[Greenleaves]

It's been over 6 months now and I still don't know if I have cancer. No one cares! No one is getting back to me. She says she will get back to me and doesn't. I'm never going to get that biopsy!

Now I've found another lump on the other side. How long will it take for me to find out if that one is cancer? I can't live like this! I'm in fear! No one cares if I have cancer. No one thinks I have cancer because I'm so young.

I might have cancer and no one cares! I'm living in fear. No one cares if I have cancer! I might be dying right now and no one cares. I might be dying!

I can't stand this. I'm scared and upset.

Why is it taking so long just to get a biopsy? I don't deserve this! I deserve some answers. I need some answers. What if I really do have cancer. Is it going to this much hassle to get treatment? If so I'll be dead before I get any treatment. What am I going to do?

I can't stand this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nothemama8]

Okay relax, if it was bad news they would have gotten back to you by now, it could just be cysts (fatty tissue)
Give them a call again

[Maven]

Do the lumps move around? If so, they're not likely cancer, but the fatty lumps notthemama8 mentions. Even if they don't, that doesn't mean it's likely to be cancer.

[Greenleaves]

I've been trying to get an appointment for a biopsy for 4 weeks now. FOUR WEEKS!!!

I called today, but the lady never got back to me. They closed at 2 p.m.

I've already had one fine needle biopsy, but it came back inconclusive. Now I'm waiting for a core needle biopsy.

Plus, I found ANOTHER lump! Ahhh!!!!

I'm scared.

Greenleaves,

I'm sorry to hear you are so scared. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I'd read somewhere that they found your lumps to be benign fibroadenomas. I may have missed some other developments on this story though, so you'll have to update us on the findings.

Here is some info that might ease your mind until you can get an appointment.

http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/benign.asp

Try not to worry. I know it's hard not to.

[Greenleaves]

The first lump moves around and is solid. I got an ultrasound for it.

This new lump is bigger and also moves around. The ultrasound missed this lump or didn't see it.

They say my first lump is a benign tumor, because it looks like a fibroadenoma on ultrasound, but the truth is that one can't tell whether a solid lump is cancerous or not by ultrasound alone. The ultrasound can show whether it is solid or not.

[walkswithspiritbear]

Greenleaves please try to relax. I know that the word cancer is downright scary, especially if you are young, I was 19 when I had it so I do understand. Can I make a suggestion that might help until your next appointment... stop looking for new lumps everyday or even every other day.. they may be nothing at all and you are getting yourself really worked up..
I am really sorry that you are having trouble getting into see your doctor, sometimes though with specialists it takes a bit longer to get in. Try really hard to relax deep deep breaths. I really do understand that the word alone causes a great deal of anxiety, just breathe deeply and slowly.
Try to keep your fear at bay, the stress will not help you at all. Need to talk go ahead and pm me. I sure wish I could offer more encouragement, but I was 19 when I had cancer and now I am 49 and mine jumped pretty fast from a level 1 to 5 in a few months time, so I was scared to death that it was spreading beyond my female organs, I can say I was very very lucky, but it took four years before I could find a doctor to do surgery on me because I was so young and they were all scared to death of a malpractice suit by giving me a hysterectomy at that young of an age.... take care and again pm me if you would like.. Linda

[Greenleaves]

Getting your responses and writing about this is making me feel better. I just need someone to hear my frustrations and fears.

Some days are worse than other days. Some days I'm practically paralyzed by the fear of cancer. Other days i forget all about it. I like it when i forget. I want to forget about it.

People tell me not to worry, but I can't help but worry. I know the odds are for me not having cancer, but I still worry.

but the truth is that one can't tell whether a solid lump is cancerous or not by ultrasound alone. The ultrasound can show whether it is solid or not.

Why would they even do an ultrasound if it told them nothing at all? What was the purpose of it?

Maybe you need a second opinion ASAP. I would've hoped that any good Dr. would have reacted much quicker if they thought for one minute it was cancerous.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[jennie]

walkswithspiritbear

[Greenleaves]

Ultrasounds are really good at telling whether a lump is solid or not. If it's not solid, that means it's a cyst and cysts are not cancerous.

The ultrasound gives clues as to whether something is cancerous. Cancer tends to have uneven edges and not oval. The doctor thinks mine is a fibroadenoma probably because it has smooth edges and is oval.

[jennie]

Greenleaves . . . document every conversation, who said what and when. Ask for copies of all labs and stuff. In case there is a malpractice, you'll have some power to negotiate if you have records of everything.

If you are sick, you need to focus on your immune system. Keep it healthy. Worry facilitates sickness spreading. Think positive thoughts. Meditate on happy thoughts. Watch funny movies. Listen to beautiful music. Dress up nicely. Dance. Take bubble baths. Take walks outside. Eat right. Drink plenty of water. stuff like that

Do you have anyone in your family that has had that type of cancer? that's a risk factor. Do you smoke and take birth control meds? You don't need to answer any of those questions. But it is a valid question: do you have risk factors for cancer?

