Rhonda
It sounds like you are getting excellent care. Mammogram and ultrasound will
give more answer, if needed they will do a biopsy. 80-90% of these lumps are
not cancer. Alex

hi rhonda-
i get the late night friek-outs too.  why does it always seem to be 3 am
when i need to talk to someone?
anyway,  it sounds like your doc has things under control.  you're getting
it checked and that's all you can do.
i'm very interested to know what town you live in.
i live in austin, texas.  but i grew up in nyc and a good friend on mine
died of bc when she was 24.  she grew up in long island, where it was later
shown there was a "cancer cluster" so to speak.
it's a controversial idea, but i believe it's true.  and from what i hear
you say, it seems a larger than normal percentage of people in your town are
being diagnosed with varioius cancers.
i'm not an expert by any stretch, but i would keep asking questions and
looking into this thing.  something about it doesn't seem right.
as far as your health goes, as i said, you're doing the right thing and
someone who knows what they're doing will be doing a thorough evaluation
soon.  bc is typically a very slow-growing disease.  so even if you have it,
it's more than likely very manageable.   it sounds to me like your doc is
being very careful.  and he's right - usually these things turn out to be
benign.   there are women on this ng who have had the needle biopsy done.
i'm not one of them (they knew what mine was already).  however, i did read
alot about it and have heard from people who've had it done - it's not a big
deal, really.  probably not a whole lot of fun, but more in the annoying
nuisance category than real surgery.  they will explain it all to you before
you have it, IF you even need to have one done.
so try not to worry too much - go and enjoy your weekend, we're having
beautiful weather here in texas.   :)
deal with monday on monday.
and keep posting.  it really helps all of us.
-christina

Rhonda,
Hi dear. This a very scary time, but as the others have you don't know
what you're dealing with right now, so please try not to stress too much
before you get into the doctor.
Gene {hubby} would be saying right now that I'm a good one to be giving
that advice, as I do THE very same thing. I'm learning, or trying not to
freak at every doctors appt. So far I only freak half as much as I used
to ;-)
Obviously, you're not sure what type of proceedure you're going to have,
if any once your doctor does your mammogram/ultrasound. Mine was not
found on mammogram, but was found with an ultrasound by a breast cancer
specialist the following day.
We have come to the conclusion that the one reading the mammo didn't
know what he was looking at or for when reading the mammogram. It took
my bc specialist 10 minutes to find it and he knew EXACTLY what he was
looking at when he found it.

In regard to the wire guided ultrasound, I don't have any knowledge of
that.
But if they do a "fine needle aspiration" {fna for short} they will numb
the area {or should/mine did} then they will insert a small needle and
draw off some tissue/fluild to be examined. That usually takes about 3-5
days to come back, depending on the sutuation at the facility you're
going to be seen at...mine took about 5 the first time, 3 the second
time. {mostly depends on the lab their using}
This is a relatively simple proceedure..and as others have said, you
will be sore for a day or two and there might be some bruising, and then
maybe not.
I bruise when you look at me cross-eyed at me, so that was a given.
I was dx in 4/99 at the age of 49. I was dx again 11/02 and had surgery
and treatment and doing quite well as of this writing.
If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to post back to me,
or even email is perfectly fine also.
You take care there/God bless you
And good thoughts in regard to your appts. Don't be afraid to ask
questions of this doctor and your own, and keep asking till you get the
answers that satisfy you and your concerns.
As far as your town having a "cancer cluster" you can search for info on
the net. Search into your state, then to city, and there should be a
entry field that allowes you to search a particular subject in relation
to your state/county/city. Side note? The county I live in here in Ohio
has one of the highest bc cancers rates in the state. If I find anything
as far as how to obtain info about state/country/city in regard to this
issue, I'll post or email it to you...if that's okay..
annie

Ultimately.....we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a
freedom.

"Courage"...is *fear* that has said it's prayers.