Do I need other opinions on breast masses?
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]
That's what I am thinking too!
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, you are terrific!!
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
Do what you're comfortable with...
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
Yes, I am definitely like Snapdragon, an overreactor!!
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!!
