Mammogram vent

princessleia22 · August 2015

So, I'm 35 years old with little breast cancer risk in my family history (a couple of great aunts that got it when they were older). After my physical a few weeks ago, my ob/gyn sent me for a mammogram. At first I was, like, crap... I'm getting old. And she was sending me for bone density scan (there was a valid reason for me to get that at my age... thanks to extended depo-provera use many years ago before they knew better), so I figured she just decided to do both while I was there. I didn't think much of it. Then at the appointment the techs were all surprised she would send me so young for it, unless there was a reason for it (thanks for freaking me out techs). It kind of got me wondering if my doc noticed something during the exam and didn't say anything. Personally, I can't feel anything odd or abnormal for me, so I'm not too concerned. But, now they want to do additional scans on one side... this time at a different facility. I know that mammograms at young age are harder to get good images because of higher breast density, so I'm assuming the images are just distorted and they need clearer images. And I have been told before that I have fibrous and dense breasts, so that would increase likelihood of a bad scan. So, I know that it's very unlikely to be anything bad, but, it still messes with your mind a bit. Because there is always that tiny chance that it's not just bad scans... and that's scary. I just needed to vent about it. And I don't want to vent to anyone in real life, because I don't want them to start worrying. But, I do feel better just getting it out of my head.

Oh, and on a positive note. I was diagnosed with osteopenia & osteoporosis at age 23, thanks to depo provera. This was the first time they have done a bone density scan since then, and everything was in normal ranges now. So, I'm very thrilled that I don't have osteoporosis to worry about yet.

julieanne912 · August 2015

I hear ya... I had to go in last year for a mammogram and breast ultrasound because my NP felt a lump during my annual, I was 31/32. I have zero history of breast cancer in my family, but I was still super freaked out. My mom told me her and her sisters all have "cysty" breasts, and it wasn't anything to worry about. Turns out it wasn't anything at all, I just tend to get a little lumpy during certain times in my cycle. It took $1,000 and a bunch of my time (two separate appointments, the initial and then a follow up scan 6 months later) for them to figure that out due to my crappy insurance.

And, yay for the good bone scans! That's something I worry about too since I don't think I get enough calcium in my diet.

kimmiinthemitten · August 2015

I have a 25-33% chance of getting breast cancer; my family has a history of pre-menopausal cancer but we don't have the BRCA gene. Annually, I get 2 clinical breast exams, a mammogram and a MRI, each about 4 months apart.

What additional testing? I've done just about it all so can give you advice LOL. If your tissue is dense, a follow up from your first mammogram is pretty common. This gives your doctor a baseline to compare to later.

And you're right, it's completely and totally nerve wracking!

WinstonsGirl · August 2015

Weird. My Dr. told me that mammograms start at 50 with no family history, 40 with history and earlier if they have reason to look. If you're really concerned about it, go back and ask your Doctor. It's your health so make sure you are comfortable with what's happening.

CMGragain · August 2015

If it makes you feel better, there was no doubt about my mammogram that disclosed advanced, stage 3 lobular breast cancer. Earlier scans, a few years previously, had disclosed cysts, so I hadn't worried much. Wrong!
Yes, it is stressful. Yes, it is uncomfortable. No, they won't tell you anything. Actually, in a way, they do. When something is wrong, the technicians get very quiet, and less chatty. They are not allowed to tell you anything. Only the radiologist, whom you might not even meet, is allowed to tell you anything. Rules.

That was in October 2008, and I was 57. I am still here. Statistically, I should have died a year ago. No where close. I'm living a normal life and traveling with DH, thanks to modern medicine and those uncomfortable tests. I graduated to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer about a year ago. It is no longer curable, but it can be treated. There are annoyances that come with living with metastatic cancer, but nothing I can't handle. (The vision in my left eye is weakened by the radiation treatments I received a year ago to shrink a tumor in my eye socket. The retina is damaged, but I can still see out of it, just not as well as before cancer.)

