Ladies- medical question

Has anybody had any experience with fibroadenomas/ benign lumps in their breasts?

About 4 months ago I noticed a small lump in my left breast. Wasn't too concerned but it grew significantly and started becoming very tender. So I went to my GP and she referred me to a breast specialist just to make sure.

Well after an exam and an ultrasound (he said mammograms were fairly useless at my age, 21) he thinks it's either just swollen glandular tissue or a fibroadenoma. Not a cyst for sure (which is what my GP thought it was.) I have fibrocystic breasts (basically lumpy boobs normally, ) so the swelling of the glandular tissue is fairly common. He said most of the time fibroadenomas don't cause any pain at all, so it made him think it's probably not that. He said we could do a needle biopsy to tell what it is for sure and then see if it's necessary to remove it. Or we could take the wait and see approach and do another ultrasound in 6 months and if it has grown do a biopsy then.

He put me on a supplement regimen that may help. Bactrim antibiotic (haven't started taking it yet, if I remember correctly it makes me very nauseous), naproxyn twice daily, 2000mg of Evening of Primrose, and 800 U of Vitamin E a day. All together it's like ten pills a day. Blech. I hate taking pills.

So, any experience in this front? He definitely isn't thinking it could possibly be cancerous because the two spots are smooth, oval shapes. The pain they're causing is simply annoying and bothersome, not unmanageable. Would you do a biopsy now or wait?

I think I'd be inclined to do a biopsy now just to be on the safe side. I don't think you can be too careful with this kind of thing, and in the off chance that it IS something to be removed, it's probably better to do it now rather than when it's grown significantly.

No experience in this area, at all. But try looking the specialist up online. If the doctor is very good you may find people mentioning positive things - if bad, well you find the opposite. If the latter is the case, get yet another opinion - or do so anyways.

Just know that some cancers are very aggressive - 6 months could make a huge difference if this is cancerous.

It's a tough call. that it isn't cancer.

I work in the operating room, and see these quite frequently. Many women opt to have a fine needle aspiration in their doctors office, to rule out any malignancy. It helps with the peace of mind, and also helps to catch some of those unusual cancers that don't present like normal breast cancers. Another option is to follow it with breast ultrasounds. Some women opt to have the lump removed in the operating room, by excisional biopsy. The women who prefer this option tend to have painful adenomas, or large ones that seem to fluctuate with their hormonal cycles, or even for the peace of mind that comes with a definitive treatment and a clear pathology report.

This is really a personal decision, depending on your state of mind, how painful it is, whether or not you'll do the follow up ultrasounds religiously, your medical insurance coverage, and, as you stated...if you can tolerate taking pills, etc. Do your research on line and think about it, ask your doctor any questions you have. Good luck!

Personally I'd lean towards the biopsy just for the peace of mind. Sounds like no fun; but still. I've had ultrasounds done on my breasts because of a cyst that had ruptured and while no big deal; I still don't think I'd want to go that route every 6 months. But it is a personal decision. Ultrasounds are obviously less painful; but the needle biopsy is only a one time deal right?

I would opt for the needle biopsy too. You can never be too careful. I had a fibrous tumor removed about 20 years ago. The doctor thought it would be benign, which it was. I had the surgery under a local at the hospital DH worked at. Since he worked in surgery, they covered the windows on the doors of the operating table so the guys he worked with couldn't look in to see my boobs. LOL Since then, I have had a couple of cysts. One they were able to drain with a needle and the others, popped on their own. Let me tell you, when a cyst pops and your breasts start to absorb the fluid, it itches, BIG TIME!!!!! I also have dense breasts that a mammogram can't see through all of it.

Now ya'll have me a little worried! I think maybe I'll take the antibiotics and supplements (it's a 7 day antibiotic, 10 days of naproxyn, and a month of the Vitamin E and Primrose) and then see how it is. He said if it's just a inflammation problem the supplements usually help.... I like him a lot and my mother has gone to him for biopsies before so I trust in his opinion. He didn't think the biopsy was necessary at this point but was very willing to schedule it if I felt it would make me more comfortable.

So maybe just see how it goes after a month? If it grows or becomes more painful (of course it's very painful now that it was intensely mashed on yesterday, ) I'll go ahead and schedule it..... I think.....

No experience with this personally, but I would also elect to have the biopsy. Don't mean to scare you; just feel like it would give you peace of mind.

I have had 3 of them and they are came befgore I was 30.
The first one was when I was 22.
I would get the biopsy.

I would go for the biopsy too...remember doctors are just humans and they can make mistakes just lik anyone else.

Better be safe than sorry

I, too would choose to go for the biopsy, and did, about 17 years ago, when I was 32. It turned out to be nothing (I was told to cut back on caffeine) but I had peace of mind.

What is the antibiotic for? You should not take an antibiotic that has made you sick in the past, you may have an even worse reaction this time. I recommend you tell the doctor your experience with that medicine and ask for something else.

As for the evening of primrose, if you are on any other prescription medications, do a drug interaction search. Evening of primrose can have adverse reactions with some prescription medications.

I did have one, but for some reason I didn't have the option to have a needle biopsy - I had to have it surgically removed to have it biopsied... No idea why I ended up being benign, it was BIG... If it was today, and I were given the option of a biopsy, I would do it. 99% chances it will be nothing... but that 1% is still worth knowing IMO, if for nothing, for your peace of mind.

I wouldn't wait! Have the biopsy. My friend was talked into waiting and taking antibiotics and vitamins by her doctor, and ended up having to go thru radiation therapy after having the lump removed 6 months after discovering it. It is your body, I'm glad you trust your doctor, but I would personally want to know NOW.

I've got lumpy ones. I've had them like that for years, but when i found one i was x-rayed, had a needle biopsy and an ultra sound on the same day, with the results at the end which proved to be fat cells, so for peace of mind i would have a biopsy, because stress is bad for your health as well

Lots of