Missing Mass, Awaiting MRI

Anonymous

I'm 44.  At 45, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and died a year later at 46.  I was 14 when she died.  All of my routine mammograms in the past decade or so since I started getting them have been normal.  Last Friday, I had a routine mammogram and they found a spot on my right breast.  They were using digital mammography so they also did some focused views on the suspicious area.  Then they sent me down the hall for an ultrasound.  The tech seemed to take forever and the end result was that I was scheduled for a stereotactic biopsy this past Tuesday.  When they tried to find the area that morning while I was lying on the stereotactic table, they couldn't find it.  After a while, they decided to take some more regular mammogram views as well as two diagnostic mammogram views.  The hospital radiologist then looked at the films from Friday and Tuesday.  He saw the spot on Friday's mammogram, but he apparently said he couldn't see what they were talking about on Friday's ultrasound (which they told me was actually two areas - one of them measured 5 mm x 2.5 mm).  He also couldn't see anything on Tuesday's mammograms.  Because of my family history, they have scheduled me for a breast MRI which will be on 2/16 (day 7 of my cycle).  The tech said that maybe I had a cyst on Friday that resolved by Tuesday.  But I have read that ultrasounds should show whether a spot is solid or liquid-filled and if it was liquid-filled, they wouldn't have sent me for biopsy.  Has anyone else had a mass found on mammogram and ultrasound, but then seemingly disappeared four days later?  Part of me thinks I should take the films to another doctor before the MRI.  Part of me thinks I can wait two weeks to have the MRI.  I'd appreciate any insights.  I had pretty much shut down my emotions from Friday through Tuesday, but since then I've been more anxious and sad.  I have a daughter in kindergarten and I want to be around to be a part of her life.

momof3boys

I'm sure someone will come along and comment on this. It's good that you're getting an MRI.

mkkjd60

Hello, my name is Mary. My mom had bc at 66 and she is now stage iv at 71. I understand your fear. I am 52. I have had one biopsy that was clear 6 years ago that the dr. said afterward they should never have termed suspicious. Thanks it only kept me sleepless for days! I also had one call back. They found a spot on the mammo couldn't find it in ultrasound well. They put me on a six month call back and couldnt even find it then. I go to a breast specialist and I alternate mammos and MRI routinely every six months. I've been doing this for six years and it gives some peace of mind. Maybe you should push for the MRI routinely. You have the family history to justify it. I also request copies of all reports associated with any test. I keep a big file on myself. Do you know what the birds score was? If one or two don't sweat it much. As a daughter of a mom with terminal bc I know your stress. If you've never read it, get the book My Mothers Breast. It is about women whose moms had bc. We do suffer some PTSD. Frankly, I think about just getting a pmbx and releasing myself from the issue forever. Sad that it looks so attractive sometimes. Please know I am thinking and praying for you that it is a big nothing. Blessings mary