“Breast cancer”
A doctor has noted a “suspicious” and “worrisome” mass in my right breast through ultrasound. He has ordered a needle biopsy to determine if the mass is indeed cancerous. Are there stats on “suspicious” masses NOT being found to be cancerous? In other words — how nervous should I be? Any good odds it’s not cancer when the mass is “suspicious”?
Thank you — this is scary.
Thank you — this is scary.
Female | 48 years old
Complaint duration: Few days
Medications: None
Conditions: None
3 Answers
Hi,
Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear that your doctor has noted a suspicious and worrisome mass through ultrasound. According to research in JAMA Internal Medicine, between 20% to 42% of breast biopsies reveal a breast cancer diagnosis, depending on age. Another study showed that after biopsy, approximately 20% to 30% of women underwent additional cancer treatment.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions and I also hope this allays your concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Hays
Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear that your doctor has noted a suspicious and worrisome mass through ultrasound. According to research in JAMA Internal Medicine, between 20% to 42% of breast biopsies reveal a breast cancer diagnosis, depending on age. Another study showed that after biopsy, approximately 20% to 30% of women underwent additional cancer treatment.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions and I also hope this allays your concerns.
Best wishes,
Dr. Hays
False positives do exist; however, if mammogram saw a suspicious area followed by an ultrasound, biopsy is warranted. Risk factors for breast cancer can further assess whether or not a true malignancy exists, i.e., age, family history of breast cancer. I think we have to wait for the results. Your following up with this is phenomenal and takes courage; so many are lost with cancer screening in general and sometimes subsequent follow up.
Hello,
You are asking about the odds of a suspicious mass not being cancerous. The answer to your question is difficult. It all depends on the findings of a physical exam. Many times the masses represent benign cysts. The only way to find out the diagnosis is via a tissue biopsy. Treatment recommendations depend on the findings. If the doctor palpates a hard mass in your breast it may be cancer. But the only way to know for sure is by doing a biopsy and letting a pathologist inform the doctor and you know the results and appropriate treatment recommendations.
Good luck. I encourage you to follow your doctors advice.
You are asking about the odds of a suspicious mass not being cancerous. The answer to your question is difficult. It all depends on the findings of a physical exam. Many times the masses represent benign cysts. The only way to find out the diagnosis is via a tissue biopsy. Treatment recommendations depend on the findings. If the doctor palpates a hard mass in your breast it may be cancer. But the only way to know for sure is by doing a biopsy and letting a pathologist inform the doctor and you know the results and appropriate treatment recommendations.
Good luck. I encourage you to follow your doctors advice.
