Need some advice

Mommadent4

About 3 yrs ago I had my 1st mammogram, shortly after my hysterectomy, along w/ an ultrasound bcuz my breast r apparently very dense. The radiologist found a 'spot' on my left breast they said was of interest. I knew this spot was there; I had felt this lump before but I have lumps all over my body that are always dissmissed by my primary care as little benign tumors. Though, I some times have pain in a few of them, they are explained away as hormonal changes. None the less, the radiologist wanted to keep an eye on it. So I was supposed to go back after 6 months for a follow-up mammogram & ultrasound but forgot about the appointment. I mentioned it to my primary care a few months after my missed appointment & she said after reading the radiologist report that it probably wasn't anything I should be concerned about, just make sure I get a mammogram yearly since I'm over 45. Well, then COVID happened. So, I decided it was best that if as long as I wasn't having any symptoms that couldn't be explained away, I would stay away from all hospitals & dr offices. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Which was working pretty well until June.

Of course the lump from the 'spot' on my left breast has been there for a few years now. But in June, I started noticing, on a daily basis, at the end of the day, when I took off my bra, my left nipple would look scaly or crusty, if u will. When I cleaned it, it felt like ripping my skin off. In addition to this sensation, once all the flakes were cleaned off, my nipple appears to be raw & bleed a little. By July, in addition to the symptoms I described, I started having a tingling sensation in the same nipple. So, I went to my primary care, who sent me to an OB/GYN, who sent me for a mammogram. Went to the mammogram & the same lump they were concerned about from 3 yrs ago is still there, but slightly bigger. So they do an ultrasound to get a better look, then decided I needed to see a breast surgeon. The breast surgeon ordered an MRI. So I did that. Now the breast surgeon wants another ultrasound & possiblely another MRI.

My biggest problem is... I can't afford all these imaging tests & co-pays. I have 4 kids, 2 of them in college. If I keep this up, its gonna break me financially. I'm up to about a grand in & all anyone will tell me is.. its just my hormones raging bcuz I'm in the throws of menopause. Everything is being downplayed like its nothing I should be worried about, yet they keep ordering test. I'm confused & considering 2 just say 'fuck it'; I'm done w/ the run around & downplaying. I'll just deal w/ the symptoms myself.

I'm open to suggestions or ideas. Anyone have this experience? Think I might have posted this in the wrong section!

LivinLife

I think it's important you let your providers, in this case the breast surgeon due to all the imaging and cost..., know about your financial concerns and the stress this is causing you. First you might want to check and make sure you don't qualify for a sliding fee scale if you're getting these done through a hospital imaging center. If you don't qualify then talk with the surgeon about your situation, see what is really necessary vs. maybe monitoring every 6 months or so instead of everything being done at once then repeating and possibly still watching.... or could they go right to biopsy if that's any part of their thought process after the imaging.... Part of this will also depend on whether or not they've changed their minds about whether this is just hormones or could potentially be something serious. It's unfortunate docs don't take patients costs and related stress in mind as they order all this stuff...esp. these days when people's copays, coinsurance, premiums and often deductibles can be quite high. See if others have additional thoughts. Sending support.....