I hope you find peace during this trying time for you. (((((huggs)))))

[desirae]

Demand attention, tell them if they don't you will seek medical attention some place else. Call everyday single day, and go in everyday if you have to as well. It's important you go with your instinct.

[Greenleaves]

I don't have any special risk factors for cancer. If I do have fibroadenomas though, my risk for cancer doubles. I know I have something.

I don't think people are taking my concerns seriously because I'm young, but I've read stories of people getting cancer in their twenties.

I really really hope I'll have my core needle biopsy appointment by Tues. The surgeon's office is closed on Mondays.

I wonder if I can get a general practitioner to write up a requisition for me to have a core needle biopsy? Communicating with the surgeon's is very difficult. Everything is taking sooo long.

I think I'll go see a doctor on Mon about the new lump.

[Greenleaves]

Would a walk-in clinic help me on Mon.? I don't have a doctor anymore as she is retiring and there is no one to replace her. It's very hard to find a family doctor here. There's a severe family doctor shortage.

I'm going to go to a walk-in on Mon. to try to get a requisition for a biopsy. I don't know if they do that sort of thing.

I feel like everyone is ignoring me. The lady at the surgeon's office never gets back to me when she says she will. They didn't even know where I was going to get the biopsy from. They told me to book an appointment with a hospital and I called and they said patients can't book appointments themselves. Shouldn't they know these sorts of things?

I hate to think if I really do have cancer, are they going to continue how they've been treating me? I don't know what to do. I'm so scared. I'm scared right now. What do I do? What do I do?

I have to wait until Tues to call the surgeon's office again to see if I have an appointment for a biopsy yet. What do I do in the meantime?

[Greenleaves]

I'm freaking out!!!!!!!!! I don't know what to do!!!!!! I'm freaking out!!!! Aaahhhhhh!!! HELP ME!!!!!! HELP ME!!!!

[walkswithspiritbear]

((((((((((((((((Greenleaves))))))))))))))))Stop okay I am here for you if you need!!!
It does you no good at all to stress over this! And if you go to the doctor all flipped out they are going to think you are hypochondriac or just plain hysterical and take nothing you say seriously enough..... relax sweet girl alright?

[Danialla]

Who did your first needle biopsy ? When that came back inconclusive, did the same doctor recommend the core needle biopsy?

If so, would that doctor be doing this biopsy also?

Also, do you drink alot of coffee........my 24 yr old daughter has lumpy breasts, but her doctor told her the cause was drinking alot of caffienated beverages .....especially coffee. She also has no risk factors for breast cancer.

[bebop]

I had "lumpy breasts" too...they always went away right after my period. not to worry too much til you see a dr

[Greenleaves]

The surgeon did my fine needle aspiration biopsy. After it came back inconclusive he said I could do a core needle biopsy. I think a radiologist will do the core needle biopsy.

I don't drink much coffee at all, maybe 3 cups a month? My lumps aren't going away. They persist.

[Greenleaves]

I just need to somehow get my mind off of breast cancer until I get my biopsy, which probably won't be for another month, at this rate.

Maybe reading your post again where you say it's benign will help calm you down?

She said that she found 2 other lumps in the other breast and that the lumps are fibrocystic changes or fibroadenomas, both of which are benign conditions. She said they are related to changes in hormones.

I just found out that the lump is benign.

I found 2 other lumps in the other breast and I'm going to get an ultrasound for those too.
------------
I had an ultrasound of my left breast because I thought I felt two lumps. I got the results back today. There were no lumps to be found. I guess what I felt were my ribs or something.

Now, I'm a little worried still about the other lump, the one that the radiologist says is most likely a benign fibroadenoma... Should I get more tests for it? No ultrasound is 100% certain.

My GP told me to see her again after 4 months to do another ultrasound. I dunno, I just get worried.


If you can, try to concentrate on the words benign. Maybe that will ease your mind a little. All this worrying is not good for you.

Lump in breast...

[EJ711]

Greenleaves -

What I usually do is decide to assume I'm OK, until told otherwise. This kind of strategy helps me to keep my mind on positive things.

Hope this helps.

Hugs,

EJ

[Greenleaves]

Thank Petunia, thanks EJ

I'm feeling a little better. My anxiety attacks come and go. Ultrasounds are usually accurate in telling whether a lump is likely cancerous or not, so I'm going to focus on that.

I just wish I had my biopsy appointment.

I think the worse. I don't know how to change my thinking.

[bebop]

call and make a regular appt with your doctor....don't ask for results via phone...go see him. that way you can talk directly to him and take some of the worry away