My life is a roller coaster these days, I roll from good mood to miserable in the matter of hours. Yesterday I was chipper. I was at work and too busy to think about stupid calls from stupid doctors (sorry doc, I don't really mean it). I had also found a link on the Internet that discussed the differences between benign and malignant masses from the image on the ultrasound screen.
I copied the following from the article (GE Healthcare Brochure--Essential Elements of Breast Imaging Basics)
Characteristics of a Benign Nodule are :
- Ellipsoid shape or wider than taller orientation with a thin echogenic capsule and a width to AP dimension ratio of 1.4 or more.
- Uniform echogenicity or intense homogenous hyperechogenicity
- 2-3 gentle lobulations
Characteristics of a Malignant Nodule are:
- Hypoechogenicity
- Spiculated contours/Angular margins
- Taller than wider orientation
- Posterior acoustic shadowing
- Duct extension, branching pattern
- Presence of suspicious microcalcifications
Hypoechogenicity means the image is difficult to record with ultrasound. That means it shows as very dark. Spiculated contours means it is spiny, the edges are not smooth.
The image on my ultrasound was dark and had irregular edges. Both of those characteristics indicate cancer. The good news is it was wider then it was tall. That indicates benign. I'm not sure about the last three on the list for malignant masses.
Searching for information both helps me feel better and feel worse. I don't understand all of what I see. Even when I understand the meaning of what I read, I don't always know if it applies to me or not. All in all it helps me feel in control. Knowledge is power. The more I know the more I feel in control.
Of course the loss of hair and the loss of control are two of the worst things about the cancer experience.
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