Do I need other opinions on breast masses?

[mmelindas]

Well, I found a breast mass recently and had a mammogram and ultrasound... My doctor says the radiology report says all (3 - found two in the other breast on x-ray) are benign appearing to be fat masses, and recommends a re-exam in 6 months.:eek:

Now, while that is a great relief (I'd figured I had breast cancer) why are they wanting a re-exam in 6 months if these masses are benign? Are they supposed to change into something bad? If so, then why are the doctors not wanting a biopsy or to remove them? The ones in the left breast were BLACK in the ultrasound, which is, I think, an indication of them being solid masses.

Originally, my doctor when she felt my rt breast mass, said, "We need to get that out right away!" and then ordered the radiology tests. Now she's evidently telling me I don't need surgery.

I am totally confused and feel I should have an oncologist or gyn look at those x-rays. This same doctor insisted that the foot pain I had in my left foot was plantar fasciitis, but the orthopedic doctor said, NO! It was arthritis and he gave me an injection of cortisone.

Does she (an internist) know what she's talking about? What do you think? My girlfriend here has a different doctor and has had five breast masses and surgery on all five over the years and all were benign! Another friend, who is my age or older, had a mammogram and had two dark spots on that and had a mastectomy and it was cancerous!:(

What advice from experience can you wonderful gals give me. I am 62, have 20 years of background in the medical field as a lab tech, but don't know what to do next, because of my doctor's comments and decision. :o /B]

[Waverly]

I really don't know much about this medically, but I would think it really can't hurt to get a second opinion. It is your life possibly at stake? At the very least your body.

Jessica

[Pedal Wench]

...
. My girlfriend here has a different doctor and has had five breast masses and surgery on all five over the years and all were benign! ....

That's my history, except I've had six and one they did a needle biopsy, the rest removed surgically. My family history puts me in a very high risk category, so they always are cautious. I go to a breast cancer specialist, and although I hate the surgeries, I'm not able to sleep until I get the diagnosis. I would recommend a second opinion, preferably with your GF's doctor, who seems to be more proactive.

[Nanci]

My rad at work says "Fat??? That doesn't sound right. She needs to find out exactly what it was read as."

[tprevost]

Personally, I would get a second opinion. Based on what you've said, it seems the decision to 'wait 6 months and check again' didn't give you confidence in the results and the second opinion would alleviate nagging concerns.

On another note, when I got my base mammogram a few years ago the tech let me look at the slides (which later I learned is a no no) and I saw a tiny little circle that I asked about when I got the 'clear' results back. Anyway, they let me pay $25 to send the scans to another company which has a special computer that re-scans and reviews the mammograms; that also came back clear so I felt much better.

Let us know what you decide to do!

Tracy

[mmelindas]

Yep, Nanci, Pedal Wench and Waverly - but my girlfriend's doctor is not in my network.

I am thinking that it's the radiologist who is the one saying what it is, because my doctor only has the report not the xrays. Does he know what he's doing? Isn't it HIS report that the doctors depend on?:eek:

[Nanci]

Ok, my friend that does needle localizations (stick a wire in breast mass so they can find it during surgery) says cysts are fluid filled, anything else is solid. It could be a fat pocket, or fibrous adenoma, both of which would probably still be there in six months, (cyst would disappear) and if it was her, she'd go back in six months and have _both_ a mammo and the ultrasound, and that the radiologist is the best opinion there is, the most expert, and that sometimes these things are removed just so the patient doesn't worry.

[Grog]

I feel for you mmlindas, I know how difficult medical uncertainty can be on our nerves...

If you can avoid surgery it's always better, because surgery involves more risk (anything that involves anesthetics is more dangerous than walking down the hospital corridor), so if the risk is estimated to be low by your doctor at this time, it can indeed be better to look at how things unravel by themselves instead of jumping on the OR table immediately. I've had dermoid ovarian cysts under observation for years and below a certain diameter they do nothing, which in this case is fine.

In the meantime, stay healthy, stick to your your slow weight-loss program, keep riding, and be positive about your body! And don't worry too much for a few months...

All my thoughts are with you...

[margo49]

You have to be a bit clever to get breast cancer; 8 out of 10 "lumps" are *not*. That said I would get a 2nd opinion. We need a 2nd opinion to allay our fears. (Not necessarily because Dr #1 is an "eedjit")
My oncologist says the human body is "an organism that manufactures lumps - of all sorts, a few of which are cancerous":cool:
Strengthening thoughts your way...

[mmelindas]

That makes me feel much better!

What I saw on the ultrasound was black round things....so either they were solid or liquid, don't know which. But I didn't see the mammogram.. You are right there watching the scope on the Ultra as they put markers on the screen with their mouse thingy, to take a photo, so it's called to your attention and that's when I saw the spots.