Good luck with your diagnoses, and keep up with those irritating tests. It is worth it! I'm leaving for Norway in the near future. Ufda!

mrscomposer · August 2015

We've got 'lumpy boobies' in my family too, so I'm going to run in to this at some point. My mom has gone through two non-routine mammograms to get checked out, and has had to have a biopsy done (I think twice?) - and everything came back normal. My great grandma is the only one who has actually had breast cancer (and she beat it).

So. I hear your vent - because I'll likely be venting about it in the future, too.

loveislouder · August 2015

Yeah, I'm with ya on hating when medical people do stuff and it freaks you out but they won't tell you anything. When I die, it'll likely be of cancer - we have breast, cervical, lung, liver, kidney, brain and skin cancer in my family (both sets of grandparents, my mom, and my dad). I was 18 and went to a walk in because my hands kept going numb and the walk in doc was like 'oh... it's probably cancer. Let's do a carpal tunnel test." And I was like, hold the boat for a frikken minute. You don't just tell someone (an 18 year old) that it's PROBABLY cancer when you haven't done any tests, and then don't actually test for the cancer.

I was so mad. So I hear ya.

princessleia22 · August 2015

My doctor didn't act at all like she was concerned about anything. She didn't do any extra groping of my breasts or anything like that, which I would expect if she felt or suspected something. I knew I'm on the young side for mammogram, but didn't even think anything of it until the people checking me in at the exam place started asking a bunch of questions about why I would get it so young and it's very surprising that my insurance would cover it at my age. And the tech didn't act like she was seeing anything unusual. In fact, she led me in the opposite direction, saying that if there was something wrong, I'd get a call from the doctor, but I likely should expect to get the card in the mail saying everything looked good in about a week. But, when they called to schedule follow-up scans, they were very quiet and kept transferring me to different people, which freaked me out a bit. But, they probably don't really have much info either, beside what tests are being ordered.

I don't know exactly what additional scans they want to do... I didn't ask. They do all the follow-ups at a different facility, so I'm guessing they have better scanning equipment there and maybe ultrasound. 99% of my brain is convinced that it's just routine stuff and getting better images. I know I don't have high family risk for cancers. Although, I grew up with scoliosis and have had probably 400 x-rays in my life, and multiple bone scans, MRI's, CT Scans, and nuclear medicine scans, so that could increase my risk of cancers. So, the other 1% tends to read into every delayed response from the techs and that small possibility that it could be more. Luckily, the 99% of my brain is stronger and keeps the negative thoughts to a minimum. Overall, I think I'm more annoyed than worried.

kimmiinthemitten · August 2015

princessleia22 said:

My doctor didn't act at all like she was concerned about anything. She didn't do any extra groping of my breasts or anything like that, which I would expect if she felt or suspected something. I knew I'm on the young side for mammogram, but didn't even think anything of it until the people checking me in at the exam place started asking a bunch of questions about why I would get it so young and it's very surprising that my insurance would cover it at my age. And the tech didn't act like she was seeing anything unusual. In fact, she led me in the opposite direction, saying that if there was something wrong, I'd get a call from the doctor, but I likely should expect to get the card in the mail saying everything looked good in about a week. But, when they called to schedule follow-up scans, they were very quiet and kept transferring me to different people, which freaked me out a bit. But, they probably don't really have much info either, beside what tests are being ordered.

I don't know exactly what additional scans they want to do... I didn't ask. They do all the follow-ups at a different facility, so I'm guessing they have better scanning equipment there and maybe ultrasound. 99% of my brain is convinced that it's just routine stuff and getting better images. I know I don't have high family risk for cancers. Although, I grew up with scoliosis and have had probably 400 x-rays in my life, and multiple bone scans, MRI's, CT Scans, and nuclear medicine scans, so that could increase my risk of cancers. So, the other 1% tends to read into every delayed response from the techs and that small possibility that it could be more. Luckily, the 99% of my brain is stronger and keeps the negative thoughts to a minimum. Overall, I think I'm more annoyed than worried.

On your mammogram prescription there should have been a note regarding the reason for the test. Had there been a suspicious spot, it would have been noted on the breast diagram.

