Lymph node breast biopsy gone for 2nd opinion

Hi Pinklady1986,

Welcome to our Online Community here at Macmillan Cancer Support. I hope you find it a warm and welcoming place to ask questions and seek support. I’m Kirstine, one of the Cancer Information Nurses Specialists here.

I’m sorry to read that you are worried and waiting for results from a breast biopsy. It can be an unsettling feeling waiting for news, especially if this has been delayed. Its not completely unusual for a pathologist to ask for a second opinion if they aren’t sure of what they are looking at or something is unclear. Unfortunately, this doesn’t tell us whether it is more or less likely to be a cancer diagnosis or not. It’s simply an extra measure to ensure accuracy and thoroughness and offer you the best level of care.

It might help to keep in mind many abnormal lumps in the breast are not cancer. Although the cells may not look the same as the others it could be a benign condition.

I hope that it will yield a clear report so that you can know what this is, but on occasion the results may come back as inconclusive, and you may need to chat with your doctor again about what they might want to do next. I would be very confident that they will deliver this with total honesty and share any news with you as soon as they can.

Uncertainty is hard to cope with, but we often counsel people to try not to jump to ‘worst case scenarios’ without any evidence to back that up. Try to take care of yourself in the meantime. Spend time with people who lift your mood or doing activities you enjoy, make sure you are eating and drinking healthily and protect your sleep.

Wishing you the best and take good care of yourself,

Kirstine – Macmillan

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. Ref KDf/ CF

Thank you for your reply …so could this lymph node still come back ok and not cancer ? Or is there definitely something wrong if it’s gone for a 2nd opinion?

Hello Pinklady1986

Thanks for getting back in touch and I am glad you found Kirstine’s reply helpful.

I am Helen, Kirstine’s colleague and another Cancer Information Nurse here on the Macmillan Support Line.

I can see from your response how anxious you are, and I wonder if you would consider giving us a call. We might be better able to help support you over the phone while you wait for your results.

As Kirstine said, seeking a second opinion on a result is not unusual as cancer specialists work in teams rather than working in isolation. Checking the information is correct with a specialist colleague doesn’t mean it is more or less likely to be a cancer, it just means the specialist is being thorough.  

Do call us, Pinklady1986, we can chat through your concerns and allow you to express your worries in a confidential and supportive telephone conversation.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

Best wishes, Helen

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref HM/SF