I don’t know if anyone can answer my question but I’m wondering what percentage chance there is of bad news or good news after a core cut biopsy? I’m thinking the odds aren’t good but is that right?
Because of my family history, I go for annual mammograms (I’m 36 next week). After my second annual visit a few weeks ago, they recalled me for further x-rays and ultrasound. I was treating it as routine until it was a consultant who did the ultrasound and he said the lump was knobbly and he did a core cut biopsy there and then. I was quite calm in the consulting room and then came out shaking so much that I couldn’t even talk properly! That was last Tuesday and I have to go back next Tuesday at 10am for the results. A nurse said not to worry that my appointment letter says I am due to see the surgeon as that won’t apply to everyone.
If anyone can tell me, I’d rather be prepared and would prefer to know how high the likelihood is of bad news.
Also, if it IS bad news and I’m seeing a surgeon to discuss surgery then what questions should I be asking? I was thinking that I’d want to know exact size, what grade is it, has it spread to lymph nodes or elsewhere (not sure if they can tell this from a CCB or not), what treatment appropriate, etc.
I’m glad I’ve found these message boards. I felt much less alone after reading through some of the posts here. Fingers crossed for anyone else awaiting results.
I’'m afraid there is no way of know whether it’s good or bad news until you get your results. Cancer notoriously has no pain so there’s simply no way to tell. My first core cut biopsy 2 years ago yielded only harmless calcifications, but my second one in May this year, after discovery of a lump, came back with a positive diagnos of Grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. If it is bad and you are diagnosed then I imagine they will put you in a room with your Breast Care Nurse who will explain the treatment they are planning to give you, and also she will describe the kind of carcinoma you have. If she does not, make sure you ask everything you need to know about the type of tumour. As you have experienced it in your family, I would have thought you would already have some knowledge. And remember, give yourself a few days to consider the treatment they are offering you, for example chemo is not the only treatment, depending on the kind of cancer, hormone therapy could also be availble. I suggest you buy a handbook, or look on this website, the McMillan Cancer Care Website, or Cancer Care centre in your hospital, and arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible so that you know what you need to ask. In my case, it took me 3 days for the news to sink in, after which I went for a second opinion before deciding to accept the treatment they offered.
I hope this helps you some, and hopefully it won’t be bad news for you.
Breast Cancer Care have published a new information pack for people newly diagnosed with breast cancer, in it is information to help you better understand your diagnosis and treatment and suggested questions you may wish to ask your health professionals, as well as much more useful information. To order a free copy just follow the link: breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
BCC also do many other publications which you can either download or order on line which may assist you further. If you follow the links from the home page to ‘Publications’ you will find them quite easily. I hope this is of some help to you.
My only really knowledge of the technical side of things is through reading websites like this. The relevant family history is for my mum’s mum who I never knew and also my mum. I was only 13 when I lost my mum (after a very, very long delay in BC being diagnosed) and when she actually had a mastectomy, my parents said it was an operation for varicose veins (eh!!!). So, this side of things is all new to me. The family history clinic have previously told me that I have a 1 in 3 lifetime chance of getting BC so this is a worry, also for my sister and her three little girls (I have two little boys).
If it’s bad news on Tuesday then I’ll definitely order the info pack.
Anyway, I’m going to pamper myself with a nice bubble bath this morning then get glammed up to go out for lunch at my parents!
just caught up with your thread and wanted to wish you well for tomorrow. Personally, I was not told what grade or size my tumour was, or that it had spread to the lymph nodes until I had my mastectomy. (I had that in March a week after diagnosis, age 34).
Its difficult to suggest things you may wish to ask tomorrow as hopefully the news for you will be good. Perhaps you could give the bcc helpline a call and have a chat to them, I’ve done it a couple of times and they’re v.g.
I’m really keeping everything crossed for you tomorrow and I will certainly be thinking of you.
Take care and please let us know how you get on. Remember, if the news is not so good we are all here for you!
I hope the news will be good for you and you won’t need to know about the rest of my posting. As others have said, it could be good news, we don’t all get bad news.
