at a large medical center. She finds it a pain in the neck, but she does everything they ask faithfully.

One very smart thing my sister has done and I will do it myself if I ever have a health concern, is she keeps meticulous records of everything that transpires - doctor visits, biopsies, x-rays results, lab results, etc. My H is a physician and I am a (long time nonpracticing) nurse, so we know how things can get lost in the medical system. If she gets to an appointment and they say, "Oh such and such department didn't get us your whatever, we'll have to reschedule your appointment", she says, "Oh, I have that test result right here in my folder".

Marian

I would be cautious about sharing too much information with your sons if they are out of town at school. Being far away might prompt them to worry a lot more than they would if they were at home. Also, it may be an issue that they are guys, and your health concern involves a very female part of the body. If they have questions, they might not feel as free to ask them as a daughter would. (I think that all daughters should know that abnormal mammograms and Pap smears are a fairly routine part of female life -- although perhaps they should not learn about this while Mom is in the middle of going through such an experience.)

I also think that whether or not you share medical concerns with your kids may depend, to some extent, on whether they have ever had medical issues of their own. My kids (particularly my daughter) have had repeated experiences with medical problems that involved long strings of appointments and tests and uncertain diagnoses before they got to the point of having a definite diagnosis and a solution to the problem. For them, knowing that a parent had test X, which had uncertain results leading to the need for another appointment for test Y, which might then lead to test Z or procedure W, is fairly routine. But when I was their ages, it would have totally freaked me out to know that a family member was going through something like that.

On another topic: After the follow-up tests are done, if the results turn out to be benign (which is definitely the most likely outcome), make sure to have your future mammograms at the same facility where you had this one so that the radiologist can compare your latest films with the previous ones. This can save you from having to have another set of follow-up tests to investigate the same old cyst. I had an abnormal mammogram, with some follow-up tests that showed that the abnormality was a cyst, a few years ago. That cyst (which I did not bother to have removed) still shows up on every mammogram I have, but as long as it hasn't changed in any way, the radiologist knows that there is no need to refer me for any further appointments. This saves me a lot of time and inconvenience and saves my insurance company a lot of money.

astrophysicsmom

I just went through the "we need to follow-up after your mammogram" call. Scared the crap out of me, as we have some of the "bad" cancer stories in our friends and family.
H told me it was silly to get concerned about it. (easy for him to say), but I tried to keep it out of my mind until I went in for an ultrasound. I was laying there, watching the screen as the tech did her thing, and bingo, in the middle of the screen was this dark blob. Focused on continuing to breathe, without hyperventilating. When the radiologist came in, he was all cheerful, and said, "Oh, it's just a fluid filled cyst". Apparently I have several of these, but this one wasn't there on my last mammogram, so they wanted to look at it. I asked him to explain why he knew that it was that, and not cancer, and he gave me a very understandable and educational description.

I remembered that my aunt had had several of these cysts and had them aspirated (drained with a needle). I asked her why, and she said that's just what her doctor did.
This radiologist said that there's no reason to do anything with them unless they are painful and/or infected. From internet research, I saw that they are most common to form in women in their 40's and 50's.

Best of luck, but the odds are certainly that it's nothing to worry about.