Doctors and related people - If someone gets a lump surgically removed, does that mean its cancerous?!
Question: Doctors and related people - If someone gets a lump surgically removed, does that mean its cancerous.?
A family member had a lump in her breast and they are going to remove it (not a biopsy) with surgery. My family doesn't want to tell me anything about her because they are afraid the information will upset another relative if it leaks out. I suspect they are holding something back.
Does removing a lump mean that she has cancer .? She's also morbidly obese at age 65 with a pacemaker. I'm concerned. Based on this information, can you guess anything about her condition or the risks to her health .? Nobody will tell me.Health Question & Answer
Does removing a lump mean that she has cancer .? She's also morbidly obese at age 65 with a pacemaker. I'm concerned. Based on this information, can you guess anything about her condition or the risks to her health .? Nobody will tell me.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Most breast lumps are benign, i.e. not cancerous.
However, most benign breast lumps do not require surgery.
There are, however, some benign breast lumps are removed surgically.
So, the fact that she had a lump removed does not tell you whether it was cancerous or benign.
The fact that your family is so secretive about it, though, does make me suspect that it was cancerous. The removal of a benign tumor or something would not be that upsetting.
I assume they don't want the one person even to know there was breast surgery. So keep that secret. The person they don't want to upset will probably think it is cancer if she finds out that there was surgery. Or maybe this person will just be upset at any surgery, considering your family member's existing health problems.Health Question & Answer
However, most benign breast lumps do not require surgery.
There are, however, some benign breast lumps are removed surgically.
So, the fact that she had a lump removed does not tell you whether it was cancerous or benign.
The fact that your family is so secretive about it, though, does make me suspect that it was cancerous. The removal of a benign tumor or something would not be that upsetting.
I assume they don't want the one person even to know there was breast surgery. So keep that secret. The person they don't want to upset will probably think it is cancer if she finds out that there was surgery. Or maybe this person will just be upset at any surgery, considering your family member's existing health problems.Health Question & Answer
Jumping to surgery to remove a "lump" is old medicine. Needle biopsies are usually done first.
Today, surgery is usually done before/instead of a needle biopsy if the area cannot be easily reached through a needle biopsy.
If she's already had a needle biopsy, the reasons to move to surgery are malignancy or inconclusive results.
Being obese and having a pacemaker make having surgery a little riskier, but I'm sure she's in good hands. Her surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses will take good care of her.
Good luck to you and your family. Surgery is always scary, no matter what it's for.Health Question & Answer
Today, surgery is usually done before/instead of a needle biopsy if the area cannot be easily reached through a needle biopsy.
If she's already had a needle biopsy, the reasons to move to surgery are malignancy or inconclusive results.
Being obese and having a pacemaker make having surgery a little riskier, but I'm sure she's in good hands. Her surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses will take good care of her.
Good luck to you and your family. Surgery is always scary, no matter what it's for.Health Question & Answer
In your cause, there is a possibility that it might be cancer. But removing a bump through surgery doesn't always mean it's related to cancer. I had a bump removed from my leg and it had nothing to do with cancer, thankfully.Health Question & Answer