Next Steps

bean421

Hi, I'm 29 and new here. On Tuesday I went in for my annual and my Dr found two lumps in my right breast. Given that I have a very strong family history (mom, both grandmothers) he sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound that day.  Both reports came back without showing anything.  My Dr says I should be grateful, but I just can't help but wonder why something I can feel would not show up on either test.  What should my next steps be? I'm worried sick about this whole situation. Thanks

nash

bean, ask your doc for a breast MRI. Mammos are hard to read in young women due to dense breast tissue, and u/s can sometimes miss things. That being said, odds are in your favor that the doc was feeling fibrocystic breast tissue rather than true masses. However, given your family history, I'd personally push for the MRI. 

Vicki26

Hi Bean,

Don't wait. Ask for a biopsy. I took a mammogaram when i found a lump, but it didn't show anything. And the doc. said i am too young to get breast and said i don't need a biopsy. But they are wrong. I waited until my cancer went to stage III to have the biopsy done. I am so mad that i didn't ask the doc to have the biopsy. And wait until stage III.

MaryDee

If you don't feel this has been adequately investigated, you can either ask your Dr to order a fine needle biopsy, or you can ask for a referral to a breast specialist.  Given your strong family history, the latter might be a better course of action because then there's a much smaller chance of any breast 'events' going undetected.  It's a much stronger safety net.