What my regular doctor's nurse told me over the phone, was "fat deposits" (reading the radiologist's report), so maybe they are thicker or less thick than regular tissue and that's what I was seeing. Don't know which, but she was reading the report the radiologist sent to my regular doctor, and relating to me what my regular doctor told her to tell me.

I guess, I can wait six months and see if there's any changes. I will also call my girlfriends cancer surgeon's nurse and talk to her and see what she thinks. This surgeon who specializes in breast cancer surgery, is also getting the radiology report at my request. If she wants the x-rays, I will pay to have them sent to her, since I think she's very familiar with seeing cancer or non-cancer on x-rays herself.

I appreciate all the comments and caring from you wonderful TE members! Thanks sooo much! I guess now I can plan to go ahead and ride my new bike all I want to! Whee, no surgeries and the weather is supposed to be sunny and getting warm!:D

[Pedal Wench]

...If you can avoid surgery it's always better, because surgery involves more risk (anything that involves anesthetics is more dangerous than walking down the hospital corridor)....

All six of my surgeries were done under local anesthetics. Uncomfortable, painful, but as low risk as they could be. Unfortunately, the scars (tattoos with better stories...) are still somewhat visible. And, in all cases, I was back to working out in two weeks.

[snapdragen]

mmelindas, you are as bad as me! The first time I had to go back for a recheck and ultrasound because of a lump, I was convinced I had cancer. Even went so far as to plan my wardrobe for when my hair fell out from chemo!:rolleyes: It was a cyst about the size of a grape. :o OK, I over-react sometimes........

I've had a couple of ultrasounds and a "super mam" after that, because of "things" on the films, but they have amounted to nothing. I did go back at 6 months, but now my mamography dr knows whats there, and can watch for any changes at my yearly exam. (There have been none for 3 years)

Get another opinion, it will make you feel better.

[Nanci]

I get cysts. The first one gave me a heart attack!! But luckily I work in a hospital, so had an US that day, and a mamm the next day, and it was nothing, just a cyst. Those suckers HURT!!! I usually get them in my underarm lymph nodes. They grow up, seemingly overnight, to the size of a grape, then disappear just as fast. I don't worry about them at all- don't even go see the doc. But I get yearly mamms because of family history. I have "some thing" that they took extra views of the first couple years, and now don't take extra views any more.

Nanci

[Blueberry]

I think it's incredibly important to make sure you are comfortable with your medical treatment. I'm glad you're getting a second opinion to put your mind at ease. Even the best docs are only human, and if you don't feel like you've gotten the attention you need, go elsewhere.

Good luck to you and keep you your healthy living and exercise!

Carrie Anne

[bikerchick68]

mmelindas... holy moly... how scary! Sounds like you've gotten some great advice from these knowledgeable people... I just want to reiterate that if you are not comfortable with the docs opinion then DO get a second one! I have learned to be VERY proactive with my health... I had a wonderful doctor who moved to AZ due to insurance rates here in CA... I then went thru 4 doctors until I found one I feel completely comfortable with and trust. I'm sure the other 4 were great docs... but I didn't feel comfortable with them for various reasons (one did my pap without ever calling me by name or making eye contact... and this was my 1st visit! :eek: :mad: )

a second opinion can do much for your peace of mind and sure won't hurt anything!

hugs and keep us posted...

[Nanci]

I'm so lucky- when I go get my yearly mamm, I pick the tech who does it, and then the rad tells me the reading right then- no agonizing wait for the "It's normal" postcard.

Nanci

(Blame all typos on my too-long fingernails, which would probably be short by anyone else's standards. I like 'em shorter than the tips of my fingers!)

[makbike]

I had a similiar experience several years ago. I found a mass in my breast and immediately saw my doctor who ordered an ultrasound and complete mammogram series. The radiologist could not come up with a definitive answer so my doctor gave me two options, wait 6 months and recheck or seek a second opinion. I could not image waiting 6 months so I sought the second opinion. By the time I was able to get in to see the second doctor the mass had gone down in size and he felt it was probably the result of some trauma (I run into things all the time) and it was safe to sit on it. If it will give you peace of mind seek the second opinion.

[traveller_62]

If you had some other risk factor for breast cancer that your doc knows about he might be more agressive about what he is recommending to you. A six month "wait and see" is pretty common.

That said, I agree with makbik and the others. If the worry is keeping you up at night, get a second opinion. Is there a breast care center in your area?

Hang in there and keep us posted.

[KnottedYet]

Second opinions are always high on my list of "good things." If only for the peace of mind. That being said, I only have one oncologist and haven't done second opinions for my treatment! (I like him, he takes me seriously, and doesn't mind me demanding he excise stuff - usually it's benign but I've hit the jackpot a couple times.)

[Derf]

Good call re a second opinion. It doesn't hurt to be careful. I had a fibroadenoma when I was 27 (32 now) and had it removed. During the ultrasound, the doctor told me that it was a solid mass and took a needle biopsy right then. The results came back showing it was benign, though they said they couldn't guarantee it with 100% certainty. I decided to get a second opinion at UCLA. Same diagnosis. I ended up having it removed because I am a worry wart and because they said there was a chance that it would get larger if/when I got pregnant.

