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Breast Cancer/Inconclusive core biopsy AND fine needle aspiration.

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Expert: - 8/20/2011


Question
I am 43. Female. Fit and healthy. I found a lump 8 weeks ago and sought medical help 2 weeks ago when the lump remained. I had a mammogram where a 14mm x 11mm lesion was found, followed by a core biopsy of the lesion and FNA of a lymph node that looked enlarged on the ultrasound.

I waited a week and  was booked for a wide excision and sentinel lymph node dye +/- removal of lymph nodes yesterday but had a call to say the results for all 5 biopsies and FNA of lymph node were all inconclusive and that I will need a repeat of the biopsies and my surgery was cancelled.

Why cancel the surgery? If the lump is 'small' whether malignant or suspicious, why not remove it?

How can 5 core biopsies and FNA all be inconclusive?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer
All things can go wrong, so also medical examinations. Here both your core biopsy & your FNA failed for some reason. In that situation I - if I were you - would INSIST on surgical biopsies of both your lesion and your lymph node! Good luck! Please do keep me posted!


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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

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