Interesting that I find this site today. I spent 6 hours with a surgeon. I had a mammo this past summer, to my untrained eye I saw the enlarged lymph node. It began to worry me now 3 months later, I went and got the report and the lymph node wasn't even mentioned. I had a friend re-read (thank god for friends) who said lets see a surgeon. I met with him today. He was pretty cursory when I spoke with him. Seemed less than interested in my concerns. He wanted to see me again in 6 months. I pushed based on my friends re-read of the films. I had a repeat mammo (which showed two enlarged nodes - one at the breast apex) and one a little higher. Then, an ultrasound. The radiologist did my ultrasound and she was WONDERFUL! Told me her medical opinion was to watch it for 3 months but her "woman" opinion was lets biopsy it. Can't hurt to have piece of mind when it is normal and I will be able to sleep again without worrying.
I told her my story about losing my best friend who had to "plead" for a biopsy because the doctor thought she had an infected "mammary gland" as she was pregnant at the time. She died in my arms on my birthday two years ago. I made a promise that any abnormalities I would push. So, I did. The radiologist shared a family story of her 28 yr old cousin, same thing, pushed the doc. Diagnosed with cancer and has now passed away as well.
Back to the surgeon whose response to me, "I knew you wouldn't be satisfied until we poked holes in you." My response, "damn right!"
If you are truly concerned and have other symptoms as I do (fatigue, intermittent fever spikes, hair loss, etc) PLEASE please dont settle. A punch biopsy is a minimally invasive test that can give you soooo many answers and provide you piece of mind.
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Interesting that I find this site today. I spent 6 hours with a surgeon. I had a mammo this past summer, to my untrained eye I saw the enlarged lymph node. It began to worry me now 3 months later, I went and got the report and the lymph node wasn't even mentioned. I had a friend re-read (thank god for friends) who said lets see a surgeon. I met with him today. He was pretty cursory when I spoke with him. Seemed less than interested in my concerns. He wanted to see me again in 6 months. I pushed based on my friends re-read of the films. I had a repeat mammo (which showed two enlarged nodes - one at the breast apex) and one a little higher. Then, an ultrasound. The radiologist did my ultrasound and she was WONDERFUL! Told me her medical opinion was to watch it for 3 months but her "woman" opinion was lets biopsy it. Can't hurt to have piece of mind when it is normal and I will be able to sleep again without worrying.
I told her my story about losing my best friend who had to "plead" for a biopsy because the doctor thought she had an infected "mammary gland" as she was pregnant at the time. She died in my arms on my birthday two years ago. I made a promise that any abnormalities I would push. So, I did. The radiologist shared a family story of her 28 yr old cousin, same thing, pushed the doc. Diagnosed with cancer and has now passed away as well.
Back to the surgeon whose response to me, "I knew you wouldn't be satisfied until we poked holes in you." My response, "damn right!"
If you are truly concerned and have other symptoms as I do (fatigue, intermittent fever spikes, hair loss, etc) PLEASE please dont settle. A punch biopsy is a minimally invasive test that can give you soooo many answers and provide you piece of mind.
I have mine Tuesday!
October 27, 2010 - 4:57pmThis Comment
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