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I got a letter yesterday regarding my mammogram. It basically said congratulations there were no abnormal findings. However, per state law we have to tell you we don't really know because you have dense breast tissue. We have sent your results to your doctor.
I'm 44 and this is my 4th mammogram. I've been on birth control pills for the last year. Not sure if that's relevant.
From what I read/heard, those with dense breast tissues are harder at detecting masses, etc. Thus, very often we are required to go back for Close-ups or even ultrasounds.
Also read that those with dense tissue have higher rate of cancer, especially if women are sugar bugs.
I do have those dense breasts. Even with the breast reduction, there is not much fat in there, mostly tissue. Scary. Now that I am 50, I got a letter 2 weeks after my 50th to tell me I am allowed free annual mammograms. Turning 51 soon and not gone yet. I should tend to this. But the one I had done before my breast reduction (+/- 3 years ago) scared me as they could not see through that "mass", which ended up being a normal fluid pocket. Hoping the surgeon removed it when removing some breast tissue. hihi
This is the first time I've been told I have dense breasts for whatever that's worth. My mammos are always free so I never put them off.
I think this is common for younger women.
I'm 44. Does that count as younger? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
In the world of mammograms, yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by thekarens
Cool, I'll take what I can get :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I always got noted as having dense breasts pre-menopause. The last mammo I got, last year, I was finally menopausal, and the attendant asked me if I had lost a lot of weight. Uh, no...just gone through menopause -- they have definitely shrunk! I can feel that my 53-year old breasts are much softer and less dense. It's a blessing in some ways since a lump would be much easier to find. Pre-menopause, they always felt lumpy and bumpy.
In other words, you're perfectly normal, IMO. :D
Thanks for the reassurance Emily :)Quote:
Originally Posted by emily_in_nc
I had no clue that I also have "dense" breasts until I overheard an off hand comment from one of the tech's and I started asking questions. Discussed this with my Dr and asked why she was sending me for mammograms which are quite difficult to read properly if the breast tissue is dense when ultrasound produces better results. I now skip the mammograms and have the ultrasound done annually.
I have them too, and have to go for call back mammograms all the time.The radiologist says I have "dense breast" like it is my fault, like I ordered them online or something.....jeez.
They said they sent the results to my obgyn, so I'm assuming if I needed to do something he would let me know?Quote:
Originally Posted by rocknrollgirl
Rude of them...but this did make me LOL! :D They just don't like anything that makes their job harder.Quote:
Originally Posted by rocknrollgirl
Yes -- he should.Quote:
Originally Posted by thekarens
This article just happened to be in a newsletter I receive today:
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2014/07/...nt-afraid.html
Hope it provides some comfort!
Thanks Emily! That was a very reassuring article. I agree that the mandatory verbiage is more scary than helpful the first time you get it.Quote:
Originally Posted by emily_in_nc
I don't recall ever getting the "mandatory verbage", so was surprised to read this part -- I think they must have instituted this after I stopped having such dense breasts!Quote:
Originally Posted by thekarens
Quote:
Originally Posted by thekarens
Interesting. I wonder when they instituted that. This is the first year it's been on my letter, so I don't know if that's because the law is new or if it's a new condition for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by emily_in_nc
It was mentioned in a mammogram report that I received a few years ago, and the wording seemed like something they were required to include. I don't remember if it's been in my reports since then, since my doctor told me it was nothing to be concerned about.
An old thread but still valid...so why open another one. hihi
As I said earlier, I did finally go for that mammogram. After 50YO we can go on the voluntary government program which is free and can test you every 2 years until you're 60. So I skipped the 1st letter reminder...just too lazy to go and when I thought about it, the labs were closed.
So I did go last week (turning 52 soon). I told them that I had gone just under 5YO prior to my breast reduction and that I had been told my breasts were too dense to see properly. At least one darker spot in the right one - which we ended up finding it was just fluids pockets - nothing wrong - through ultrasound and that my left one was the same. So they noted it down for this test.
I told her we should go straight to ultrasound as anyway, it ends up there. We'd save time and money. But I guess they don't see things the way I do. haha
So of course I got a call today as the radiologist wants me now to take the 2nd mammography (a close up of the left breast this time) and do an ultrasound! I'm not stressed at all. Maybe I should...but nope.
But I called them up in the car on the way home to see if they could give me an appointment for nights/weekends as I did not want to miss more work than I did already with all those tests (a super annual - that I do only every 4-5 years :rolleyes: - plus my knees infiltrations). She looked and no ultrasounds are done on nights/weekends. Told her to get me something on Friday earliest/latest as my husband could drive me into work after as he's off on Fridays which makes things easier... no test either. So we could not agree on my schedule so I told her to forget it. Not gonna go and that's it. And I have to pay $130 for that ultrasound and I can't even get it when I want (nights/weekends)? No way Charlie! She said she'd just note this in the file and if I change my mind, I need to call within a week.
While talking to hubby who's driving, I have a flash. May be I can call another clinic I know and see if they do it on days/times I'd like. If so, I could ask the 1st clinic to switch my file there. But watch this... because it is a gov't program, they won't be allowed. But that 2nd clinic was closed. So I'll try them in the morning to see if breast ultrasounds are done.
My worst case scenario, I'll ask my doc for a referal for an ultrasound on left breast. That's it. Or restart the whole process again.
Not enough to stress women, you have to waste time from work to get it done. They can only do those ultrasound Mon-Thu and daytime, etc.
So I'm not gonna go to that ultrasound and will need to find a place I can get it done either in my work area or a schedule that would suit me better.
I'm not worried about it, but I do want to take it seriously and get the left breast checked out properly. You never know and you can't put your head in the sand. It's probably nothing but I need to make sure and have no regrets.
