Post biopsy weird advice

[Anonymous]

Maybe weird is not the right word but I feel like I am not getting good info from Washington Radiology or my gynecologist so seeing if anyone has experience here.

I had my annual mammogram and then had follow up needle biopsy. Needle biopsy results are benign radial sclerosing lesion but I have not been referred to a breast surgeon at Virginia Cancer Specialist. I assume breast surgeons are cancer specialists but I kind of got a weird response from gynecologist about if this is benign why am I going to cancer specialist? And I got no real answer beyond this is her area of expertise and while it is benign I should talk to the breast surgeon. I have made an appointment but would love some advice from someone who had this.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think this is so weird, I was having some blood tests last year and went to an oncologist. I had nothing anywhere related to cancer going on. I think it would be totally normal to talk with the breast specialist about this most of which to handle breast cancer patients.

[Anonymous]

I saw a gynecologic oncologist for my fibroid surgery, so I don't think the advice is weird. I thought of it this way: an oncologist handles severe cases, they can handle my benign tumor.

[Anonymous]

It is standard of care to remove these lesions over a certain size because there is a small (~20% depending on the study) possibility of the presence of hyperplasia or malignant cells that were not captured by the biopsy.

https://www.breastcancer.org/benign-breast-conditions/radial-scars

[Anonymous]

I just wrote the post “breast cancer-some advice”— go see the breast surgeon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wrote the post “breast cancer-some advice”— go see the breast surgeon.

Thank you for your post. I am going to see the surgeon in a few weeks. I just wish they would be more direct right now- like your biopsy is benign but you should make an appointment with specialist and stay on top of this. Like I am all for preventive care but just be a straight shooter

[Anonymous]

A few years back, I had a biopsy which came back with the same diagnosis- radial scar. I was referred a general surgeon who referred me to an oncologist. The oncologist had two recommendations: 1) I take a low dose of Tamoxifen for 5 years or 2) I have annual breast MRIs in addition to annual mammograms. So every 6 months I would alternate between an MRI and a mammogram. I chose to do the latter.

Feel free to ask any further questions. Please do follow up with the surgeon. Wishing you good health 😊