Community Blog
December 6, 2007
| Atypical Hyperplasia Question | Views: 624 |
My stepsister recently had the below experience. I am wondering if anyone has heard of this. I was kinda shocked by the statistics. Does this seem right?
“I received the test results very late this week, and they weren’t bad, but weren’t good either. There is no cancer, but they found more atypical hyperplasia which increases my risk of getting breast cancer in the next 15 years. From what I understand at this point, the chances of getting cancer went from 4% before finding the hyperplasia to 20-25% over a 15 year period. The surgeon went so far as to say if it were her, she would get a mastectomy and possibly a double mastectomy as a preventative measure. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe she was recommending such a drastic procedure when no cancer was found. She also said she has monitored women with hyperplasia for years and no cancer has developed. I don’t know the surgeon at all—have only met with her twice— so don’t know if she is an alarmist or if she is being reasonable. At the least, I feel her recommendation was premature. I know I need more information and definitely need a second opinion. She also recommended I meet with an oncologist to assess my risk in more detail. The next step, though, is an MRI which will show if there is an unusual amount of blood flow to any particular area which could indicate cancer or pre-cancer.”
Thanks for your support -
Being diagnosed with CML in 1994 so many drugs that I am able to take now were only a dream back then. While on interferon, during a routine examination with my oncologist and he doesn’t miss a square inch on my body checking for any lump, bumps or thickenings. He did find a lump that was very deep in my left axillary, as I watched the concern grow over his face as he palpated it, for it was so deepp the exam was actually a bit painful. When he was done with the exam as he washed his hand he very calmly said that he wanted me to see a colleague of his that is the head of The Breast Center @ Washinton University. I said, great, can I make an appt. with the secretary and he quietly said,”No, Patty I am going to call him now to see if he can get you right in.” As I dressed and sat back down I pondered what had just happened, Knowing my oncologist, he is very conservative but also nothing does get by him. When Dr. Weiss came back innnn he said that he had just spoke with Dr. Levy andd he would see me as soon as I could get there. ( He was just a short distance in the same medical plaza) I had this lump in my throat as I though, “well, I am maintaining the leukemia but now I must have breat cancer”. As I passed the gift shop, I looked in and I saw what was my daughter’s fav collectable at that time,” BEANIE BABIES”, so I went in there and bought several, with each one of them having a different meaning. Suddenly I felt so overwhelmed, what was this specialist going to see or say? I took some deep breaths as the elevator doors opened and I walked up to the receptionist before I could say anything she said,” You must be Patty?. I thought siloently, “Do I look that obviously marked with C?” She was extremely kind and lead me to a room and asked me to take everything off from my waist up and put the paper robe on. Within a very few minutes in came Dr. Levy with several medical students, I wondered if I was that much of a novelty but then regained my thoughts to the fact that this is indeed a teaching hospital. He introduced himself and asked me if I minded the students observing and I said,” Of course not.” So, it began: pushing, poking, palpating. Then he said that he would need to do a needle biopsy, after so many bone marrow biopsys all I could think was how bad could it be,right? He had an extremely long needle as he began this biopsy and the very eager students watched on all the while he is telling them step by step his own thoughts. Afterlike what seemed like a long while, heee tells me that it has been unsuccessful and tells me that he is stepping out to call Dr. Weiss. When he returns, he tells me that I will need to have surgery the following morning. OHG, I became very scared and of course I was alone. But, I gathered my thoughts and after filling out all of the appropiate papers I drove home in rush hour traffic, that is always so much fun. Once home, I did call my Father and explained as little details as possible for I didn’t wish for him to worry, though just telling him that I needed surgery in less than 12 hours was worry enough. Then, I called my wonderful Pastor. He assured me that he would be there before, during, and after the procedure. We prayed. Now, I had to explain to my children, again trying not to put any unecessary fear or thoughts in their young minds, though I was honest, I just left everything out, for the time being. Once I gave Laura the beanie babies, and Jordan even liked them all was quiet for the evening. 5 a.m. came very eaarly and as I went to make my green tea, darn I am NPO, oh well, I can handle it, I will just appreciate my next cup even more. Dad picked me up and we drove to Barnes Hospital, he was nervously trying to make light conversation the entire drive, God, I love my Dad so much and my life has never been the same since I lost him. I was Daddy’s Little Girl. Of course he insisted upon letting me out at the door not wanting me to walk an extra step, never thinking about himself and this “ticking aneurysm” he had inside him. I waited for Dad to park then we went up to the OR was where Pastor Clemens was waiting for us. Before I would do anything after a big hug we all held hands and prayed in the waiting area. Immediateley they called my name as I looked at Dad my eyes filled with tears of uncertainty and fear, and he tried to stay brave for me and said, ” You go in there and show them what a fighter you are, I’ll be right here.” I am glad that they had called me for my emotions were overwhelming. The OR assistant told me what to do and once in the OR with the surgeon and RN they went over the consent papers for me to sign. They explained everything, though it seemed to all big one big blurb, the bottom line was that I signed to allow them do whatever they had to, to get any cancer “if they found it. My big fear since the day before was that somehow the leukemia had spread to my lymph nodes or that I did have breast cancer. The the guy with the “Happy Juice” talked to me and explained everything. Everyone was extremely kind. Within just a few minutes I was floating, then out for the count. When I awoke in recovery I vividly recall feeling my breast area to see what I had or didn’t have. I was very groggy and one of the Nurses must have seen me and she walked over and said,” Good Morning Sunshine”, I think I smiled, not sure, but I tried to ask her what I had, and she just took my vitals and told me that the Doc was talking to my family. In a short time Dad and Pastor Clemens were both at my side. Dad looked really worried though he was smiling, he said that he had talked to the Surgeon and he wasn’t what they had expected but they did take care of it. Still so sleepy, I didn’t ask what that meant. Then Dr. Levy came to talk to me and he said that they had to send it to the lab and it was much larger than expected. Just for the record I was 42 at that time. After several hours Dad brought me home and I had to go back in 2 days. I was very sore, I had a drain in the area of the incision. Everything was uneventful until I went back to the Doctor when he said I had hyperplasia & an fibrocystic area that had to be removed. He then removed the drain. Yuck, was it icky. It was less than 2 years and the identical same thing happened to a T during a routine exam only in the right axillary, and everything was done the same with the same results. Only, in the time lapse I lost my best friend, Dad’s heart gave out early one evening while eating his favorite bowl of ice cream. Personally, I would definetly get another opinion. I would NEVER get a mastectomy without at least 2 opinions from very well respected Breast surgeons and have not just mammograms performed but also ultrasounds, and they may have new and better tests to detect a potential threat since my encounter. God Bless, please keep me posted on what happens. Patty :)