QuestionQUESTION: I am being refered to a surgeon due to findings on a mammogram and ultrasound. How do I know if this is a good surgeon or not? What questions do I ask? Does this mean it is cancer? The way this all came down was I had my yearly and a lump was detected. Went for mammo and ultrasound, then just so happened I had an appt. with my PCP right after. They called with my results by the time I got there. I was to dumbfounded to ask any questions. Please tell me how to go about this. Debbie
ANSWER: I'm a Swede, living in Sweden so it is hard for me to give you advice on how to check the quality of any American surgeon. Initially your surgeon will not know very much until further tests are in. No it is not certain what it is but it MAY be cancer. I think your mammography & ultrasound should be complemented by 1. An MRI breast scan and 2. A biopsy of your lump - easiest as a needle biopsy. When these results are in it should be possible to decide what more to do - if anything.
Good luck! Please keep me posted!
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QUESTION: Dr. Nordquist, Thank you for a prompt answer. I see a general surgeon on Aug.14, I will keep you informed and will ask your opinion when I find out more. I am doing alot of research and I find there are many ways to biopsy this. I may ask what is your thoughts on this as well. I can't stop this anxiety I am having no matter what I do. Thank you and talk to you soon. Debbie
ANSWER: You are welcome! If your lump can be felt/palpated I think the easiest for you would be just a thin needle aspiration biopsy (the method was to a large extent developed by a former boss of mine, Professor Dr. Sixten Franzén, M.D., Ph.D., here in Sweden). It is fast, very reliable and practically painless - no local anesthesia necessary. If not palpable but visual in your mammograms I suggest a stereotactic needle biopsy. If it is possible to see the lesion with ultrasound that can also be used to guide a needle biopsy. Good luck! Yes please do!
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QUESTION: Hello Dr. Nordquist,I went to see the general surgeon yesterday and I was not very comfortable with him. I am scheduled for ultrasound biopsy on the 24th which I will keep, but if surgery is needed than I will look for another Dr.. A friend said if it is just a cyst than it is not cancer, is this true? This Dr. said he couldn't feel the lump so I am assuming it is deep. He speaks such broken english that it was hard for me to understand what he was trying to say. I don't want lack of communication. Misunderstanding. Can the radiologist tell if it is cancer right away, and is he allowed to tell me? I follow up with this Dr. Sept. 6. I feel you are my saving grace in asking of your knowledge. I will be in touch. God bless you.Debbie
AnswerWell yes communication is important. Yes if it is a cyst - which we do not know at present - then it is not cancer. No the radiologist will not know the answer right away. The biopsy/sample/specimen needs to be studied by a pathologist (or maybe a cytologist) before we will know what it is. Good luck!
