Comments on: was i given a cancer diagnosis?

By: Ryu

Ryu — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

It sounds to me like your doctor likely believes the tumor/cyst to be cancerous, but was unwilling to say for certain until the biopsy has confirmed or denied it, which is how the situation should be handled. However, she should not have told you to be afraid, worried, or anything else until the biopsy results are in.

If you need clarification on a diagnosis, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor. Even just a simple call after an appointment if you think of something you forgot to ask can clear up a lot of confusion.

By: amy02

amy02 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

If they are very worried and they know it’s not a breast lump or a cyst, then I believe they think it’s cancer.

Don’t freak.

Do phone your doctor and ask her specifically what she’s looking for with the biopsy. If it has a bunch of syllables, ask her to spell it.

Do get a second opinion. Doctors’ bedside manner (clinic-side manner?) can affect the whole course of treatment; and if your doctor is freaking, that won’t affect treatment in a positive manner.

By: hamburger

hamburger — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

A "single" lump that is irregular sharp and not moveable is probably cancer in nature!

By: Denisedds

Denisedds — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I can’t believe a doctor would tell a patient they needed to be scared. That is one of the most unprofessional things I’ve heard. It would be nice to know what the radiologist reports state as they are your best source of information at this point. We do not have imaging at the cellular level, but cancer is most often diagnosed on imaging.

By: Messykatt

Messykatt — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I think your doc handled this very poorly by telling you that you should be scared. In fact, that alone would have me seeking a different doctor. (Whether or not it’s true isn’t the issue – it’s simply unnecessary to state it, especially without even a diagnosis).

It’s true that competent physicians can often tell the difference between a benign cyst vs a malignancy, simply because of the position and feel of the tissue. But nothing is ever certain until biopsy. Ultrasounds and mammograms are good tools to aid in this process, but please remember that breast tissue is very difficult (compared to other tissue) to evaluate through imaging. And it’s even more difficult with a history like yours.

I know this is easier said than done, but try not to panic until the biopsy comes back. And even then, early stage breast cancers are generally curable. Good luck to you.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Well shame on your doctor for scaring you and then not giving you a definitive answer. She SHOULD have told you that it looked suspicious for malignancy and that you need to have a biopsy to confirm and left it at that until you get back the biopsy results.

All of that aside, it does sound like your hyperplasia has turned into cancer. Hyperplasia means that the cells are abnormal, but not (yet) cancerous. Breast cancer, if caught early enough has a pretty decent prognosis. The swelling in your collar bone area is worrisome for metastatic disease though. Especially if you have enlarged nodes in that area or in your neck.

As for ultrasounds, etc "seeing" cancer cells, no, they can’t, but they can tell that there is an area suspicious for a malignant process.

Good luck. I hope your doctor has scared you for nothing and this turns out to be more ductal hyperplasia.

By: iceman

iceman — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Wow, get a new doctor. She handle it extremely poorly.