Do I need other opinions on breast masses?

[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

[Nanci]

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

[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?

[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...

[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.

[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"
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!

[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