Hi, I had a mammogram and ultrasound last week. Results were U2 for Ultrasound and R3 for Mammo so I had a core biopsy. Got results last night - first thing dr said was ‘you don’t have cancer’ but then said he wanted to take out lump as there are calcifications and some columnar cell changes with epithelial atypia. It was graded as B3. Its a big lump, about 4 cm in diameter.
I am scared that by taking it out they might find some cancer although none has been so far on the biopsies (they took about 15 samples I think).
Has anyone been through anything similar? Thanks!!
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Hi Pendlegirl, just going to ‘bump’ this for u. It’s good news that the dr said it’s not cancer but i can understand your anxiety, i don’t really know about calcifications etc but i’m sure someone will come along soon who has some knowledge of this, take care x
I am not an expert, but I think what your doctor is saying that they have not found any cancer cells in any of the 15 samples they took. But they did find calcifications which are harmless, and unusual breast cells which are not malignant. They want to take the lump out, its a big mass of abnormal cells and should not be in there and sometimes these two innocent things are a sign that cancer might develop so they want it out before theres a chance for that to happen. Did they say micro or macro calcification??
Of course there is a small chance that there are some cancer cells that the 15 biopsies missed, but if there are they are going to be very young and they will come out with the lump. And you will be lucky because they are to small to find at this stage, and if you had not been having your lump out they would have been left in there and been able to grow.
My core biopsy showed a cyst with a very benign rare slow growing cancer that normally just needed surgery. But when they got it out they found some small invasive cancer that they would not have otherwise know about. So small and young that I do not need chemo. I have nearly finished 4 weeks of radiation, which so far has not made me tired or burned my skin. So although i would have prefered there not to be those cells there, it has not been the end of hte world having the treatment, just 4 weeks of inconvenience going to the hospital every day.
with a B3 biopsy this means the results are abnormal enough to want to remove the area… sometimes this is because it could eventually turn into cancer cells or sometimes because it can have cancer cells hidden inside.
the tissue they remove will be sent to the pathologist who will look at the whole thing and if any cancer cells are seen then you would have treatment for this, but its very uncommon to have cancer cells in a B3 but it does happen but its much more like just to be abnormal tissue and not require any more treatment.
sending positive vibes your way… let us know how you get on
Hi everyone, firstly thank you very much to all of you who took the time to post me, it was very reassuring to read your thoughts.
I saw my doctor today who wanted to do another ultrasound and the result is now a U3 rather than a U2. So he basically said he definitely wants to take it out, he said he was 50/50 that there is DCIS in there. I’m not sure what has changed his mind (probably the ultrasound) but he seemed much more serious today.
I’m in a dilema now as so far I have paid for this private treatment myself. The operation could be done next Wednesday privately with the results of the excisional biopsy taking 24 hours or so. I have been told that if it is done on the NHS then it will take longer to get booked in for the op and it is likely to be a wait of up 3 weeks for the results.
Does anyone have experience of how long it takes to get results from an excisional biopsy? I live in Essex.
BTW I realised I should have called myself PendleLady, not Pendlegirl, as I will be 40 next month!!! (I also have 3 young children, 2, 3 and 5 so as you can imagine I really just want to get this all sorted). I am very scared I will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
i was going to go privately for the initial diagnosis because i wanted to know the results quickly. In the event the NHS appointment came through very quickly, before I had even sorted out the best private surgeon and so I went down that root. then the operation was going to clash with holidays so we looked into going privately with the NHS surgeon . For us the cost quoted for just the op never mind follow up treatments was too much to justify the faster turn round.
I can only guess and go from memory–someone will come along with the correct answer soon–but i think operations are booked in 4 to 6 weeks from diagnosis. The result of the sential node biopsy in some hospitals is telephoned through whilst you are still on the operating table. The post op results take up to 2 weeks. Mind you with your benign lump they are probably not thinking of a nodes. But if they do find even the smallest cancer cell then you will have to have more operations for the nodes to be looked at.
I realy do not think you get a better quality of expertise or care going privately. But you certainly have a better room for your overnight stay. And it all happens quicker. And the food is better.
