u/s, then mammo?

JenniferCanada

I've never had a mammogram before. I found the lump and was sent straight for an u/s. (which apparently didn't show anything....no cysts, lumps, bumps....nothing) I guess I had a false sense of relief because well the lump is still there and palpable...

I went yesterday for the mammo, the u/s recommended a screening mammo ( I was late and the last appointment but she squeezed me in) and quite honestly I hadn't thought much about the lump since the u/s results showed no focal abnomalities (which is kind of odd since they didn't scan my second breast so how do they know what to compare it to?) And the u/s scan made no mention of the underarm/armpit scan they did so I'm assuming that was nothing as well..

Any way when I went in yesterday she said they would take 4 images, 2 of each breast (right to have something to compare it to) and said that she would take 2 compression something or others.. other images of the left breast (breast in question). She asked me to show her where the lump was and she felt it and put a band aid with a marker on it to help them look more closely in ultra sound later on if need be.

She followed by saying it's not uncommon to get called back in after the radiologist reads the images to get a second mammo done (soon was my understanding- like in a week) since they have no previous images to compare to and if there was nothing at all to worry about the results would be sent to my g/p by the end of the week.

The lump feels deep set, like its attached to my rib, and kind of oval, long and thin and very close to my nipple, immovable (9:00)....I can barely feel it when I'm standing but its solid and immovable when I'm laying...I felt like during the mammo it wouldn't show up because the mammo doesn't get close enough to my rib area...

Anyway if the mammo doesn't show anything and they don't request any other tests should I continue to pursue the issue? Everyone can feel it but the u/s thus far didn't detected it, chances are neither will the mammo... Should I request an MRI or a biopsy if they don't see or explain anything?

I find it all odd....after a week of feeling utter relief and reassurance now I'm starting to doubt again.

Also I haven't mentioned the hardness in my armpit to anyone except the u/s tech. Should I let my g/p know about it? I just assumed that if the u/s tech and radiologist didn't see anything then it's probably nothing to mention..

Is there a certain kind of cancer that is more detectable by mammo rather then u/s?

Although I'm young (40) I have nursed 6 children and I have small (B cup) no longer dense breasts, this shouldn't be so complicated!

Kicks

It is probably your age why you had an US first. Unless there is a reason to do it, mammos are not usually done first with younger people (remember - men too can developed BC though it's not common). For us 'oldsters', usually mammo followed by US if questions. I can only go on my experiences and what my Drs said. There is one type that usually will not 'show' on a mammo but will on an US. I haven't heard it the other way around but that doesn't mean it can't. There are no absolutes!

You certainly should have mentioned the underarm issues - could be tied in with the lump or not, the Dr needs all possible information from you. When you see a BS (Breast Surgeon/Specialist) be sure you do mention it and anything else that seems 'different' in the breast area (not just directly in the breast). Do not be afraid to ask every question you have, especially if you don't understand what/how anything is said.

Get a pad and write down every question you have come up to ask (so you don't forget them while seeing the Dr) leaving a space to write the answer. If I always make a separate copy of my questions that I hand to the Dr, that way he/she can sometimes combine the answers for several that are related. Another idea is to use your Smart Phone to record what he/she says so you can review/go over it later if 'something' needs to be reviewed.

NATSGSG

Next step is to request an MRI. Very accurate