Lazer 77
08-01-2007, 05:22 PM
And i am not sure what to tell her, the doctors are being really shady about the situation. She has two lumps directly next to each other in her right breast, she got it checked out with a mammogram and an ultrasound about 3 weeks ago. They told her it was not cancerous, and "more than likely" a sist and will not have to be removed. The doctors never called her back after that, and just 4 days ago her mom called the doctor and they said they want a specialist to check it out.
So she was at the specialist, she got another ultrasound, and the specialist is the first person to say she needs surgery to get it taken out. She did not say what it is, she just said they will need to stick a needle in her breast or something, and then she needs it taken out. But the shady part again is that the specialist said she doesnt want to do the surgery because she is still young, and growing (shes 18). Why on earth would you tell someone that they need surgery, but they dont want to do it because they are too young. She said in about a month, she will get it checked out again to see if it has gone away, but it will more than likely stay the same. Which seems really redundant.
So well, she wants to know what to expect. What kind of surgery, how long of a surgery, how much anesthesia will she get (so how much recovery from it), how long of a recovery from the surgery in general, will there be any scars, how bad of scars. And overall, what is it since the doctors wont say anything.
So she was at the specialist, she got another ultrasound, and the specialist is the first person to say she needs surgery to get it taken out. She did not say what it is, she just said they will need to stick a needle in her breast or something, and then she needs it taken out. But the shady part again is that the specialist said she doesnt want to do the surgery because she is still young, and growing (shes 18). Why on earth would you tell someone that they need surgery, but they dont want to do it because they are too young. She said in about a month, she will get it checked out again to see if it has gone away, but it will more than likely stay the same. Which seems really redundant.
So well, she wants to know what to expect. What kind of surgery, how long of a surgery, how much anesthesia will she get (so how much recovery from it), how long of a recovery from the surgery in general, will there be any scars, how bad of scars. And overall, what is it since the doctors wont say anything.
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dammie
08-01-2007, 08:51 PM
First of all i think she needs to get a second or third or even fourth opinion. She needs to find a doctor who can be open and honest with her and answer her questions. Part of the doctor patient relationship involes having to talk about some uncomfortable things. I've done it myself, i wasn't happy with a few doctors and found one that i was happy with. This is her body she should be aware of everything going on with it.
Lazer 77
08-01-2007, 10:21 PM
First doctor said its okay, second doctor said it needs to be monitored, third specialist said it needs to be removed.
Shes had 3 opinions.
Shes had 3 opinions.
Andrea84
08-02-2007, 12:02 AM
I've been in this position and I can tell you they cannot say it's not cancerous unless they do a biopsy (and not just a needle biopsy-not accurate enough) . Mammo and sonno and even MRI will not tell you definitely whether it's cancer. The two choices are monitoring (seeing if it gets bigger over time) or removing it (giving you the chance to make sure it isn't cancerous -and if it is - not giving it a chance to grow).
As someone who had this choice I would go with the specialist. Better to catch it as early as possible and if it isn't cancer, knowing for sure that it isn't.
As someone who had this choice I would go with the specialist. Better to catch it as early as possible and if it isn't cancer, knowing for sure that it isn't.
Lazer 77
08-02-2007, 12:33 AM
Her family does have a history of cancer too. But the first few doctors said its for sure not cancerous. Then again, those were the people who said there is no need in removing it.
wakkochic17
08-02-2007, 01:51 PM
it never hurts to get a 4th opinion.. since there are only the 3 options, he has to agree with one of them!! I woudln't go with the "ok" only because you can NEVER be positive just looking at it. It sounds like she needs a biopsy and then based on those results, they either monitor it or remove it. My friend had that, she had a lump. Biopsy came back ok.. so they monitored it and then it started to grow, so that's when they decided to remove it. It was nothing cancerous, but she has a history of breast cancer in her family as well so it's better to be safe than sorry when a history of cancer is involved. I don't know much about the surgery itself since this was before we met, I know she does have a scar but it's well hidden.
SentenceDoing
08-03-2007, 11:36 PM
... unless they do a biopsy (and not just a needle biopsy-not accurate enough) .
Is that true that needle biopsies aren't accurate enough? I've been seeing a breast specialist for a couple of years because I discovered a lump in my right breast (i'd felt a pain there around the time of my period for a few years, but then when I was about 23, I actally felt the lump). I'd already had a mammogram on it, and and ultrasound. The breast specialist did a needle biopsy on it, and had me come back twice more, every 6 months to check the size. I also discovered a second lump in that same breast, and she did the same thing- needle biopsy and check-up appointments.
Should I be worried now that the needle biopsies might not have been accurate? In my check-up appoontments, the lumps have not increased in size or changed at all in 1-2 years, so she told me not to worry about them.
But now I'm wondering if I should ask about maybe having the lumps removed altogether, just to be safe...
Is that true that needle biopsies aren't accurate enough? I've been seeing a breast specialist for a couple of years because I discovered a lump in my right breast (i'd felt a pain there around the time of my period for a few years, but then when I was about 23, I actally felt the lump). I'd already had a mammogram on it, and and ultrasound. The breast specialist did a needle biopsy on it, and had me come back twice more, every 6 months to check the size. I also discovered a second lump in that same breast, and she did the same thing- needle biopsy and check-up appointments.
Should I be worried now that the needle biopsies might not have been accurate? In my check-up appoontments, the lumps have not increased in size or changed at all in 1-2 years, so she told me not to worry about them.
But now I'm wondering if I should ask about maybe having the lumps removed altogether, just to be safe...
Lazer 77
08-04-2007, 09:31 AM
Well what about recovery from the surgery? How long would she be in the hospital, how long is the operation, and will there be a big scar left on her?
All questions she wants me to help her find out.
All questions she wants me to help her find out.
Andrea84
08-04-2007, 07:15 PM
Re sentencedoing question - The fact that the lump hasn't changed in size is very, very enouraging and you are being monitored. In general core biopsies are more accurate than needle biopsy because they get more of a sample in a core biopsy, but perhaps not required in your case. You can always get a second opinion from another doctor to be sure. But in the meantime nothing to super worry about because hasn't changed.
Andrea84
08-04-2007, 07:17 PM
If we're talking about lumpectomy it's done as an outpatient procedure, it's not a long operation - 45 minutes to an hour depending on the lump - and many people have local anesthesia - although other anesthesia available as well if patient wants it - not a big deal . Scar depends on size of lump.
SentenceDoing
08-05-2007, 02:36 PM
Re sentencedoing question - The fact that the lump hasn't changed in size is very, very enouraging and you are being monitored. In general core biopsies are more accurate than needle biopsy because they get more of a sample in a core biopsy, but perhaps not required in your case. You can always get a second opinion from another doctor to be sure. But in the meantime nothing to super worry about because hasn't changed.
Thanks, Andrea!
Thanks, Andrea!
Lazer 77
08-05-2007, 07:35 PM
But how big would her surgery scar be? She is worried that she will have a scar like me, i have a scar from an accident on my arm, and its huge, i had it 3 years ago and it is really white, really meaty, but then again its because my arm was shredded in an accident. She is worried that the cut from her surgery will be the same. It will not be the same since her skin will just be cut and stitched, whereas mine was torn and stitched both inside and outside.
Andrea84
08-05-2007, 10:04 PM
You would have to ask the doctor how big the scar would be.