4mm shadow no big deal?

glassqueen

4mm shadow no big deal?

glassqueen

Hi, this is my first time being on here and I'm already glad to have found this site. I'm extremely high risk. My only sister died of breast cancer and my mom is a survivor. My recent mammo didn't go well. I've a very strange lesion, visible only from the top view including in my spot compressions. The DR said its nothing & to be checked again in 6 months. He also said family history is not a big deal and I shouldn't worry. So we all know just how much he knows! I do have a tattoo in the same area as the lesion, a red tear drop, and I'm hoping it is the cause of my worry right now. But its never been questioned before in all my previous mammos and I've had a few of them as well as having this tattoo for 20 yrs. Anyone ever heard of a tattoo showing up on a mammo? Hopefully, someone will say "YES" and I'll get a little sleep tonight.

Amy

Nichola

Hi Glassqueen,

Firstly, as we get older our mammos often show up cell changes that really 90% of the time don't become cancerous.  They have noted the change - that's all...

Secondly, when a doc says don't worry about family history, in my experience it is because family members who had cancer were 40 plus... Is that so in your case?  (My sister and I have both had BC but the genetics were not an issue)....

Thirdly, your tatoo has nothing to do with what they see on the mammo!

I do hope this puts your mind at rest...Best of luck and let us know how you get on...

Marian61627

Hi Amy,  family history is ALWAY important, it's not your doc's life it's yours - ask for an MRI.  And if he won't refer get another doc.  You have family history and now a "strange lesion" it may be nothing but a mammo or sonagram might not see it.  All of my mamography were clear and my sonagram, only an MRI (which was preformed after a genetic counselor suggested it) showed the DCIS.  I hope it is nothing but getting a clear MRI will allow you to sleep again and it isn't unwarrented!

Best

glassqueen

Hi,

Thank you for your help & insight!

Unfortunately, my sister was 30 yrs old when they diagnosed her. She was misdiagnosed for almost a year and a half and then fought for 8 yrs. My mom, was well into her 60s. There are many other distant female relatives ( aunts & cousins ) who've been diagnosed too, all ranging in age from 30 to 67. This radiologist told me family history has nothing to do with any of it and that I shouldn't worry about it just because someone in my family has had this disease. I still think he has webbed feet.

I was really hoping that someone had heard of the older tattoos showing up on films considering some older inks used ( reds & yellows ) we now find out contained mercury. It was just a thought though, you know, wishful thinking. My stupiity in my youth had a way of smacking me in my middle age <big grin>.

Either way, I'm taking no chances. I'm taking my films to a well trusted surgeon tomorrow. Did she my previous lumpectomy and I'm going to see what she says about this. Being a survivor herself she knows the importance of such things. In fact, she's the one who said I was extremely high risk and should take no chances.

Thank you again for answering me. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

Take Care

Nichola

Extraordinary...when family members have been that young getting it...it's always an issue!  Sometimes these docs can be so patronising!

Gosh, if you have got mercury in that tatoo...shouldn't you get it removed? 

Best of luck for tomorrow and let us know how you get on!

glassqueen

Hi Marian,

Yes, I agree. Family history is important. Mine is too strong to ignore thus the reason I have no faith at all in this radiologist. I've already had one good scare with inflammitory breast cancer in 2006 and the lumpectomy took 1/4 of the left breast...wasn't what I'd call a lump but much bigger. They still don't know what the heck this was. Now another problem on the same breast.  The lesion is very odd. Its an off white shadow ( not bright white ), no smooth edges but not really sharp either. AND its only visible from the top view. The radiologist said if it were something bad it would be seen in all views. He said to just ignore it & get rechecked in 6 months. That was a week ago...I see my surgeon tomorrow. It's really quite scary. I'm finding a great of comfort in this board / site as there is nobody here with me to talk to about it. I'm not really able to tell anyone in my family. I don't want to worry them. My town is so small that even if I tell a friend somehow everyone will know by the end of the week, something I'm trying to avoid for now. They all went crazy when I had back surgery...nobody would even let me use the bathroom by myself! Talk about having no modesty left haha. I'm going to ask my surgeon tomorrow for the MRI with contrast. I had one of these the last time (2 yrs ago ) and this lesion wasn't there then. Better safe then sorry....I've got my kids to think about. Thank you for talking with me, for your experience & input.

Take Care

glassqueen

Hi Nichola,

I actually looked at getting removed due to possible mercury content in the ink. I was told if this ink used did contain the mercury, the amount was too small to be a bother, so just leave it be. But I wonder now if the mercury could be showing up on my films...like other metals will. But then, wouldn't it have shown up on previous studies? One would think so. But it didn't. Well, my back is starting to hurt from sitting up so long. My rods & screws are humming from the impending rain storms. Time for me to hit my lazy boy for a spell. Thank you, all of you, for talking with me today. See you tomorrow.

Take Care, All Of You.