No biopsy ?

[Tweedy]

Hi Peanut
How are you getting on with the waiting? it's crazy isn't it! well I have had my MRI and they still can't give me an answer, there is no definitive lump showing up, which is odd as it is palable to all who have examined me, but they have identified an unusual area on the scan, they say it looks vascular and probably nothing to worry about, recommendation is to repeat MRI in 6 months........
so what do I do with that? not the benign result that I was hoping for, so I guess I have to be comforted by the fact that they will review in 6 months. she did say that I have to go back directly if the dimple continues to grow or the lump increases dramatically in size, but said the pain is normal and it should ease with ibruphen. I'm going to contact my GP to see if he can get a definitive diagnoses and in the mean time I've taken a few pics so I can document the dimpling, as at least seeing it from week to week in an imagine is better than me poking and prodding.
hope you are getting on ok and will get your answers soon enough x

[Tweedy]

Hi Peanut
I just wanted to give you wee update, I was at my review last night, she repeated the US and FNA, and also done a mammo, even though I'm below the age threshold, all clear, which is good, but because of the dimple increasing, she's going to send me for an MRI, she reassured me that it is more for my peace of mind, than her being concerned, and she is 99% happy that I'm all good. I guess that is the perks of private insurance. she is scheduling it in 2 weeks, to give breast tissue a chance to settle after the FNA so hopefully i'll be able to rest easy then. She did say that the veins aren't something to be too concerned about as they generally don't happen overnight, but I did say that I noticed it when I was pregnant, 3 years ago, so I know it's not new...but it goes straight into the lump, which may or may not be connected. in the grand scheme of things 3 months to wait and see is probably not a great length of time, but it feels like forever, I would be reassured that they are going to look at you again, I would suggest asking for a needle biopsy, if they can feel the lump, they can do it, and of course, documents and further changes. she was very good at explaining away all the other things that I though were connected so I do feel so much better after the review. camping in the rain will be a great way to take my mind off it all x

[Peanut23]

Hi Tweedy, Yes I am trying not to prod & probe every day too as I know I am making the area tender by doing so. I am trying to ignore it as much as poss. You mentioned a horizontal vein - well I also have a hard ridge type thing next to the lump, which could be a vein. My GP felt it too but the breast surgeon in hospital didn't mention it. I keep wondering if I should get a second opinion? But having had mammogram & ultrasound which didn't show any concerns my sensible head is telling me to wait the 3 months. September will soon be here. Hope your review went well & hope you have a good holiday. 😊

[Tweedy]

It is frustrating especially as I now have a few additional symptoms, having the time to google is not a good thing. I have a large noticable horizontal vein on the lumpy breast and nothing horizontal on the other, I've also noticed a smaller lump, much softer and more mobile right at the edge of my breast, almost in armpit. I'm back for my review tomorrow evening, so hopefully will get some answers, but at the same time, I'm not sure what to expect, will they re-examine me, rescan me, or simply document the changes and leave me for another while. one thing I would do is to avoid the daily poke and prood, easier said than done, but I was giving myself a bruise and I just decided that I would stop, and only review once a week, it helps keep your mind off it and it also allowed me to keep track of the changes better,
I have no family history of any form of cancer, so I'm trying to take comfort in that, and have booked a holiday for next week, all be it only a camping break. helps to have some good things to look forward to instead of stressing that they have missed something.

[Peanut23]

Hi Tweedy, thank you for your response. I did wonder if my age had anything to do with it - I am 39 & have one Aunty who had BC when she was 70, so I guess I'm not classed as high risk as some. But I am still amazed that I was told to wait & see & leave it for 3 months. 😞

[Tweedy]

Hi Peanut, sorry to hear you are on this emotional rollercoaster too. i had gone to gp when a lump, that i had for over a year, felt like it was getting bigger. she confirmed the lump and referred me as routine, so instead of waiting the 12 weeks, i used my health insurance and got an appointment that week. Consultant felt lump, but wasn't too concerned, he said it was most likely a cyst and sent me for us, nothing on us so he said all good and sent me home. i was a bit upset, so eventually went back and they performed a fna, and it was all clear.
since then i have now got a dimple on the same breast directly above the lump, so i went back to gp and she reffered me again, even with the clear us and the fna coming back benign, she said that false negatives with these tests are common and i should be reassessed with new symptom.
back to a different surgery at the private clinic and she confirmed the dimple and lump, noting 2.5 cm, where as the previous consultant had noted 2cm? but us all clear again, she said she would normally do a core biopsy as fna was not great for solid lumps, but as it was too close to chest and she couldn't get an image of it, she'd rather wait and see?!?! I'm back this week after waiting 6 weeks and with lump even bigger and dimple really obvious, I'm not taking no for an answer. it's causing a bit of pain too, which is also new and I'm also getting numbness in my arm, but not sure if it is related.
It is very frustrating to be told to wait and see and even though there is nothing showing up on the scans, it's not reassuring me at all, i would feel better if something could be seen as at least it could indicate one of the many benign causes, but so far, the lump is nothing, yet is 2.5cm, growing and now causing a puckering in my skin!
sorry for the rant there, just surprised me how they can just leave things that they initial suspect for weeks/months. i expect being only 33 has something to do with that, but what can we do. my insurance have cleared me for all sorts of tests, but i can't book any of it without the instruction of the surgeon, so i fell like my future in there hands....and i don't like that one bit!

[June_BCC]

Hi Peanut

Welcome to the forums, I’m sure other users will be along to support you soon.

Maybe you would also like to give our free helpline a ring on 0808 800 6000 and have a confidential chat with one of the breast care nurses who are there to support you, lines are open to Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 – 2.00.

Best wishes

June, moderator

[Peanut23]

I found a lumpy area / hardening in left breast about 4 months ago. Finally went to see GP 2 weeks ago who confirmed there was a hard lumpy area & made referral to hospital. I went 2 days ago & had mammogram & ultrasound. Consultant said all looked fine but he would like to perform biopsy to check - but then said he could not perform biopsy as lumpy area is too close to chest wall & he may cause damage inserting a needle. I've got to go back in 3 months. I wondered if anyone else had been told they could not have biopsy because of where lump is?