Follow up to a mammo/sono - Update

So long story short, I have dense breasts. I had a baseline mammo at 35 . That’s when we discovered I had dense breasts and got an ultrasound too. At 37, I felt a lump, back to dr. Another mammo and sono, told it was a cyst and totally normal in women my age.

Here we are 4 years later, I went for my annual mammo/sono starting this year (they will now be annually since I am over 40). I got the call to come back for a follow up. My mammos are basically useless as they pretty much can’t see anything on them. My ultrasound shows a .4x.4.x.4 cm hypoechoic mass on one breast so they want to do a targeted ultrasound.

I have rescheduled this appointment twice because I feel like 2020 has such bad vibes (we had 2 deaths of really close family members this year-one COVID and one non COVID related, both were shocking and threw the family for a tailspin). I know this is silly and I need to get to checked out, but I really can’t bear it if is god forbid bad news. There is too much on my plate already.

Anyway, I finally bit the bullet and swore up and down to my husband I would go to my appt next week. Not to mention it’s super awkward during these COVID times, changing in same room as tech.

Has anyone else dealt with this? I am already dreading if this is what is going to be like each year, I feel like the stress is going to take years off my life.

Update: Thank you everyone for all the responses. They really helped me. I was there for quite some time yesterday and had 3 techs come in so of course I was thinking the worst. So they said it’s a lymph node which is very common apparently. They want to see me back in 6 months to remeasure it. Whew! I can breathe easy for 6 months now I guess.

Message edited 12/3/2020 8:45:48 AM.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Posted by Dolphinsbaby

So long story short, I have dense breasts. I had a baseline mammo at 35 . That’s when we discovered I had dense breasts and got an ultrasound too. At 37, I felt a lump, back to dr. Another mammo and sono, told it was a cyst and totally normal in women my age.

Here we are 4 years later, I went for my annual mammo/sono starting this year (they will now be annually since I am over 40). I got the call to come back for a follow up. My mammos are basically useless as they pretty much can’t see anything on them. My ultrasound shows a .4x.4.x.4 cm hypoechoic mass on one breast so they want to do a targeted ultrasound.

I have rescheduled this appointment twice because I feel like 2020 has such bad vibes (we had 2 deaths of really close family members this year-one COVID and one non COVID related, both were shocking and threw the family for a tailspin). I know this is silly and I need to get to checked out, but I really can’t bear it if is god forbid bad news. There is too much on my plate already.

Anyway, I finally bit the bullet and swore up and down to my husband I would go to my appt next week. Not to mention it’s super awkward during these COVID times, changing in same room as tech.

Has anyone else dealt with this? I am already dreading if this is what is going to be like each year, I feel like the stress is going to take years off my life.

Follow up to a mammo/sono

I was about to reply the exact same thing as PhyllisNJoe/ Additionally I had quite a few people this year who had the "cancer scare" (all different cancers including breast) and had to go back to more testing. They were fine. My point is not everything is cancer.

How wonderful that the technology is there to rule it out or make an early diagnosis. Please take advantage of that now. If it's nothing, you will be relieved and can stop worrying. If it is something, you will be so fortunate to catch it early. Good Luck. Keep us posted.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Thank you both. Interesting about the 3D mammo. No one ever mentioned that to me? Yes my appt is in a few days and I will go. The only part I am relieved about is that I will meet with a dr right then. I won’t have to go home and wait for them to call me. Praying it’s just a cyst and nothing serious.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Ask for MRIs instead. It's a bigger ordeal but it is what is best for dense breasts.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

The earlier you are tested the better it is for you. I know it is scary. I just had my mammogram done last week. They had to cancel my first one a week earlier. The tech, who was supposed to be my tech apparently fainted. She told me herself. My first year I had both the ultrasound and the mammogram but my breasts are not dense, so it is just the mammogram now for me. Look, I know it is stressful, it please get tested. A friend of mine did not she kept pushing it off and now has stage four breast cancer. She is 42. Please get tested.

Follow up to a mammo/sono

I’m also one that has dense tissue and constant cysts. I have no idea how to do monthly exams bc I constantly feel the cysts - which vary in size and location. Best of luck with your appt next week!

