When in Doubt - Ask for a Biopsy

Sometimes life can change in an instant and sometimes it takes a gradual unraveling to reveal itself.

Here's how it unfolded for me...

June 24th - First Mammogram

July 16th -  Second Mammogram, Ultrasound, and Biopsy

July 18th - Received Diagnosis of Atypical Ductal Hypoplasia

July 24th - Consultation scheduled with Breast Surgeon

On Friday, July 18th I found out the results of the biopsy to my left breast...I have what is known as an "Atypical ductal hyperplasia of the breast"...and I'll be speaking with a breast surgeon on July 24th about scheduling a lumpectomy.

The other night when I signed off of Facebook by posting a picture of myself in bed and said that I was exhausted after a long day. Well, the reason was because I'd spent the day at the hospital having tests done.

Here's the definition of my current condition: "Atypical hyperplasia isn't cancer, but it can be a forerunner to the development of breast cancer. Over the course of your lifetime, if the atypical hyperplasia cells keep dividing and become more abnormal, your condition may be reclassified as noninvasive breast cancer (carcinoma in situ) or breast cancer." 

After reading Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, I've discovered that they will do a lumpectomy of the site and look at the cells. There is a 50% chance that there may be cancer cells...and a 50% chance they will be benign. 

Either way, we'll know what to do next...

The reason I wanted to share this information with you, in addition to asking for your prayers....is that the only reason I received this early diagnosis is because I requested a biopsy.

I will write about this is in greater detail on my blog, but the short version is that on Wednesday I went in for a follow-up mammogram because they found something that wasn't there in last year's mammogram and they wanted to confirm it. After they did, they asked me to have an ultra-sound of the breast.

After the ultrasound, the radiologist came in and said that while she noticed an abnormality, she thought it was just a calcification and recommended that I just come back in six months for a follow-up mammogram. I asked if I could have a biopsy of the area in question, just to rule out any possibility of cancer.

The radiologist agreed, and I had a biopsy later that afternoon.

If I hadn't insisted on the biopsy (and they hadn't agreed) there is a possibility that this high risk indicator of breast cancer might have had six months to develop into something more sinister.

Which is why I've written this long post.....please, please, be proactive with your healthcare! You are your own best advocate!

Okay, I'm climbing off my soap box....

Please keep me in your prayers, I'll keep you posted as I learn more. But I'm not going to dwell on this...expect more posts about cooking, it always makes feel better!

Love and hugs. xo.

Suzanne