This is only me speaking, but sometimes you just have to miss work. It's inconvenient, but I would want to know definitively. It sounds like you sort of know what the outcome will be, but I would be worried beyond belief with anxiety until I knew.
In the end, your employer is not more important than your health. Perhaps this is just my Jewish mother voice speaking out...
It takes me a whole lot more than this to stress me. hihi
The thing is that I already missed a lot of work due to all the appointments, tests, etc I had to go through. My employer is very ok. It's me who hates it. Missing an hour is not bad...missing half a day for a 15 minute appointment...not going to happen! Even if I have sick and flex days for that. I want to keep them for something really bad.
I'm so not worried about it, because of what I had been told and seen when had my ultrasound before (quite a few pockets of fluids and very densed breast).
BUT! If you read my 2 last paragraphs, I said I would be going. :p Just need to figure a way out of my schedule. It's not the only radio clinic around but the only one that is working with the government on this program. There are other private ones around, that cover the breast xrays for free when you have a doctor's request, and you still have to pay for the ultrasound. So same thing for me in the end and I may get my appointment, on my conditions.
So yes I intend on going back, but I am not stressed at all about delaying it to when I find the time off-work.
This.... With mine, not only did I have to miss work, I had to pay $350 for my mammo and ultra sound together and then I had to pay $854 for the biopsy. It was worth the time and money for the knowledge and peace of mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
Between the keratitis in my corneas, rosacea, skin cancer, breast lump and tooth infection I've been seeing a boat load of docs and missing a lot of work. I apologized to my boss and told her I'd be happy to provide notes from the docs, but she said, "your health is way more important than any job. I have no problem with your attendance." It's nice to have a boss that feels that way because I'm still dealing with all those issues and will be for a bit.
After my hairdresser today, I went to the building which was right beside it. I spoke to someone in person. Funny how things are different when going "live" instead of over the phone to a "central".
She was able to schedule me for the close-up mammo, and ultrasound on the same day. So my appointement is going to be on April 29th at 8am. Mammo at 8 and ultrasound at 8:30. I should be able to be at work by 9:30am if all goes well. I normally start at 8am. So not too much time away from office.
Mammos are free for woman over 50yo here. But all other tests (like ultrasounds) are not covered. The close-up mammo is free too. And ultrasound will be 135$ but my work insurance covers it all. And if I had to pay, I would.
Anyway, I'll know more once those results are in.
Good news! Glad they were able to work with you.
I'm back from my close-up mammo and ultrasound. They wanted me back in to check on something on the left side of left breast (I knew it was for left one but did not know which area).
To make matters worst, my left breast (inside near middle of whole breast) was hurting me like crazy for 2 weeks (just 2 weeks ago). I could not stand the "pulse" inside. I even changed bra thinking it may be something with it. I am pre-meno (no periods since last November - yeahhh!) but hormones are playing tricks on your body like we could not believe.
Anway, had the closeup mammo done. I could see things on the xray but not enough to see something clear. Then the wait to get that ultrasound done. I told the doctor I had similar test done 5 years ago prior to breast reduction and it was the right one there was a density and it was cysts only.
She checked the whole area, with 2 different tools and all is good. She showed me while doing the test and explained what she would see if there was a mass. The thing showing up the xray is a cyst. Nothing alarming, nothing to do with it. It will probably be there for life, like any other. It may get bigger, or dissolve. You never know. So once done she said: nothing to worry and we'll see you in 2 years. :)
Yeah! I thanked her and said I felt very thankful as other women are not as lucky.
Phew! So glad it's all clear.
Now you and your DH heal up from everything else!!
Thank you.
Hubby was back into PT last night as he could not even sit on his bike for 5 minutes as pain was too high. She realigned his pelvis, did some stuff and told him to get on his bike when he got home. He did and was able to cycle 30 minutes at 100watts only (for him he's around 200w so it is low) and he was goooood. So happy for him. And me. :) But this morning he's a bit butt sore but I'm sure it will take a long time to heal from this nasty fall.
At least the breast test is done. All my other medical tests came back ok, but for some higher cholesterol on the light higher side but nothing to worry just yet. So since then we've cut down on most fat/sugar and see when we go in late June for a screening that this is on the right track. Only need now to go for eye exam as I'm nearing the point where I'll need reading glasses. shihssss. The joy of aging! hihi
Glad it worked out, Helene. I feel for your hubby. I hope he doesn't rush it.
For what it's worth, I eat extremely well, in terms of stuff that is good for keeping cholesterol dwn and my total cholesterol # is really high... my HDL (good cholesterol) is extremely high, which pushes the total up and PCP says there's no way she would put me on meds, since the HDL goes up from endurance activity. My LDL is kind of borderline, but she says just watch over next couple of years, that it must be genetic, since I am a paragon of healthy living compared to other patients. It's frustrating, though.
Same thing here, my overall cholesterol is high because my HDL is so high (LDL and triglyceride levels are very good). My doctor is very happy and won't have me change a thing. My HDL was VERY low when I was on a traditional low-fat diet...I mean almost non-existent so I am very happy with this.
This is common in younger women, but I also retained my dense breasts after menopause and last year was lucky enough to have a tumor that showed up at the outer edge of my breast instead of within the dense area. It was invasive breast cancer. During my mastectomy my muscle fascia (under the dense area) had a large area of DCIS which meant I had to have 36 radiation treatments.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
Now that 3d mammograms are available, I think all women with dense breasts should get them. I was told that for the remainder of my life I'd have to have MRIs, so...I'm having my other breast removed in October so I won't have to worry (hopefully) about a recurrence.
Thanks for this, Raindrop. I hope you're doing well after the treatments.
Ditto! I'm currently on the mammo and ultrasound every 6 months regime.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker