Husband Lacking Information

Hello, it’s great that you are asking these questions, but to be honest there is no definitive answer until the biopsy results come back. They usually have a good idea before taking a biopsy that it is something that needs treating, but that does not necessarily mean full blown cancer. Even if it is cancer, treatment is excellent and recovery rates very high. I know it’s difficult but it is a waiting game ., try not to google too much..it will send you mad. I’m a mathematician so also wanted numbers and statistics, but it is just not as clear cut as that. Hopefully you won’t have too long to wait for the biopsy. Just be there for your wife as you obviously are. 
a lot of people on here post a profile, you can click on the user name.. that might give you some insight into personal journeys. 
sorry I’m not sure that helps but it’s a waiting game. 

Hi Anthony.P , sorry you find yourself here , and that your wife is facing a possible cancer diagnosis. I can only speak from my own experiences, and I’m not a medic. I have been through several referrals for breast lumps and can tell you about them, but they won’t necessarily shed light on your wife’s case or reassure you. But maybe getting some information about someone else’s breast cancer experience might help! The main information for you both will come when she gets the results of the biopsy. 
My first breast lump appeared many years ago - I got referred for mammogram and consultation, was told the lump looked ‘suspicious’. Had biopsy which was inconclusive. Had the lump removed and it turned out to be a benign fibroadenoma so no further treatment needed. This was over 15 years ago, I think now the machines are more sophisticated and I suspect nowadays that  they’d have known from the ultrasound and biopsy that it was benign. A few years later I found lumpiness on the other side - another referral, another inconclusive mammogram but an ultrasound showed that I had several cysts, which didn’t need any treatment or further investigation. 
Fast forward to 5 years ago - I found a lump, GP referral, went to breast clinic and had mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies. The doctor saw me after the tests and said right then that was sure it was cancer. But that it appeared small and early stage. I went on my own but took my husband along for the results 2 weeks later. It was confirmed as cancer, and the biopsies showed the type (there are many different types of breast cancer and each has its own recommended treatments). Mine was invasive and hormone positive. So I had surgery, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. But each case is unique and if it turns out your wife does have cancer, she will have a personalised treatment plan. 
It’s great that you are so supportive of your wife and that you also recognise that she has her own way of dealing with it all. I hope you can get some sleep until the results come through. Wishing you both well, HFxx

Hi Anthony.P 

The ultrasound has identified a lump, and that's the most anyone can tell you right now.

The point of the biopsy is to identify what that lump is, whether it is cancerous or not.  No one is able to say any more or decide on a treatment plan until the biopsy result is back. 

Unfortunately this wait is one of the worst times as you'll both feel very much in limbo.

You could always call the Macmillan team and speak to someone - they are here to offer support and answer your questions.

Hello Anthony.P,

Yes, there is a chance this is just a cyst or a fibrous lump. This is why they took the biopsy.

A scan, any scan, can only confirm that a lump exists but it cannot say with certainly whether or not the lump is malignant. It can, however, show certain characteristics, such as the degree to which it “lights up” on the scan, which is how the doctors decide whether or not it is suspicious.

Only a biopsy can give a definite answer whether or not the lump is malignant. There have been cases where a highly suspicious lump was found, on biopsy, to be completely benign, so until the biopsy results are back, there is no definite answer.

If the lump is indeed a cancer, the biopsy will also show what type of breast cancer it is, and reveal a few other things about how it is behaving that the doctors need to know in order to decide the best treatment plan, which could include different types of treatments, based on individual medical landscape and the biopsy's findings.

I am unsure whether or not this covers everything you want to know at this time, please say if there is anything else.