Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by PippySkiddles

no answers for you Hopes but sorry you are going through this. Sorry your sister is going through this.
I have the micro calcifications also. My family physician just blows it off as a minor inconvenience, all the while saying --make sure you get a mammogram each year. The radiologist makes a big deal out of it yet the tech performing the mammogram tells me,"it's not a big deal and I have them too"
Very confusing.

I had a similar situation. For awhile they were having me have mammograms every 4 months, than 6 and now only once a year.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by chele123

Demand a biopsy of your lump. Cancer can hurt, it's BS that it doesn't. If that lump hurts have it removed.

A tumor can be very small yet still leak cancer cells into the lymphatic system, if the cells get past the lymphatic system the cancer cells find other places to nest.

I agree, my husband recently went through this: he had a sarcoma removed from his abdomen a few years ago: actually he had it done twice, plus a lot of radiation. We know the chances of it returning are pretty good, but radiation has helped. Not too long ago our primary doctor found a lump in his breast tat was sore. She sent him to the radiologist who decided a biopsy was necessary. Yep, it was very small, but it was cancer. No, it was different from carcinoma but it is still or was still a cancer. The good news, it was so small that when they went back in to remove any remaining tissue, they learned the biopsy itself had taken care of it.

Hope, good luck to you and your family.

[in_newengland]

As people already said, it can hurt or not. I also had cysts and they hurt like crazy. If you can get the xrays that don't have as much radiation that would be best.

If I can say one thing that really made a difference it was to not trust one person. Get second opinions always. My radiologist was an absolute jerk who just wanted to make money--it was his assistant who told me the truth. There are good doctors and bad doctors. Make sure you get the best there is and still don't accept what he/she says as the gospel truth. Learn as much as you can (just as you are already doing) and be your own advocate. Use your own intuition if you think something is wrong and should be checked.

[PippySkiddles]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I had a similar situation. For awhile they were having me have mammograms every 4 months, than 6 and now only once a year.

ditto for me; I'm still confused as to whether I should worry, should have ever worried or it was never a big deal?!?