So given the expense, what advantage does the fast turn round give you—just less time worrying. Cancers, especially B3 do not grow that quickly so it will make no difference to the operation or the treatment required. I know its tempting to want everything sorted as soon as possible. But actually with small children a few weeks to prepare for the op might be a good thing. You can go shopping for a post surgery sports bra (yes you need one for a lumpectomy) you can get to grips with the excercises. Take time to talk to the children about what is going to happen and to put some alternative arrangements in for child care. (hard to pick up the kids for a while afterwards, and you might not be able to drive for a couple of weeks, depends on the insurance)
Only you know how valuable the fast turn round is to you or, wether there are some great ways to spend that money helping you recover with lots of treats
pendlegirl you def still are a girl… cant help with private sector issue as i work in the NHS.
we would do an exision biopsy within 3 weeks of the request, so about the same length of time as a cancer patient but they wouldnt need to be staged or go through the MDM… our patients normally get an appointment to come back about 10-14 days later… again this is the same as the breast cancer ladies.
different radiologists will give a different R score U score depending on what it looks like to them… all our films are double read at the time but there can still be differences of opinion… R3 U3 still means its indeterminate… as does R3 U2… this can just mean it doesnt look so abnormal on ultrasound which is common for DCIS which isnt often checked on ultrasound as it doesnt show up so well… we sometimes just have an R score for DCIS and no U score.
from what they are saying there is a chance it may come back as DCIS… we wouldnt routinely remove nodes or check nodes on US for DCIS as its non-invasive it cannot spread beyond the breast… however there is always a very small chance that within any area of DCIS there could be a small foci of invasive tumour, even as small as 1mm and this would normally mean they would want do a second op to do an SNB just to check the nodes a few weeks later. there isnt any rush for surgery as OAL says these things dont grow fast and its just as likely to be abnormal cells but not cancerous ones. after an exsion biopsy you shouldnt need any further treatment unless there are any cancer cells there in which case you may need some radiotherapy and even less likely some hormone therapy… but im sure you clinician and BCN will have discussed all these things already but it can seem so much to take in… did they give you any info sheets on what type on atypia?
BTW i never needed any different bras following either of my lumpectomys, so long as you have a decent fitting one you should be fine although you may get a bit of swelling or a seroma build up and can find any bra restrictive i found a vest top more comfortable but i have a small bust anyway.
All my bras are lacy and underwired, would not really have wanted to sleep in them. I suppose if you are quite small you might not want the support at night, but the weight of my breasts pull against the scars and so the only way to get a good nights sleep was to wear a bra.
how big am i --well m&s and john lewis measured me as 36C --rigby and pellor and bravissimo both said --small back big boobs–32GG
Hi thank you OAL and Lulu for your really helpful replies. I was told that I have a focus of columnar cell change with epilthelial atypia.
Does anyone know if I could have an invasive cancer that might not have been picked up on the biopsy? I’ve had real tightness in my chest and some pain there to so I have been wondering if a could have a secondary lung cancer?
Sorry for sounding ridiculous if I do, I am just very frightened that I am going to die soon and I feel so out of control.
I have taken your advice and opted did NHS treatment on the 15 Sep for an excisional biopsy. I am large chested 36 F does anyone know if removing a big lump (4 x 3 cm) is going to havd a big effect on my size shape?
Many thanks again for all your replies and very best wishes to all of you going through difficult times, many of you i’m sure are dealing with much harder situations than me so I send you all a big hug!!
Xxx
If they are removing a large lump they should have worked out that it would give a good cosmesis prior to surgery in the same way they do for somebody with an actual cancer. What you look like afterwards is one if the main considerations taken into account when deciding between a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Some will however take a larger lump for a very large breast with the proviso they can then have a reduction on the unaffected side at a later stage.
It may be worth while asking to have another chat with your surgeon or call your Bcn and see if she can find out fit you.
With regards to invasive cancer or DCIS. There is a very small possibility that there could be a cancer within the area biopsied. The biopsy only looks at the bits they have removed and that is why an excision is required so they can look at the whole thing. But they do usually take a lot of slivers so normally anything untoward would show up in the biopsy. The main reason for removing it is atypia can turn into DCIS which can turn into invasive cancer in the future and they are doing this as a prevention of future cancers.
