Mammogram question

[Bikingmomof3]

Hi Everyone!

A few weeks ago I had a mammogram. I received a call 2 days later saying that there was "density in the left breast", which wasn't there on last years mammogram. So, I was asked to come in again. (I'll be 46 next month).

I went in a couple of days later. I saw my mammogram picture, and they had circled the "suspect whitish area" in black marker.

The tech took 3 pictures, explaining to me that "it's probably nothing", then I went out to the waiting area.
I was called back in -- the "density" was still there, so....the tech took 2 more pictures. Back to the waiting area.
And, again, I had to have more pictures taken -- The tech told me the radiologist wanted another couple of pictures.

By this time a couple of hours had passed and the overly crowded waiting room had cleared out twice.

I was getting more concerned..... I had never before seen a mammogram picture with my name on it before that had a bright white area circled in black marker.

The tech told me to put a gown back on because the spot was still there and the radiologist wanted to do an ultrasound.

When I met with the ultrasound technician, she felt my left breast and said, "here, you can feel it right in this area".. It felt to me to be lumpy breast tissue, but there was a small pea size hard area.

So......the technician did the ultrasound of just the upper outer area.
Then, the radiologist (female) did the same u/s exam.

Both said that, "nothing is showing up on the ultrasound". She told me to come back in six months time to have a mammogram of the left breast.

Because October is "National Breast Care Awareness Month", and lots of TV/newspaper shows/articles about breast care awareness, (as there should be) -- I'm just a bit more than concerned.

I will be seeing my GYN in early November for my annual, and will speak to her about this.

I'm just wondering what you ladies would think of this, if it were you?

Thank you in advance for all your advice.

Peace & Love,
Denise

Denise,
I would get a second opinion. Let us know what happens. I am praying for a good result.

[Triskeliongirl]

I will tell you that this happened to me and it was nothing. But in my case, they didn't feel a pea size anything, it was just an anomaly on the mammogram that was not confirmed upon ultrasound or rexamination later. The reason to wait 6 months is that if it is just fatty tissue its likely to dissolve, move, etc.while if its a tumor it will get larger. Of course, the risk in waiting is that it if is something, you will have lost time in treating it. Given the radioligist is new, the palpitation of a pea size obsject, and the doubts you are feeling, I think getting a second opinion is well worth the cost. But, I would also stay CALM about it, not stressing and assume its nothing but by following up you give youself the assurance that just in case you are doing everything you can to get the best care possible. I would also monitor it by manual exam if I were you, and if I detected any change in size immediatly see my doc about it.

[chickwhorips]

i say if you feel like you need more answers then seek a second opinion, if your comfortable with what you were told, make sure you go back in 6 months. i know anything like this isn't fun to worry about. try to stay calm and think good thoughts.

as a sidenote: my mom died of breast cancer. it wasn't a lump that was found to late but more of an indentation form of breast cancer. i'm not sure what the exact form/name of it is, but it was caught to late because they were looking for lumps instead of for that.

[btchance]

If you are worried about it (and it sounds like you are), it is fine to go ahead and have a biopsy. It doesn't have to show up on US, there are mammogram tables that allow them to do what is called a stereotatic biospy - basically they do a mammogram, use a computer to localize the area, then use the computer to guide the needle to that location and biopsy it. Some women have masses that they can feel, but aren't seen on mammogram or US and they are biopsied based on palpating the area.

If the radiologist and techs aren't worried about it, it will probably be fine to wait six months. I would say do your monthly breast exams, and if you feel any thing growing, or feel anything in your axilla (a lump of lymph node), go back in and have them biopsy it.

What ever you decide to do, I hope you can have some peace of mind about it. Chances are it's nothing, but it is something to keep an eye on.

Good luck!