Just had a biopsy which was really painful as I have breast implants and they struggled to get it. They were confident it’s just a fibroadenoma but I’m still stressing. Has anyone been told it’s just a fibroadenoma and it turned out to be malignant?
I just wanted to chime in on this post because it came up a ton in my google searches while I went through a similar situation. Thank you so much for posting it teacherandmam and I hope you are doing well with your treatment!
I am 42 with a very major family history for breast cancer (my mother, my sister, my maternal grandmother, my maternal aunt) and have been struggling a bit to get a genetic screening and get regular mammograms since I moved to the UK, which has been causing me lots of anxiety!
After a sudden bout of eczema on my left nipple (never had eczema before in my life), terrified it was paget's disease, I got a screening from a private clinic and they found a "probable fibroadenoma" on my mammogram and ultrasound - in the OTHER breast. They did a core biopsy and I waited 7 (harrowing) days for results.
I was particularly concerned because I'd had a mammogram something like 6 or 7 years ago, I was in my mid/later 30s, and they never mentioned a fibroadenoma. I never felt it in my self exams (in fact I still can't!) and so I was really sweating it waiting for the biopsy result. I just had a bad feeling -- why would a benign lump that usually grows in one's 20s and is rare after 35 just appear now?
The results - it was in fact a fibroadenoma - not anything else, they saw it on the scan and they confirmed it with a biopsy. They see the whole rainbow of breast conditions of the breast every day. They are professionals and they know pretty well what they are looking at. They aren't always 100% right which is why they biopsy. I am getting a full genetic workup now to see what my risk profile really is and how to manage my risk going forward.
What I learned during this period is that regular monitoring, getting as much info out of the doctors as possible, and being confident that you are following up on your health is all you can be expected to do. You can improve your diet and exercise and manage your stress levels and follow up on your screenings and that will save lives. I could have found out I had breast cancer today as easily as I found out that I currently do not and the world would have kept turning, and I would have faced that and taken care of what needed to be taken care of, too.
I just wanted to update on this post because **if you're reading this after googling for some solace while you wait for your biopsy results** or your situation is in some way similar, my advice is -- don't read too much into what's happened to other people while you wait for this information. The circumstances of others are absolutely relevant and you should be aware of them so that you don't go to la-la land and slack on following up on your health. But you can't divine your own future from looking at what's happened to others. It's just another data point. You've already gotten a scan and a biopsy and the answers will come in soon. The waiting is terrible, but you are going to be ok whatever you learn, because you will have information about how to move ahead.
I stumbled on this thread/forum doing exact thing original poster was doing - going out of their mind with worry waiting on biopsy results.
I had biopsy week ago for suspected fibroadenoma. No tangible lump on physical exam but showed on ultrasound. Family history of my sister having breast cancer. Have to wait until 3rd Jan for results (one more week) and climbing the walls with worry.
Finding out here that some people turned out to have cancer is not what I expected. To the original poster - I hope you have a speedy recovery and I'm sorry it wasn't the simple fibroadenoma you were promised.
Is there a sense that this is a standard line that doctors/breast clinic staff give to stop people worrying whilst waiting on scan results? Are there any statistics around how many fibroadenomas turn out to be cancer?
Also, for those who have had ultrasounds, was there any indication on whether you have dense breast tissue or not. I read today that if you have dense breast tissue you are 4 times more at risk of breast cancer. Clinic never told me that.
I found a lump and saw my GP on 16 Dec. He gave me a 2 week referral to the hospital. I went yesterday and had a mammogram, examination, ultrasound and core biopsy. Due to the lump moving round the doctor had to do it 3 times and used lots of pressure. There wasn't any pain due to the Local but the pressure was uncomfortable. Today I've felt really bruised and achey. I've now got to wait til Friday evening for a phonecall with the results, but as it's New Year this week it might be next Friday before they get back to me. To say it's not been a great Christmas would be an under statement. Just keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck everyone
No he didn't give any indication. He seemed quite frustrated that the lump kept moving each time He tried to get a sample though. I'm just hoping I do get the results this Friday but it seems strange they do it over the phone. But reading various threads it seems some people get a phone call asking them to attend an appointment face to face. Then the appointment can be either good or bad news. The stress is very good for my waistline though, must be the first Christmas I've actually lost weight as I don't have an appetite due to the worry.
Yes, the worry diet is a fail-safe weight loss plan. Similarly I've avoided the xmas pounds.
It's interesting results given by phone. I would prefer that also rather than another trip back to hospital. Must be just how different hospitals/NHS regions do things.
I'd say you are ok hopefully on the basis of odds. From looking online, most lumps turn out to be benign and for those who they don't, the care pathways and treatments are excellent. It's at times like this that the NHS really is the gold standard.
Try not to stress too much. Easier said than done of course.
Hello, I came across this thread and wondered if you had your results back? I'm in the same boat here and I think any kind of reassurance is good. Thank you
I should have updated on that so thank you for prompt. It was confirmed benign and a fibroadenoma.
No further intervention required.
I did panic massively, and finding posts on here showing that some people have found a non-benign biopsy result is really not result people expect, but I can help lend to assurance that results will most likely be benign. I wish that could be the same for those on here who did get bc results and hope they are all progressing well with treatment. I'm not sure what the statistics are on suspected Fibroadenoma but I would hazard that majority turn out to be benign as suspected from scan.
It doesn't make the waiting/worry bit any easier, but I would go with trusting that it is a fibroadenoma if that is what the scan is showing and try to not worry too much (impossible, I know) until you get the results.
Can I also advise against drinking a keg load of wine also when you are told that you have to have a biopsy and wait for the results for two weeks. That's precisely what I did and had a 5 day hangover - was so not worth it!! I have family history of my sister having breast cancer so wine seemed the obvious choice, but not so much the next day, or the one after that.....
Good luck with your results. Do you have long to wait?
Thanks for replying. And am happy to hear your good news! It is so scary, I have a doctor appointment for it this week so fingers crossed. Might I ask, what were your symptoms? Or did you literally just find a lump? Any pain at all?
It's good that you are on the homestraight for your appointment this week. The worry bit is crazy and very difficult not to let it overwhelm you. I'm sure you are going to be ok so look after yourself in the meantime.
Symptoms - random pain for a while on one side. Everytime I do a check I just feel lumps and bumps everywhere so couldn't find specific lump/anomaly for where the pain was. Have family history of breast cancer and have been trying to get referral for mamogram/check for past 5 years (I'm 45). Finally complained enough about that to get a GP to refer me to clinic. Physical check didn't pick up anything, not sure if anything on mamogram, but ultrasound showed quite a few cysts and picked up on the fibroademona. I think the pain twinge I was feeling was one of the cysts, or could just be hormones.
