Tiny lump

Aniwhi

Hello everyone. Thank you in advance for any replies. I wrote 2 years ago (I think) as on a scan there seemed to be a 5mm nodule, but then on the mammogram nothing showed up. Well, I didn't follow it up as the doctors were quite adamant that the mammogram was correct - notwithstanding the fact that my breast tissue is extremely dense. Now I have found a tiny, hard lump near to the surface on the same breast and have all but convinced myself that it's the result of what was ignored 2 years ago ! Next Monday I have my routine mammogram, when I will also point out the lump. My question is : If they tell me it's nothing this time, too, what test could reassure me that they're right and that I needn't worry ?

Aniwhi

Thank you. I hope this is the case. More than anything I need to know what to ask for (as a second opinion) if they don't look into it any further. I'm an English woman living in the North of Italy where, sometimes, doctors are not so kind ! Good luck for your results.

Yogatyme

If they can get approval from insurance a MRI would get a better image. Ultra sound is also a better image than mammogram.

Gamb

ultrasound , mri, and make sure to your best advocate,,keep on until you know what you are dealing with, do not settle for no answers

CGLion

You might think about calling your gyno, or pcp. Screening mammos are different than diagnostic mammos/US. From my understanding if you have a clinical symptom (like a lump) you usually are sent for a diagnostic mammo instead of the screening, it is at least worth a phone call to see. Besides if you wait and they see it on the screening mammo the next step will be for them to schedule the diagnostic one anyway, so you might be able to save yourself that extra step, and the longer period of waiting and wondering.

Carissa

djmammo

Aniwhi

Is it the same size and same location as 2 years ago? Can you post the reports from 2 years ago?

When you go for your next mammo, make sure they put a marker on your skin in the location of the lump. This helps the reader focus in on the right area.

Aniwhi

Thank you all for your help. Two years ago it was just an image, I felt no lump, now there is a hard small pea size lump. I asked my GP to confirm and she felt it, too. As for the position and reports - I had the mammogram privately and the radiologist write in a particularly complicated way (I have a friend radiologist who confirmed this) but is good. It is in Italian, so I've tried to translate it, with difficulty due to his use of uncommon terms !

More or less ..

Breasts predominantly glandular, especially in QQ.EE (I don't know what QQ.EE means).

In the "para" areola external superior, left breast, a hypoechic image of 5mm, simil nodule, requiring ulteriori prudential assessment.

No sign of ductal ectasia.

No noticeable sign of underarm lymph nodes.

The screening mammogram results were never given to me, I just had a letter confirming everything was fine.

The position of the (very little) lump is left breast about 2 cm away from the areola towards my armpit. I don't understand if that's exactly where the image he saw was.

Thank you again.

djmammo

Aniwhi

If you never felt anything, what prompted that ultrasound?

Aniwhi

My breast seemed "different" under the areola. I went to my GP who said it felt a little thicker and so decided to check just to make sure.

Aniwhi

Hello again.

Today I had my screening mammogram and when asked if there had been any changes and reporting the tiny lump was treated pretty much like a hypochondriac.. Anyway, they really made me feel that I couldn't call and ask anything (the results will be by post or, if there's need for more tests, they'll call) so here I am, hoping someone can shed a little light.

I didn't mention (because I'm getting a bit of a complex) that in the last couple od days I've also found what feels like a vein running from the little lump and today, when I got home after the mammogram, it started hurting so I looked in the mirror and had an invent of about 3cm when my arm is down - felt it and it decidedly seems like a rather hard vein.

Should I be worried ? Mention it ? Or just save myself more embarrassment ?

If anybody could help I would really appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

djmammo

Aniwhi

"Today I had my screening mammogram and when asked if there had been any changes..."

Screening mammograms are "batch read" later in the day, not while you wait. If you asked the tech for results, remember they are not qualified to make that call and even if they saw something they are not allowed to say. What they told you is what they are told to say when they are asked question regarding results. If you wanted an immediate reading it should have been ordered as a diagnostic mammogram by your doctor, citing that lump(s) you feel as the reason(s).

If anything bad is seen on the screening they will call you back for more imaging. If you are feeling something new call your doctor and tell them. Perhaps they can send you back for an ultrasound.

Aniwhi

Thank you for replying.

I knew that they would not give me answers today, but my GP told me to mention the lump anyway saying they must follow up.

I was wondering, more than anything else, about the vein/groove which has appeared. I presume they'll have seen it on the mammogram and if they haven't (and don't call me back) I will follow it up privately.

Jack-Bear

I feel very similarily, that I am a hypochondriac in their eyes.

I try to tell all my Health care providers that I have a TBI. Then I become an uninteligent Hypochondriac.

Why should I do self exams? No one believes me.
NancyB

Aniwhi

I'm glad I'm not alone ! It is such a delicate subject to talk about, but when faced with almost accusing nurses or even specialists it makes it even more difficult.

Today I was asked if I checked my breast regularly to which I replied (honestly) no and was then confronted by a "you may have had it (lump) for a long time then !" Well, maybe, but that doesn't make it any less real or frightening.

I will insist, if I feel I need to, but other women who are too timid to do so ? After being treated in such a way they probably don't go back and possibly miss important illnesses.

Awful treatment.

Jack-Bear

YOU ARE NOT ALONE😳

I tried to point out what I thought were swollen lymph nodes. I guess they need to be HUGE! I can see one on my neck when I turn my head.

I am going to make a point of letting them know that I don't do regular self exams. Why should I?? Nothing I say makes a difference. I find a lump & they say it is not there.

"What's a girl to do?"
NancyB

Jons_girl

Aniwhi: I felt a lump close to the surface too! Mine was 4mm. IT WAS CANCER. They did a diagnostic mammogram because I felt it and my NP felt it. When I went in for my diagnostic mammogram the tech put stickers where the lump was and another lump that the NP was concerned about. I too have very dense tissue in my breasts. The lump DID NOT show up anywhere on my mammogram. I had a 3D diagnostic mammogram. Then BECAUSE I felt the lump and the NP did too, I was then sent for a ultrasound. The ultrasound showed the tumor.....clearly....it's bloodsource and all! They immediately wanted to biopsy it. I waited a bit for the biopsy cause we were going on vacation. I got a 2nd ultrasound when I returned from vacation and had a biopsy. The biopsy confirmed it. Cancer. That is what it felt like. It was hard....like a bb or pea.

If I were you I would go get a 2nd opinion. I am not sure where you live....if you have another breast diagnostic center....get a 2nd opinion if they aren't respecting you. Remember you don't have to stay with your doctor....you can get someone else's opinion as well.

But I would strongly suggest you ask for a ultrasound......if you can feel it that needs to be checked.

I don't want to scare you....but just want you to know that if I had not felt my tumor I doubt they would have ever seen it on any mammogram. My breasts are extremely dense tissue wise.

I wish you the best! We are here for you.

Aniwhi

Thank you so much for answering ! I really hope you are keeping well and have conquered it all. I had an ultrasound scan yesterday where the radiographer said he foun a 3mm cyst which I couldn't possibly have felt (so nice being treated like a cool - or worse, a liar !) and that it was nothing. Now I'm unsure what to do :-( He was so sure even before looking that I feel he only took himself seriously. I'm considering a RMN privately, it's not excessively expensive here in Italy, so I can just stop being preoccupied ! I think that if I had been listened to I wouldn't need to, but as I feel that all they seemed to want to do was prove me wrong (which I'd happily be!) I'm not confident that they were through enough. Awful really. I surely won't go back there for screening in two years' time.