3 mammograms and 2 Ultrasounds

Staci6286

Hey Guys! Im sure this is the same for everyone but I had a hard time reading through everyones feeds cause it just seemed to scare me more lol.

Anyways, a little about my "story" I guess. In January I came across a lump on my right breast, pretty high up, close to the chest wall. I workout alot and figured that it had to do with weight lifting since I was benching the day before. Waited a month and it was still there. Went to my primary and had her examine it and she wanted me to go get a mammogram to check everything out. I put it off for whatever reason, fast foward to May. The lump is still there, now larger and causing me pain to the touch. I also experience other symptoms, just my right breast swelling randomly, tingling, the lump becoming very sore and then no pain at all. I figure its just because im more aware of it now since the lump is there. So i decided to go back and get the mammogram on the 9th of may. During the mammogram the tech was making all kinds of comments about how dense my breast are, which i know they are, and she took over an hour just to get those few images. She would block the screen from me and just seemed a bit strange. I got a call back the next week saying that they wanted to do an ultra sound since my mammogram was abnormal. Scheduled the ultrasound for the next day. Got a call from the imaging center because they decided they wanted to do the spot compression and then the ultrasound. So now i've had 2 mammograms and an ultrasound. While getting my ultrasound the tech took over an hour just going over one spot, where the lump is, which i thought was a pretty long time. She excused herself to go talk to the radiologist who was there and wanted her to talk a look at the images. The tech basically told me that she cant see anything... my lump is about the size of a quarter and very easy to find and feel but apparently nothing is showing up anywhere. So now im going back tomorrow to have another mammogram(3 now) and ultrasound.

I feel like 3 mammograms may be a little excessive.... But she told me that they wanted all 3 people to be in the same building for when i go tomorrow. The mammogram tech, US tech and radiologist, so they can all discuss and go over it together. I have a copy of all of my images, but i have no idea what im looking at, they all just look white to me. The ultrasound does show what look to be a few cysts in my right breast but they arent in the area of where my lump is.

Has anyone else experienced this type of testings?

I_Spy

Hi Staci -- what kind of facility are you going to? It is weird they wouldn't have "all the people there at the same time" when you went in for the ultrasound. The good news is that the ultrasound didn't make them go "OMG you have cancer", which it certainly could have. Also, the mammogram wouldn't have been technically called "abnormal", it would have been called "birads 0" (meaning they can't tell and need more images) or "birads 4" (very suspicious) etc. Do you have the reports from any of your mammograms? And again, what kind of facility is this?

Staci6286

Im going to an imaging center. Orlando Diagnostic Center is the name of it. They have a larger facility but its about 45 minutes from my house, they have a smaller site right next to my house and I guess some of the people work either at the hospital certain days and then at the imaging center certain days. The radiologist was only there Tuesday and Thursday this week for whatever reason, guessing cause its the smaller center of the two. On my referral it said "Abnormal Mammogram" but I finally got my report from the first mammogram and it was birads 0. I still havent heard anything though from my actually Dr, this has all just been from where ive been having the tests done at, which I also found kind of odd.

I_Spy

Not hearing from the doctor is okay, it is the radiologist who does all of the orders for follow up, imaging, biopsy, etc. I do think it is weird that they had you come in for a diagnostic mammogram, which is what they order when the first one is birads 0 (which is not even suspicious for cancer; it just means they need more views to be able to see anything), without everyone being in the building that needed to look at the images. Are these digital images by the way?

Staci6286

I don't believe that they are digital, I really think they just aren't seeing anything, mammogram or ultrasound. But the lump is easily found. Not that is any indication of anything either

I_Spy

Honestly, if I were you, and I'm not so keep that in mind, I would go to a different place. I would go to a Breast Imaging Center with digital mammography, whether that is a stand alone facility or a hospital. They sound like they are bumbling around, frankly. Get your reports and film and go to a different place. There is almost never a rush with breast cancer, but even if there were one week won't make a difference. I'm sure there is a place that can get you in this week anyway. But it is up to you.

Staci6286

I've been thinking that... Didn't feel the most confident in some of the people I've interacted with there. When someone is giggling and continually telling me they didn't know how to tell me I needed to come back a 3rd time for the same tests. It's hard to be confident in them. Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it! I'm gonna go tomorrow and see what they say but I'm definitely gonna look for another place

I_Spy

yes, and if they haven't been able to see what they're looking for so far, I don't think you should go back and get more radiation from the mammogram equipment. My DCIS wouldn't have been diagnosed if it weren't for digital. Like I don't think you should get another mammogram there.

I_Spy

You may not even need another mammogram. you could take the films to another place and the radiologist there might say: "you don't have cancer" just based on the films you've already had done.

bellefille70

Hi - I have a similar issue in that when I went for my mammogram, my breasts were so dense that the Doctor didn't feel that he could do an accurate reading. Rather than suggesting an ultrasound which can have similar problems, he recommended an MRI. In fact he went so far as to say that going forward there is no point in me having a mammogram, I should just get the MRI (not sure what my insurance will think of that). The day after the MRI he called to say that he saw two areas of concern, and wanted me to have a biopsy under MRI. However, when I contacted the hospital, they decided that I should have another MRI first. So....one mammogram, two MRIs, and still waiting for the results.

I would say that if breast density is the issue, you should talk to your primary care physician and see about getting an order for an MRI. And rather than going to an imaging center, if you are concerned, go to a hospital that also has a cancer treatment center. That way, there are more experts on hand. I hope all goes well.