Mammogram question

[snapdragen]

Definately talk to your doc about it. If you can feel the pea sized lump, it seems it should show on the ultrasound.

[Nanci]

From the mamm/needle loc tech standing behind me:

Not everything shows up on US. MAKE SURE you follow the instructions for follow-up.

In six months, (this is the normal time period) they should do another mammogram to see if it has grown, is still there, is gone. If it has grown, they will (should) do a biopsy. Even if it is the same size at six months they may recommend a biopsy.

Also, make sure it is a good radiologist reading it. Ask your GYN. If you were seen at a Breast Center, you should be ok.

Scary- I know.

Nanci

[mary9761]

I would have a second opinion as well. I found a lump several years ago in my left breast that was larger than a pea, it didn't show on ultrasound OR mammogram though. Since it was a larger lump, I was given the choice of biopsy or lumpectomy. I wanted it GONE so I chose the lumpectomy. Luckily it was found to be benign, a Lypoma (fatty tissue tumour)
I now have several lumps in my right breast that we are keeping an eye (and hand) on to watch for changes. 2 of the lumps feel much like the first that I had removed and I found them myself and the 3rd the nurse found before my mammogram to be checked. None of them showed last year on the mammogram so I'm hoping there's no change in them this year (well, at least on film) I have felt the harder of the 3 feels like it has grown. They are pretty sure that they are the same as before, but we'll see if there's any change on the film next month at my annual mammogram.
I would keep pushing to find out for sure that there is NOTHING wrong, especially if the desity is still showing on the Xray. It may be something as simple as a calcium deposit, but the earlier that a malignant is caught (if there IS something wrong) the better chance of cure.
Good luck and keep us up to date please.
Mary

[Nanci]

Another mamm/needle loc tech opinion:

Do you have a strong family history?

She says it is the microcalcifications that are worrisome- a pea-sized white density could be a lymph node, cyst, a number of non-malignant possibilities.

I asked her, if it was you, would you demand a biopsy right now? No. She'd wait six months and see what the new mammo showed.

(Both these techs are who assists the radiologist in placing a clip in a suspicious area to mark the area before the pt goes to surgery to have the area removed- they have seen hundreds of breast cancers and not breast cancers.)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Get a second opinion!! And don't wait to do it.

I had a friend who had a small lump and her doctor looked at it, said don't worry about it it's benign, go home. It kept growing and 4 months later she went to another doctor and found out it was the very deadliest form of breast cancer, and she had waited way too long. She battled it for two years but lost. She was my age and left behind a 14 yr old son. Though not common, these things do happen.
Don't let this happen to ANY of you women out there!! If there's a suspicious finding- GET A SECOND OPINION RIGHT AWAY. It's nothing to take chances with.

[Dogmama]

I had the same thing a couple of years ago. Turned out to be nothing. They said it was fairly common, but still bears watching. The good thing is that I go to the same breast center each year for my annual squeeze, so they have all of my records. I think that is important.

[Nanci]

Having a doctor "look at" (feel?) a lump isn't the same thing as extensive films and an ultrasound...

(The same thing happened to a friend of mine with lung cancer- she had a chest x-ray for a persistant cough, there was a small density, she showed it to EVERYONE in a large teaching hospital, rads, ER docs, surgeons, her fiance surgeon and everyone told her the same thing- wait six months, get another film. One surg resident stood out and told her she needed a biopsy- but the majority ruled. Six months later- invasive lung CA to her mediastinum and lymph nodes. They gave her a 5% chance of surviving. She did.)

Nanci