Hi sherrilou, I really feel for you and wanted you to know that your post is being read.
I don't have any answers, and am going to try not to speculate as that's probably not very helpful! As Sam has said, do give the helpline a call; they are brilliant and answered questions that I've had in the past couple of months, and provided a shoulder to cry on. I found a tiny lump (2-3 mm) in my left breast at the start of October, so small that my GP wasn't convinced there was anything there and asked me to come back after my next period. I duly went back, and she still wasn't convinced but referred me to the breast clinic, which I attended a week later. On going there the doctor who examined me found the lump to be about 1cm, said it was probably a cyst and sent me away as not urgent to return for a mammogram and ultrasound 2 weeks later. When I went for those they discovered that the lump was solid, said it was probably a fibroadenoma, and took 2 core biopsies from it. When I went back I was told it was an atypical apilloma, and needed to come out so had surgery just before Christmas. I went back yesterday for the results, absolutely bricking it because I was convinced that I had cancer, to be told that everything was fine and dandy and completely benign. By some million to one chance, I had 2 lumps; the smaller one that I found, and the bigger lump which appeared between my visiting my GP and the breast clinic, in exactly the same place. The 'atypical' papilloma was actually the entire (benign) papiloma and a tiny bit of a fibroadenoma, the rest of which they removed during surgery. I have spent the last 3 months convinced I had cancer, have been put on a stress management plan at work, and have lost half a stone as a result, when in actual fact everything was benign and could probably have safely been left where it was. I cannot tell you what is going on in your breast, but I know that until you are told otherwise you will imagine the worst, as I did.
I know that I was very bruised after the core biopsy, and the biopsy itself completely changed the fibroadenoma's shape so that I thought it was growing. Of course you want it out, and in my case I'm pleased its gone, If the fibroadenoma had appeared first I would never have found the papilloma, or anything else behind it. I imagine that it is a sensible precaution to let your breast settle a bit before they remove anything else from it. It may be that when they go back in they will use something to guide them, or it might be that the person you saw previously wasn't senior enough to take the biopsy and that is why they were unable to do it; the doctor I saw had to call a colleague in as the lump went under my nipple, and he wasn't confident he would be able to do it. Good luck for Thursday and, if you can, take someone with you for support. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Doctors are very good at assuming that we have the IQ of a baked potato and not telling us what we need to know. Post back, and tell us how you got on.
SB xxx