Follow up to a mammo/sono

Hi, I agree with everyone else. Do not put it off and go and get it done. Are they just doing an ultrasound or a FNA? I always have a mammo and ultrasound done together during the same appointment, I have dense breasts also. I had to have 2 FNA's done on two cysts they found. Thankfully good news. But, I know it's scary and you will worry until your appointment, but you really have to go. Good luck. Hoping it's all good news.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

I have something called LCIS (non cancerous abnormal cells) that puts me at an elevated risk and I have done it all over the years: mammo/sono, needle biopsies, MRI, and a recent lumpectomy.

I am SO glad you are not putting it off. Chances are it's nothing but you never know. While I was waiting for my recent biopsy results the only thing that kept me semi sane was that I keep up with things so I knew that if it was malignant it could only have progressed so far.

Also, I have done all of the above in the past 4 months and I have never had to change in front of any medical professional so I wouldn't worry about that.

Sending lots of positive vibes. Most of these are nothing so the numbers are on your side.

Follow up to a mammo/sono

I don't understand doctors who only suggest mammos after 40???/That is insane. My doctors where adamant about mammos ever year starting at 35, and I have no breast cancer in the family. Makes me so mad that some doctors play with women's lives like that. I also have dense breasts too, so the sono is done every year also. But I digress, please don't put it off! If we get shutdown again, which most likely is happening, it;s going to be even longer until you have it done! Don't wait!

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

another dense breast patient here, i also have to get sonos because of that.

i've had 2 biopsies in the past, with clips. wasn't anything.

its a pain to go through. hopefully this is nothing for you and let's get 2020 outa here and done with ughhh

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Message edited 11/29/2020 8:24:21 AM.

Follow up to a mammo/sono

Yes, fna is a biospy. Okay, so step one is an ultrasound. Hoping for all good news, keep us posted. And going forward when you get your rx for your mammo, tell them to add the sonogram on there as well. It's just easier to get them done at the same time and since you have dense breasts, they will want to do that, too and just need that first reminder to add it to the script next year.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Follow up to a mammo/sono

Don't put it off. If it is something, the longer you put it off the worse it could get, and if its nothing, then the sooner you get it done the sooner you'll have peace of mind. On a side note, any time I've had a mammo/sono or any kind of medical test that required getting undressed, the tech was never in the room with me while I was changing. Maybe try another testing facility if they make you change with the tech in the room.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

Follow up to a mammo/sono

I have dense breasts, too and I always got the Rx written "Mammo with sono as needed" so I don't get tortured waiting. Now that you've already gotten that done, I had a targeted sono where they put a guide in and then focus just on the area. It wasn't anything to worry about in my case; just some tissue that was like a "mesh" in there. My MIL had the same exact thing and it turned out to be a cyst, but it was clogging her duct, so it had to be taken care of. She had a lumpecotmy and her pathology report came out clean. keep us posted!

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono

I did not read all of the replies, but I also have dense breasts and go every year (since 35) for both a mammo and sono. BUT, the results are read immediately so if they need additional pictures, they do it right then and there. The appointments take a little longer, but it's worth it IMO.

Follow up to a mammo/sono

And to add to this --- I was diagnosed stage 3 breast cancer at 39 --- I found the lump myself and had my first and last mammogram shortly thereafter. Get it checked. 40 is not a magic age. More and more women with cancer younger and younger it seems...and I WISH I had found it early --- if you can find it early it makes all the difference in the world. DO NOT put it off. You have the benefit of it being nothing or worst case scenario it being an early stage cancer. I didnt have mamos becuase I was young and no family history (but found out I am BRCA2) --- Do what I couldnt and get yourself checked before its a problem.

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono - Update

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono - Update

Great update

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono - Update

So glad to hear the update! Thanks for etting us know. Now relax and enjoy the holidays!

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono - Update

So glad to read about your good news. I know you have a lot on your plate. It's so easy for us as moms to get caught up in taking care of everyone else that we neglect our own health- physical, mental, whatever.... Good for you for getting this checked out!!
As the others suggested, have your dr write your rx as a mammo and sono so you only go once, instead of twice from now on. It definitely makes things easier.
Be well and enjoy the holidays!

Re: Follow up to a mammo/sono - Update

Good! So happy to read that. Now you can say 2020 was good to you. LOL