[mmelindas]

Yep, Snapdragon's got me pegged, I do overreact --- bigtime. Didn't plan any wardrobe or anything but I did postpone some family plans expecting surgery this week or next. I was relieved to read ALL of your posts, gals, and get a wider view of things.

My primary care physician, is a woman, but I don't really like her all that much. So I am considering changing to another. She will only deal with one problem at a time, and I usually come in with a list of things I want to deal with. (my last doc in Wa state knew when I came in, I was really sick and he listened and dealt with every thing on the list.)

My girlfriend's cancer doctor is a woman and she's highly recommended by others who have used her services, but she's not a primary care physician, (dang!) or I'd change to her. But I am going to talk to her nurse and then again to my doctor to see if I can get those xrays seen by this cancer doc and get another opinion.

I am in the risk category: first child late in life and menopause late in life also, and am overweight, all three of which are in the risk factors. I was so relieved to hear how many other women have had lumps and boo-boos that turned out to be nothing. Naturally I thought as so many of us women do, if it ain't supposed to be there, it's baaaaaaad! :D

In my case, since I've had 22 surgeries in my long life, another, even minor surgery with general anesthetic could be risky, so that is also something my doctor may be considering. I'd have to have a local unless it was a mastectomy. I have had about five surgeries done with local instead of general anesthetic because of my multiple surgeries. :(

It's amazing what a good dose of Versaid (sp?) before surgery, will do to erase the most horrible experiences under local anesthetic, because if I hurt, I don't remember it! I've also learned to take candy to the recovery nurses BEFORE surgery to make sure they keep me comfortable after it. :eek:

I will be looking around for a new primary doc....I thought since this one was a woman she'd be sympathetic, listening and so forth, but she's hard as nails and her bedside manner is like a bedpan! What was I thinking?!! Her nurse warned me not to ever tell her I thought I had the flu because she would stick this huge long needle up my nose into my sinuses and it hurt like heck and would bleed like a son of a gun! Is that wierd or what? :eek: :mad:

Anyway, I know she's going on the opinion of the radiologist, who is supposed to know his job and so probably it's benign like he said. I will do some calling around and see what happens as far as having someone else look at the xrays. You gals sure relieved me of a lot of anxiety in the meantime! :D THANKS!!

[Blueberry]

Her nurse warned me not to ever tell her I thought I had the flu because she would stick this huge long needle up my nose into my sinuses and it hurt like heck and would bleed like a son of a gun! Is that wierd or what? :eek: :mad:

Umm...run...or pedal...quickly...to a new Dr. When the nurse warns you that you can't tell your doc if you think you have a serious illness, time to find a new doc....

Carrie Anne

[mmelindas]

Yeah, when she told me that, I about had a cow!! I have never had flu (of any kind) and so I made a point NEVER to mention flu to that lady doc!! I have also never had a doctor's nurse warn me about her doing something like that! :eek:

In her defense, (only because I feel it's fair to tell the good with the bad) she will and does work you in immediately the very day you call for an appointment, and she keeps half of her daily appts open for this type of walk-ins. She gives you free samples when she prescribes a new med, so you don't go out on a limb filling an expensive prescription that doesn't work in the end for you. She does give you eye contact and appears to listen.

Secondly, her nurse is absolutely stupendous and I love her, the nurse, to bits. She returns calls right away or the very next day and if she's out, she has another nurse who covers for her. Some doctors have nasty nurses, but this gal is so conscientious and loving. :D

Well, I will let you know what I decide to do. There's another doctor in the office that other patients have recommended to me. I might switch to her.

Once again, thanks tons for all the input. I don't have any women here at home to talk to, all surrounded by menfolk and you know what they are like!!! :rolleyes:

[Selkie]

When I was in my early 30s, my doctor found a tumor in my breast. Needle biopsy, ultrasound and mammogram were inconclusive. I saw a surgeon, at my gyn's request. He recommended 1) removing it or 2) "watching" it. I opted for having it removed and luckily, it was benign.
I have never regretted having that tumor taken out. The peace of mind was worth it. I don't have much of a scar, either. So my career as an exotic dancer and nude model were not adversely impacted. (haha, JUST KIDDING--I'm a good Irish Catholic girl who never ever even wore a bikini!!).

[Nanci]

Mmelindas,

Don't forget, the radiologist _is_ the expert. He/she is VERY experienced in this, and knows your life depends on the reading. I can assure you, working with them every day, they take this very seriously.

Nanci

[JLD]

Second opinion is needed here. Period. If there is a family history of cysts benign or otherwise, or fat deposits, then have the tests sent on for a second viewing. No doubt it will still all come back as benign, but you will have given yourself some sound relief to be double-checked.