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Core biopsy following FNA

LX
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Hi, I'm a 27yr old Mom of two and recently found another lump in my left breast. Doctor referred me to the breast clinic where an ultrasound was done and the lady said it was just an island of breast tissue change. 
 

After this, the consultant said he was not concerned but still wanted to aspirate just to be clear as I had a lump in the same place four years ago.

 

Two weeks after the aspiration I had a letter come through the post to say another appointment has been made for me at the breast clinic. I was very anxious and thinking the worst. Arriving there, I seen a different consultant and he said my results came back as atypical and he needed to do a core biopsy because the findings didn't match that of the ultrasound, but he doesn't expect anything bad to come back. Basically, he said they cannot 'discharge' me until they give me a clear diagnosis with it being ongoing for four years. 
 

I suppose my question really is, are consultants always honest about what they think or do they sometimes tell you they don't think it's cancer if they have a suspicion it is? I've found this very hard to go through, especially with the current pandemic and having to attend appointments alone. Has anyone had a similar experience? 

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    HI LX,

    Welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear why you've joined.

    I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years, which were treated by two different surgeons at two different hospitals. In both instances, I have found my care teams to be very open about what they do suspect and, many others on this site have had similar experiences.

    I was told at my first appointment that my consultant was pretty certain that I had breast cancer, which was sadly confirmed when my test results came back. The same happened second time around. Doctors don't 'cushion' the results, they tend to be very open and honest about their expectations, although they cannot be certain until the test results come back.

    Have you got a date to return for your results? I sincerely hope that your doctor is right and that it doesn't show up anything untoward. If you do return to the hospital for your results you can usually bring someone with you, even now with covid. I strongly recommend that you do this if you can.

    Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Fingers crossed that no abnormalities are found.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine,

    Thank you for your reply. 
    I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis' and I do hope you are now in good health! 
     

    I had a phone call today from the breast clinic I am under, they have recieved my results which have come back inconclusive again and have booked me in for a vacuum assisted biopsy in 6 days. I am very anxious as this will now be my third biopsy! I will first have a meeting with the consultant before the biopsy to discuss the results but the lady on the phone did say no cancer was found. I feel extremely baffled as to what is going on but I feel awful for expressing my concerns when there are people like yourself who have been through so much more! 
     

    Once again, I would like to thank you so very much for taking time to reply to me and I do hope you're keeping safe and well during these horrible times!

     

    LX

     

  • Offline in reply to LX

     

    Hi LX,

    Please try not to worry about the number of biopsies you're having. It sounds as if your consultants are just being extra thorough, because of the lump that you had 4 years ago. Can I ask, was this previous lump cancerous or benign? There are a number of different types of biopsies. Most people just have the triple assessment (Mammogram, Ultrasound and a core biopsy). Where these tests don't give enough information, other tests, such as a vacuum biopsy may also be needed. It sounds as if your biopsy and ultrasound results do not tally, which is why they are carrying out these additional tests.

    A vacuum assisted biopsy is carried out when previous biopsies have not given a definite result. Like some other biopsies, this is normally done using an ultrasound or mammogram for guidance and, done under local anaesthetic. A vacuum device sucks breast tissue through a probe and into a collecting chamber. This means that several samples of breast tissue can be collected without removing the probe.  Other additional tests such as MRI and CT scan are also sometimes carried out.

    I had to have both of these. Like you I was very worried about these additional tests, but there was no need. I was diagnosed with Pure Mucinous Breast Cancer - a rare, but less aggressive form. I was fortunate too that it was caught early and, was only a grade 1. That was 11 years ago. I had a second cancer in the same breast the following year, but am now back to living a worthwhile life.

    It is good news that you only have to wait 6 days for this test and, I sincerely hope that nothing untoward is found.

    Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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