My GF just called, and was rather upset. She had a mammogram done today. She had a lump that had been growing, and after the mammogram, the doctor also did an ultrasound. He then told her that he was 90% sure it was cancerous, however he wouldn’t know for sure until the biopsy was complete…he said there was another condition, which was pretty rare, that it might be.
She couldn’t remember what he said the other condition was…I’ve been researching on the web, and most of the other possibilities (cysts, etc) are ruled out by the ultrasound. Does anyone know offhand what the “rare” condition might be that he was referring to? I’d like to do some research for her so I can try to help her understand what is going on when she gets home.
How old is your GF? It’s possible that the rare condition the doctor was referring to was Phyllodes, a rare type breast tumor or granular cell tumors, which are also rarely found in the breast. You should check out the cancer.org website, it’s fairly comprehensive on all types of malignant and benign types of breast conditions.
Was it the tech who did the ultrasound who said this, or a doctor after he had read the results? (It sounds like from your post that it was same-day, so I’m assuming it was a tech.)
If it was a tech who said this, if I were your girlfriend, I would have punched him in the nose. Techs are NOT supposed to say things like that-- they’re supposed to do the exam and give the results do a doctor for analysis. It’s entirely possible he doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground, and your poor girlfriend is panicked over nothing.
If it was a doctor who said this, I’d still be a bit suspicious. I’ve never *heard *of a doctor saying he’s almost sure it’s cancer before the biopsy was done. Most breast lumps are benign. (My grandmother has lived for thirty years with benign reast lumps.)
She should get a second opinion, and should try not to be too worried yet. If she’s young, the chances of it being cancerous are relatively slim.
And I belive she can report him to the state medical board for such a comment.
Lumps in breasts can be a huge number of things, the only way to be sure is get a biopsy. I’ve never heard of a doctor saying that kind of thing before results are in. I have heard of Techs talking out of their ass though.
I’ve seen and felt breast lumps on my patients that I was sure were cancerous within a few moments of palpating them. And I’ve shared my concerns with the patients.
I’m not there to sugar-coat it for the patient, I’m there to give them the information and support they need to make informed decisions.
And if my wife had a doc who, after examination, mammogram, and ultrasound, felt that the lump was probably cancer, and didn’t tell us that, I’d be pissed as hell.
A doctor was present…it was set up this way by her plastic surgeon(she is looking to have implants, and he set up the mammogram/ultrasound on this certain day because a doctor would be available to read the results. He did this after examining it himself).
Paraphrasing my gf: I asked the tech how it looked, and the tech said,“Um, let me go get the doctor”, so I started to think something might be wrong. The doctor then said that he is almost positive it is cancerous, however there is a rare condition that it could also be, and he could not be positive without the biopsy.
I’ll look up that condition Dorjan, and see if it rings a bell with her. She is 32, FTR.
My mom’s docs were 90% sure she had cancer when she was about 28, and had informed my folks that a nasty cancer was the likely diagnosis. But it turned out to be a very uncommon more benign growth instead.
I fully agree with Qadgop.
My mom has had quite a few breast lumps over the years, and several biopsies. It was always, “It’s probably nothing, but let’s check anyway.” And they were indeed nothing.
After her latest mammogram, the doctor told her that she would have to have another biopsy, and that there was a good chance it was cancerous. When she told me that she was having another biopsy, I said “it’s probably nothing, right?” She told me that no, this one probably wasn’t nothing. It turned out to be a small malignant growth. (Fortunately, it was caught very early. She had a lumpectomy last week, and everything looks AOK.)
I’m very grateful to the doctor for leveling with her about it. It was much easier for her and us to have had some warning about the fact that it was likely cancerous, especially since we had grown to expect that the lumps would be benign. The doctor’s candor also ensured that she would get the biopsy ASAP.
While I agree that doctors shouldn’t make diagnoses without all relevant information, discussing likely outcomes with the patient is just being a good doctor.
My aunt and many woman have fiberous connective tissue that makes it hard to tell if it’s the tissue or a tumor. You can also have a calified tissue in soft tissue when the area receives a blow. The calcium builds up over time and replaces the soft tissue. It could also be a cyst. The doctor shouldn’t have said it’s likely cancerous, at that point. Saying it could be cancerous would have been better, but people don’t always say things in the best way.
A cyst??? Are you referring to your aunt’s condition or Capa’s gf? If the latter, you’re waaay off. A mammo and ultrasound have already demonstrated it is not a cyst.