When I went for the result of my biopsy, I was told the grade and the hormone status and also that it was probably HER positive. At this stage I was told I needed surgery, and would probably need chemo (because it was grade 3) radiotherapy, Herceptin and hormone treatment. Much of this was confirmed later after the patholology was done on the lump that was removed, although the hormone status was a bit different from the biopsy. I was only told about the lymph nodes after some were removed and analysed and found out about these (no spead in my case) at the same time as the rest of the pathology (10 days after the op in my case). The HER status has been confirmed following further testing and I do have to have Herceptin.
It is a lot to take in at every stage and I have learnt a lot from this site. I looked up a lot before I went for the results so that I had an understanding of the medical terminology. It is a good idea to have questions written down beforehand so that you remember what you need to ask and also to have someone with you to take notes and to support you. My husband wrote everything down so we could go over it afterwards. This site and also other cancer sites have some examples of useful questions to ask.
Like you I have family history, although I am older than you and I am now concerned about my own daughters for the future.
All the very best. I hope you get good news, but if not there are lots of us here to offer support along the way.
Thank you so much for the extra support and advice. The strangest thing is that all I can think of is that a week on Saturday we’re due to go on holiday for a week but if surgery is needed then it seems to be done within a week or two. The holiday is only a £400 stay in a caravan in Wales but this bizarrely seems to be at the forefront of my mind more than all the other implications! Maybe it’s because the other implications haven’t really sunk in. I would hate to have to cancel the holiday as the kids (age 3 and 6) have been counting down the days to it and getting their spending money ready etc. But you’d think that a cancelled holiday would be the least of my potential worries wouldn’t you? Ah well, on a more positive note, the postponed school sports day went ahead today and little fella won the egg and spoon race - hurrah!!! When I get down about tomorrow, I’m replaying that in my mind!
Hi Nicola ,
Thanks for your kind words, I will be praying that you have good news tomorrow.
I see my consultant at 3.30, what time is your appointment?.
Good luck, lets hope for the best eh?
Thinking of you, sending you love Rosamund xxx
My appointment is at 10am but it’s an hour and a half through city centre traffic to get there so will leave about 8ish. Good luck and I’ll be thinking of you.
Just been browsing and caught up with this message. Like the other ladies have said, whatever news you receive we are all here to help/listen etc - god knows I have been posting over the last few weeks.
I had my WLE last thursday and also removed some nodes and I will go back on Monday 23rd for the results. I already knew i had Grade3 invasive from the core biopsy so I already knew I would be having chemo and rads after my lumpectomy and whatever else they need to give me…
I will be thinking of you today, just take care and let us all know how you get on.
I have found this site and the ladies who post on hear a great help - even when i may have negative moments i get up and post a message and you can guarentee someone will reply back with a caring message which really helps.
Thank you everyone for your support. Unfortunately, I’m going to be needing more of it in the weeks to come as it was bad news for me today. I was told it was a Grade 2 ductal invasive whatever-it-is. You win some, you lose some! I am still keeping fingers crossed for anyone else playing the waiting game.
Sorry that you’ve had the bad diagnosis, It takes some getting use to. Although you now know, It’s the next step Beating it. Let us now how you are doing.
Oh I’m sorry, I missed your post. I’m sorry to hear of your diagnois, the same as mine so please don’t hesitate to ask if you need any advice and I’ll try my best.
Sorry it wasnt the news you were hoping for. It will sting for a while honey but it gets i wouldnt say easier I would say more bearable as you go along.
Like Maggie said - the next step is getting that horrid thing out of you and beating it!
Hi Nicola mine was also grade2 ductal I’ve had lumpectomy,chemo and rads and I can hear the music again at last.Good luck Nicola send a pm if I can help.Try to go on that holiday you should be able to fit it in.lol Val
sorry to hear your horrid news but I’m sure you already know you are in good company here. We are all going through this together and are all at different stages in our treatment/recovery. Everyone on here totally understands what you are going through and you know where we are if you need us,
Really sorry to hear about everyone’s bad news, hope u all get the best outcome possible, I have just joined this site as my grandma of 87 has had a core cut biopsy today, I don’t really understand any of this all I know is she has an inverted sore nipple that she has had a few years she says, and it has only recently started causing her pain, thankyou for any help or advice you may have, I’m really worried