As for secondaries I doubt that very much as this would normally have to be big enough to spread in which case they would normally have detected invasive cancer at biopsy and you would have had abnormal looking nodes in your armpit in which case they would have done an aspiration or biopsy of the nodes. So it sounds like they look healthy on the USS. You prob have more chance of winning the lottery than getting lung mets with only atypia on biopsy. Even people in big tumours or with node involvement lung mets is not the most common place for mets and you would normally have had the invasive tumour for quite a while for it to turn into secondaries.
Invasive cancer has around an average of 90% survival beyond 10 years. Screen detected it’s 95%. I know easier said than done but try not to worry unnecessarily… I also know our minds can be evil places at times like this.
Why not write a list of all your questions to ask your surgeon.
Going through this traumatic experience can give us all symptoms that previously we wouldn’t have batted an eyelid about. But I know until you get it from the horses mouth it will still be a worry to you but it is most likely to be associated with anxiety as this is a very stressful time for you.
Love and hugs xxxx
Lulu
Ps AOL. The bra thing never crossed my mind as I’m pretty wee (34a/b) but will now keep that in mind for the future. Thanks x
Hi Lulu how kind of you to take the time to write to me again and I feel very reassured by what you have told me. As you say it is one of the most traumatic experiences to go through and I have been very anxious but I still have hope so I’m very lucky. Whatever happens this experience will have changed me greatly.
I will let you know how the op goes, breast reduction on the other side sounds like a good idea if necessary!
Take care and thanks again Lulu xxxx
Hi again Lulu I just read about you and I’m so sorry you’ve had such a very difficult few years. I don’t know his you’ve coped with everything that has come your way but you are a real inspiration!! I didn’t really understand all of the terminology you used but does it mean your cancer has come back again? If it has I am very sorry for you but you I am sure will absolutely come through it fighting again!! Very best wishes to you xxx
Yup it’s back for the 3rd time in 5 years. Hope this time it’s 3rd time lucky and it goes away for good.
Im glad you are feeling more reassured. Hope all goes well with your op I will find out on wed when I’m getting surgery but might even be the same day as you.
my lump was 2.5 inch and there is no real dent, the surgeon said he thought it would be good. (i am 32GG) The main problem is that if I stand still infront of the mirror one nipple point up more than the other. But at my age i dont do much standing still in front of the mirror and when I dance round the room naked you cannot notice the difference( sorry mild attempt at humour there)
the scar where they took the node out is very dented, but that is under my arm and it is a long time since my arms were in good enough condtion to go round in strappy tops. I do believe that if i was concerned they could take some fat from my tummy(that would be a good thing) and inject it in there to make it look better.
Lulu34
So sorry to hear that it is back.
Did you have a mastectomy or lumpectomy?
This is my biggest fear that I will go through treatment and it will come back.
x
Hi Lulu34 I hope you are doing ok. When is your op? I’m having mine this Thursday afternoon (excision biopsy) and it’s 50/50 DCIS according to my consultant. I went nhs in the end and very pleased I did will hopefully use the money for a nice holiday as OAL said!! All the best to you Lulu34 xx
PG i have my surgery on thursday too so i will be thinking of you… and keeping my fingers crossed that its NOT the 50% risk of DCIS!!
Libby i will be replying to your pm shortly but thanks for the message im glad you found the post helpful.
sozza im a gene carrier so have a high chance of new cancers but the recurrence i have is very rare… 1 in 1000 chance… the type of cancer i had last time is associated with a higher recurrence rate too as it was more aggressive… generally speaking survival to 10 years is 90%… i had a lumpectomy both times and the recurrence is in the chest muscle lymph nodes.
risk of recurrence is highest within the first 2 years and the longer you go with a recurrence the less likely you are to get a recurrence and for some types of cancer like triple negative if you get to 5 years you are usually considered cured, but even after 20 years there is still a small risk of recurrence for hormone positive cancers.
i know its difficult not to worry but it does get a bit easier in time although i dont think it really ever goes away… but try to concentrate on living than worrying about something that might never happen… for the majority of breast cancer patients you do actually have a statistically higher chance of being hit by the proverbial bus than dying from cancer.
Good luck with your ops this week ladies, hope all goes well for u
Lulu, your posts are so helpful, u write in such an easy to understand way & they’re so informative. I’ve had my ops (chemo starts this week) but have no idea about recurrence details etc & i’ve gained a lot of info from your posts. I really hope this is third time luck for u, take care xx
