Weight loss effect on mammo?

MotherOfBichons

I have to go in for a diagnostic mammogram tomorrow. Yes, I know, this is last minute....lol It's only because I have been reading and not finding what I'm looking for.

I had DCIS/lumpectomy/7wksRads in my outer right breast back in July 2005. So we are 14 years out. My screening mamm paper from the screening says "there is developing nodular assymetry in the outer right breast." And "Developing nodular opacity in the outer right breast." Left one is ok. Since I don't know what was ever written on other mammograms when I've needed additional images, I have no idea how good or bad this really is. Reading scientific papers online don't help....

I had been off my feet for almost two years with plantar fasciitis and gained a lot of weight. Been on a diet and working out the last 4 months, lost 30 pounds. I have lost almost 3" in my bust - and NOT on the left breast!!!! Honestly!! The right one is now less than half the size of the other one, lol. I know this not just from measuring but also because the falsie I usually stick in the right cup of the bra doesn't even fill up the cup, while the other boob is happy and fills the whole cup.

I have been reading here and there that weight loss can make the difference in a mammogram, but how? A lot of it is not in layman's English so I am not sure what I'm reading. Any ideas? Thanks!!

MoB

djmammo

MotherOfBichons

The breast is composed primarily of glandular tissue fibrous support tissue (white) and fat (black). The more fat there is the more spread out and scattered the denser tissues appears. When you lose weight you lose fat in the breast and the dense tissue moves closer together making the entire breast look denser, but it actually is only due to the loss of fat, as the volume of the dense tissue is relatively unchanged.

(edited for typos)

MotherOfBichons

Thank you so much! And, that is just what I found out today (yay!).