Hi Motts,
What a turn up! I too have been diagnosed with “in keeping with a fibroadenoma”
I am 43, had never heard of them before, until my recent round of breast issues.
I started with pain under my arm and in my upper arm, back in September, finally went to the GP in January, she referred me to breast clinic, where I had the usual round of tests, MMG, US, FNA and a core biopsy. My mass never showed up on MMG, it showed up on US.
Last weeks, I went for my results, the surgeon stated “Good news, it is a fibroadenoma” When I asked to look at the path report, it said “In keeping with a fibroadenoma” birad rating 3" The surgeon told me she was leaving it, I have done enough research, spoken with enough women to know a little about these little funny things that are classed as a “young woman’s lump” I told the surgeon that due to my age, the anxiety of leaving it in, far outweighed the surgery issue. Five minutes into the conversation, she had her diary out and was booking me for surgery.
What I do know about FA’S is this. Yes they are attributed to oestrogen, which is why common in young women who have high levels of oestrogen and if one takes the combined pill, (which is a risk factor in breast cancer itself) then a woman’s levels are of course higher. They are benign, but cancer can develop within them, like cancer can develop in any other tissue.
It could well have been something you have had for a long time, without knowing about it, the lifespan of the fibroadenomas are approx 15 years, and they are inclined to disappear, which is why in a younger woman, the watch and wait approach is used, due to unnecessary surgery etc!
For a woman your age, (I was not offered the removal, I had to ask) the benefits of removal again outweigh leaving them in, can hide cancer in later years, as we age our risks of contracting breast cancer increase, so better to have as little obstructions to successful screening as possible!
You’re not too old, at all, however, I am not surprised at the response you have had from the BCN, mine was fantastic, it was the surgeon who was sniffy about it all, obviously thinking that I was over reacting, however, no, I don’t want it in me, on a slide in a lab is where it belongs! While benign, it is still a tumour that grows and they can grow, into giant ones, however, as your oestrogen levels are non existent, then I can’t state if yours will grow.
If you are anxious about this, I would take it up with your GP, tell him/her and ask the clinic to look at it again.
When my surgeon reluctantly got her diary out, she examined me and stated that she could feel another lump, so they were fitting a wire to ensure they would take the right lump out!
Mu underarm pain is chronic, my shoulder pain the same, my upperarm pain is ongoing and once the lump is removed, I am hoping it will go or that’s another issue.
I hope my experience helps, but if causing you this much anxiety, I would ask for removal and you should be offered that given your age and I am sure your doctor will be able to tell you the size of it, mine is 11mm by 3mm!
Sommer