IMO I would call and ask specifically what tests so you know what to expect. The U/S is very different than say the MRI in terms of testing, time requirement (5 minutes vs 45) and when they can do the test (U/S can be done at any time, MRI should be done the second week of your cycle). Also, the MRI is difficult if you're claustrophobic at all.

From past experience, it sounds like it was just a baseline mammogram due to family history and dense tissue. The technician would have paid particular attention to one spot if your Dr saw anything and it wouldn't have been something you missed.

As someone who started at 30, 35 now, I hate the way I get stared at etc every time I go because I'm young. It's not exactly enjoyable or stress free, so please pile on by commenting on my age, and how rare it is. And I go to a hospital that specifically has a breast cancer program for young, at risk women!

Good luck, fingers crossed for you!

ETA: Where the two Aunts sisters/same family tree? if so, that's considered family history, even though it's a little removed.

CMGragain · August 2015

Having been through this, maybe I should elaborate.

Step one: Mammogram is hard to read and indeterminate.

Step two,: Sonogram shows suspicious dark area.

Step three: Biopsy, which may show benign tissue, or may be bad news. They won't know for at least 24 hours, when the lab tests it. The lab will contact your primary physician, not you.

If it is positive for cancer, they will determine what kind of cancer it is. Good news, it is slow growing and HER-2 positive. Bad news, it is fast growing and triple negative.

Step four: Noisy, uncomfortable, time consuming MRI to give your oncologist the most information possible.

Step five You will get a very expensive PET scan. This will look for metasticization in other parts of your body. I'm getting my fourth one next week. These are only nasty if they make you drink some icky contrast junk before the scan. Lately, most testing facilities aren't using it.

When I reported, by telephone, that I had found a lump in my breast, my doctor had his staff schedule me for a mammogram. It is immediately obvious that there was a large tumor. I was frightened, and called the doctor to ask some questions. I called four times. He never returned my call.
The doctor who performed the biopsy was kind enough to give me advice. However, the technicians are NOT ALLOWED to talk to you about your condition. They would lose their jobs.

I went to the surgeon recommended by the radiologist, and never saw my primary physician again. I told everyone about his unprofessional behavior.

The surgeon recommended that I consult with another doctor, a plastic surgeon before the mastectomy, and they worked together on the operation. After a month of recovery, I started seeing an oncologist and a radiology oncologist at a cancer treatment facility. I began chemo treatments (bye-bye, hair) and later, radiation treatments. I don't remember very much about that year. It was five years before the cancer came back in my eye socket. They were five good years.

After all the treatment, I went in for plastic surgery reconstruction. It was great! No more foam falsie! I had to buy all new bras in a completely different size. When I am wearing a bra, or a bathing suit top, you cannot tell that I have had any surgery.

Future prognosis: I will likely die from this cancer someday. Not today. Not tomorrow, either. Cancer isn't really a bad way to go. I will have time to say goodbye to my loved ones, and to tell them how much I love them. Not everybody gets that.

Anyway, this is what you can expect if it is bad news. No one in my family had breast cancer, but since my diagnosis, two of my cousins have also been diagnosed and treated. They were much less advanced than I was, and their future looks bright. My mother, at age 87, had the beginnings of breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy, but no other treatment.

Don't be mad at the technicians for doing their job correctly. Do be mad at your doctor if he doesn't communicate. This is HIS job.

huskypuppy14 · August 2015

You have to advocate for your own health. If you are not sure why you are being tested, ask. I also have lumpy breasts, and my doctor has had me come in a week or so later to do another breast exam, just in case.

Good luck, call your doctor is you're worried. I think my mom had a mammogram at 35, nothing ever came of it. Some doctors/hospitals are more conservative than others. So don't worry too much, though I know it's hard.

emmaaa · August 2015

I'm sorry you have to go through this but I agree with @huskypuppy14, you have to advocate for yourself. I would definitely call and ask the reason for the initial tests and then for the follow up.

I hope you get osme answers!

Mammogram vent

Re: Mammogram vent

Choose Another Board

Search Boards