Negative Ultrasound but Worsening Symptoms

Iris28

I finally got back the results of my ultrasound from last week. I got great results and I'm very pleased but something isn't sitting right with me. Is it common for reports to be so short?

Results:

Technique: ultrasound examination of the bilateral breasts in the areas of pain was performed

Findings: Targeted ultrasound was performed. No solid or cystic masses are seen

Impressions: no sonographic evidence of malignancy. BI-RADS 1 negative

That was it. Of course, I'm over the moon, but at the same time, I felt like the radiologist was very dismissive. He told me breast cancer never causes pain. Which I know for fact isn't true.

My symptoms have also been worsening. I have a flat spot under my right breast with an area right next to it that is protruding more. Recently, I have had armpit pain and light swelling on both sides.

I'm happy to hear negative results but if there's no mass, benign or otherwise, what could be causing my symptoms? I have a family history of DCIS and LCIS. Does anyone have any experiences similar to this?

Thanks

AliceBastable

Well, if there wasn't anything that showed on the ultrasound, there wasn't really anything for the radiologist to report. Have you seen your gynecologist? Bilateral swelling sounds hormonal.

LoverofJesus

Iris

I'm don't want to scare you. But let me tell you my story.

A little over a year ago I went for a mammogram because one breast seemed more lumpy than the other. Mammogram came back negative. I thought I was fine.

Then breast started flattening underneath when I raised my arm and puckering on one side. Andlooked smaller than the other breast.
yes I had pain.

Fast forward to next mammogram. I insisted on seeing a breast surgeon first.

He did an ultrasound, still saw nothing. But because it looked different he did a biopsy anyway. Turns out I was diagnosed with the one breast cancer that cannot be picked up on imaging except for a breast MRI. Invasive Lobular.

Please don't let a radiologist blow you off. Go see a dr that will biopsy it or order a breast MRI. Or both. Trust me I wish I had pushed it a year ago. I might have caught it earlier if I had known or if someone had just said something so I could have maybe known what to ask for.

Best of luck to you and I'm praying yours is simply what the radiologist said!

AliceBastable

LOJ, mine was lobular and it was seen on the mammogram, the ultrasound, and the MRI. It can be difficult to see depending on the location, but not all lobular cancers are invisible.

KBL

Mine is lobular. To this day, they haven’t found it in my breasts. No imaging at all sees it there. True, some can be seen, but I agree with LoverofJesus. Keep searching if you feel something isn’t right. I went six years before it spread to my stomach. That’s when it was found. I also do not want to scare you. Try to be diligent. I just did a video for a site, and my last words were: If you feel something isn’t right, keep searching for the answer. Don’t give up until you know.

Alice, I’m so glad they were able to see yours. It sure would make it easier if imaging could pick everything up.

Iris28

LOJ I'm so sorry that you had such a difficult time in finding your BC. I hope you are doing well and wish you the best! Thank you for sharing your experience with me.

I definitely am nervous that I am being brushed off because of my age (25). My aunt, who is doing well and is currently cancer free, was 30ish when she was diagnosed.

I'm definitely going to see about following up with my primary because it just doesn't make sense to me that my symptoms are worsening but the test came back negative.

Thank you. And I wish you the best!

Iris28

KBL thank you for taking the time to share your experience with me. I'm sorry that it took 6 years to get an answer. Wishing you all good things!

I have a doctors appointment with my gyno in about 5 weeks. I feel like they're going to think I'm insane, being the age I am and with a negative US. I admit I do have ocd and health anxiety. But it just doesn't make sense that there's no explanation for such a noticeable change to my breast.

Alice-

Thank you for sharing your experience and some of your ideas with me. I really appreciate it. Like I said above, I do have a gyn appointment next month, so I guess ill just have to wait until then.

Thanks! Good thoughts and vibes sent your way!

KBL

Iris28, you’re welcome. I would think if you show the gynecologist what you’re talking about, they will take a good look and maybe calm your fears or say maybe it should be further examined. I wish you the best. Please make sure to update us when you find out anything

trinigirl50

Not to scare you but I had two negative mammograms, three negative US scans. My nipple had flattened, my breast was noticeably larger than the other (though both were swollen - I think that was due to the HRT I was taking at the time) and I insisted something was wrong that could not just be hormonal.

Luckily for me my gynecologist agreed with me and rang up the Breast specialist and made another appointment for me. I asked for a biopsy, got the results back. Boom. Check my stats. Three years earlier I had felt something but because it wasn't seen on mammograms or Ultrasound scans, I was not biopsied.

Please do not let anyone fob you off if your breast is changing shape. Better to be safe than sorry.

In my BC support group, I was the oldest at age 50. Three women were in early 20s, 4 in their 30s, 5 in the 40s and me.

Good luck.