Cancer Research UK main site

Fibroadenoma biopsy

Anxiousmama89
Offline

Hello 

i have a lump which I had scanned privately yesterday. Breast consultant who I saw first before the scan said it didn't feel suspicious but to have a scan anyway. I had an ultrasound (as I'm 32) with a breast specialist radiologist.
 

he said it is a solid lump not a cyst and said it's a fibroadenoma in his opinion and showed me the ultrasound image. He said no point in taking more money off me to do a biopsy there and then but I must go to my nhs breast clinic app In 2 weeks time as I will need a biopsy to confirm but he would be extremely surprised if it wasn't clear.
 

my question is how accurate are ultrasounds at showing a solid mass is a fibroadenoma and not cancer? If there's no suspicion with the image are they usually right? I'm just stressing that why would he send me for a biopsy if it was certain? I'm 32 with 3 babies and I can't stop crying and worrying. 

would be great to hear what they found at peoples ultrasojnds and whether they turned out right after a biopsy. 
 

thanks xxx 

  • Offline

    Hi! I'm so sorry to hear you are worried I struggle with health anxiety myself ! And I jsut stumbled apon this as I just posted my own concerns! What I will say to you is, ultrasounds can't tell if a lump is cancerous for sure the only way to fully tell is through a biopsy to test for cells, but this radiologist is a breast SPECIALIST radiologist, he sees lumps that are malignant and benign every single day and knows the difference between ones that look Suspicious and ones that don't, when a lump is malignant it almost always has certain attributes in terms of its look on the ultrasound, for example, a benign lump may be small or large and is usually symetical and doesn't show signs on the ultra sound as suspicious, but a malignant one will have, this of corse is obviously not the case for all lumps but it is very rare and honestly I'm sure the expert knows what he's looking for ! If your getting a biopsy that is great as it will give you further reassurance and you can go back without the annoying voice in your head trying to tell you otherwise! But if you have lumpy breast tissue anyways like fibrosis breasts it's very common to get lumps here and there ! 
     

    I hope that this relaxes you a little bit! And not that you need it but I wish you all the best for the biopsy and I'm sure you will be okay! Try to find ways to de-stress, and don't worry, you can always schedual an app with your GP in the meantime and talk to them about your concerns and your results of the ultrasound they can go through the pictures again with you and reassure you again and do this as many times as you need and don't be ashamed, it's normal to be frightened !

    edit:

    sorry I want to also add that I read up on a few sources about the type of lump he said you have and occording to that they have a distinct consistent appearance that it is smooth and round and has other distinct characteristic such as length etc and even down to how  the ultrasound waves penatrate it ! Also it's A VERY COMMON THING  so his diagnoses of it being that is like 99.99999% likely to be what he said it was! Hope this helps again! 

  • Hello and thanks for your post,

    I am sorry to hear that you have been having several investigations for your breast. We can't diagnose you but I do think that you need to be reassured that you have seen a breast consultant who has examined your breast and the diagnosis has been confirmed with an ultrasound. The ultrasound is a very good way of assessing a breast lump. 

    The ultrasound was then seen by an another doctor who specialises in breast radiology and they both came to the conclusion that the lump did not look suspicious. Both of these doctors look at breast lumps daily and have a good idea when something looks suspicious.

    Breast cancer at your age is not very common but fibroadenomas are. The charity Breast Cancer Now have information on their website about benign (not cancer ) lumps which you can see here

    You have also got the NHS breast clinic appointment in two weeks time which hopefully will give you further reassurance.

    Of course if the lump becomes bigger or you notice any changes then do go back to your GP but I would try to be reassured by what the doctors have told you.

    I do hope this helps,

    All the Best,

    Catherine

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.