> Hi - finally got my courage up to post
Welcome, Dvora -- sorry you have need to join us, though! A few
comments interspersed below . . . .
> Than a diagnostic mam - than an ultrasound -- another ultrasound - this
> time the Dr not the tec did it -- had my husband in the room --
> not good --- no needle biopsy possible ??
Is the suspicious area too deep for a needle biopsy or something?
> Said he would get no answer from that --
> Had a bilateral MRI of each breast on consecutive days - with dye ---
> Huge co-pays -- over $1,000.00 so far - and bloodwork ---
Ghaack!
> Have not been back to my Dr since MRIs because I also have MS and the
> extra stress and activity of all this brought on an exaserbation --- I
> am 59 - large breasts with dense tissue - take premarin -- wonder now if
> that is a good idea ?
Possibly not, depending on whether you do have estrogen-receptor postive
BC or not. But I don't know whether estrogen might have greater
importance given your MS, or something. Have you talked to your doc
about the advisability (or not) of discontinuing the Premarin?
There used to be one or two people posting here who had MS, but I
haven't seen them around lately . . . hope they're lurking & may have
words of wisdom for you on that front.
> I do not even know enough to ask you questions --- I hope it is Ok for
> me to post here
Of course! Keep us posted on how things are going.
I'm not clear -- it sound like your doctors are suspicious that you may
have breast cancer, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. Am I
understanding that right?
If so, I'd encourage you to get back & consult with the docs to keep the
diagnosis process going, especially with issues like the Premarin to
consider. A short delay in treatment usually isn't a huge problem (if
it does turn out to be breast cancer), and I know it seems like an
ordeal to go through all this (easy to want to put it on the back
burner!). However, it's important to keep the ball rolling if you
possibly can.
I'm no doctor, but I'm not sure I understand what's going on with the
extended diagnosis process. I know it must be frustrating. Going
through BC myself, I've sometimes found it necessary to get pretty firm
with my doctors, i.e., "let's quit circling & get an answer -- how do we
do that?". Is that an option for you? Second opinion, maybe?
You take good care of yourself, and do ask any questions that you may
have . . . or vent here, if that's helpful!
Sending positive wishes,
Ann T.
Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email
>--- I have been so impressed with the knowledge and
> compassion the people here possess ---
> Thanks --- I wish you all good things -
>
> Be safe and well :-) .... Dvora
> Hi - finally got my courage up to post -- been reading since my first
> not good mammagram first week in January --
> Than a diagnostic mam - than an ultrasound -- another ultrasound - this
> time the Dr not the tec did it -- had my husband in the room --
> not good --- no needle biopsy possible ??
> Said he would get no answer from that --
There are several sorts of biopsy. Fine needle aspiration is the least
invasive, and least useful for diagnosis because of a high
false-negative rate. Then there is a "regular" core biopsy which uses a
hollow needle to cut a cylindrical sample about 1mm diameter. This
gives rather more bruising and discomfort than a needle stick, but it is
no big deal, you go home with a bruise and a sticking plaster.
For the difficult cases there is a wire guided biopsy, where they insert
a wire while watching on an ultrasound or mammogram, until the wire
reaches the suspect area, then follow the wire with the biopsy tool to
take the sample. This involves a lot of sitting and lying around while
the doctor "plays battleships" in addition to the biopsy.
Finally there is surgical biopsy, which is basically the same as a
lumpectomy, where the surgeon cuts out a sample (or ideally all) of the
suspect tissue, under anaesthetic.
One of these would normally be the next stage in diagnosing your problem.
Good luck
Tim Jackson
Dvora L - 23 Feb 2006 17:09 GMT
thank you both - i am really not able to get a biopsy done right now ---
will throw my entire immune system into overdrive - the dr said the best
type would be real surgey
Be safe and well :-) .... Dvora