Mammogram showed mass - what else could it be besides breast cancer?!
Question: I had my 2nd mammogram last week. The dr called right away and said I had to go back for a diagnostic mammogram - so they obviously saw something they didn't like. If it's not cancer, what else could it be? I do have family history, I'm trying to be optimistic.
I'm terrified. I have a 2 and a 4 year old who need their mommy.
Answers: I had my 2nd mammogram last week. The dr called right away and said I had to go back for a diagnostic mammogram - so they obviously saw something they didn't like. If it's not cancer, what else could it be? I do have family history, I'm trying to be optimistic.
I'm terrified. I have a 2 and a 4 year old who need their mommy.
There are a few reasons why a woman would be called back for more images after a mammogram. Vary rarely, the images are of poor quality or have an artifact on them. This doesn't happen often because the mammographer checks her images before she lets the patient leave. Occasionally, the mammographer will miss something that the radiologist catches.
More often, there is an area of the image that needs further evaluation. This could be because the patient has dense breast tissue. Dense tissue appears white on the x-ray film....and so do all signs of breast cancer (both masses/lumps or calcifications). You cannot see white pathology through white, dense tissue. It is like trying to see a white volleyball in a the snow in a photograph. Sometimes, compression views are needed in these cases, just to ensure nothing is "hiding" behind that white tissue.
Other times, the radiologist sees a mass or calcifications. Many masses and different types calcifications are benign. There are special views we can take (magnification views) which will show those exact areas better. In the case of microcalcifications, these images will show the edges of the calcifications in more detail, so the radiologist can determine which type they are. In the far majority of cases, the radiologist will determine they are benign....not cancer. Even after these special views, a radiologist might ask for a breast ultrasound, and maybe even a biopsy. Even if your case goes as far as a biopsy, around 85% of these are benign.
Worst case scenario, you may eventually diagnosed with breast cancer. But, if you think about it logically, this is not life ending. It means that you were diagnosed early....before you had an advanced lump that could be felt. This is what regular screening mammography is designed to do! Mammography is designed to find early breast cancers, which can not be felt. The survival rate, in these cases, is about 96%!
So, it is not a bad sign to be called back for more images. It probably happens to about 1 in 10 women after their screening mammogram. Best wishes.......
Calling you back may mean they have seen a mass, but this does not mean it is cancerous. Masses or tumours are just when the cells over-replicate and thicken into a mass. Whether it is cancerous or not depends on other factors.
The best way to ensure a good prognosis is make sure you go back for that diagnostic test.
Good Luck
It is not necessarily cancer.
Fibrous cysts are possible.
Also - sometimes a spot on a mammogram just doesn't look quite right and turns out to be nothing at all.
If it IS cancer - you will still be fine. There is a lot that can be done. And since you are having regular mammograms the likelihood is that they will have caught it very early.
It could be a cyst or a blocked milk duct. It also could be a bad film and on the repeat it wont be a big deal.
Good luck. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. It turned out to be a fibroadenoma-completely harmless.
It did have to be biopsied to be sure, so it was definitely scary. But it was fine.
Hang in there!
MM
Could be a cyst - or dense breast tissue - or a clogged milk duct. Don't worry until there's something to worry about.
Just follow up with the dr and everything will be OK.
Hi,
Only 5-10% of breast cancer can be attributed to a family history so try not to focus on that. Of course, you should be diligent in checking and following up on things and it sounds like that's what you're doing.
A lot of people get call backs and something like 86% of suspicious lumps turn out to be benign so again, try not to worry unless you find you really have something to worry about!
And even then, there's lots of support and new treatments out there....check out breastcancer.org for a huge amount of both.
it could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or even just a dense area of tissue. because of the prevalence of breast cancer, when they read the mammograms, if they see any area that is the least bit abnormal looking they always order further images. most of the time turn out to be nothing to worry about. "diagnostic mammograms" are usually what they call spot compression views, they zone in on the specific area of concern. they can see the area better this way and it gives them a different angle. Don't be too alarmed if the doctor wants to order a breast ultrasound as well. It is very scary, but sometimes in a way I think they over do it, but you can never be too careful. I am a triage nurse for a large family practice, I see a lot of mammogram reports and a lot of women go for spot compressions and ultrasounds, try to take it one step at a time, sometimes it does take several tests to determine if there is real concern for cancer.