Should I have asked for a mammogram instead of chest xray?

hamster_fan

Hello all!

I'm 27 and last year noticed a "lump", I guess you could call it that, in my right breast. It fits the description of a "breast mouse" pretty well and the doctor I saw as well as my mom (nurse) say it seems like breast tissue or glands. On the other side I have a similar "lump" but the one on my right side is larger, firmer, and hurts more before my period. It's located on the outer top part of the breast. The doctor felt it, did some bloodwork and a chest x ray, and all seemed normal according to her. Yesterday while doing a self exam I noticed some more firmness/thickness on my right breast in addition to the aforementioned area, this time sort of more on the right side of my breast... it feels just like the older one in terms of texture and movability but in a different place. It seems like the breast tissue on only my right breast got thicker/firmer. I made another appointment to get it checked out but I'm driving myself crazy looking up descriptions of what is normal and what isn't. All the descriptions seem so varied and subjective and I'm especially concerned because they're not symmetrical. I also feel stupid for not asking for a mammogram and ultrasound rather than a chest xray. Ugh. Should I ask for a mammogram and/or ultrasound at my upcoming doctor's appointment? Would they give me one...? My mom thinks I'm being ridiculous and says her breasts were like this too. I know the chance is small but I just don't want them to not take me seriously because of my age and then it end up being something serious.

ctmbsikia

Is there any history of breast cancer in your family? When there is they usually start mammograms at age 35. Not saying it can't happen, but the odds are very very low that it is any serious other than normal breast changes that happen through the years. I'd be thankful you at least got a normal X Ray and have a Mom that is a nurse and similar breast issues. Take care!

hamster_fan

No history of breast cancer in my family, and yes I think you're probably right. I guess it can't hurt to ask for one though maybe? Although I do suspect I'm just being a hypochondriac. But I'm not sure lol.

Thank you for the response!!

ctmbsikia

We understand. You can always ask, and let the doc know how you feel and perhaps he/she will be re-assuring.

ParakeetsRule

I think you should ask. If they'll give you one, why not? At the very least you'll have a baseline and peace of mind. Something doesn't seem right to you and you are the only person who matters here. No offense to your mom but her breasts are irrelevant. Most women who get breast cancer do NOT have a family history of it.

Not to scare you but I was told what I was feeling was nothing. Doctors felt it and said it was nothing. It wasn't until several years later after it has already spread out of my boob that I was finally given a mammogram, which by then was totally pointless because the symptoms were so obvious.

hamster_fan

Thank you for the response! I think my mom is just speaking from her experience as a nurse and also what she felt with her breasts because obvs were related, but I do totally get that people with no history of cancers get it all the time. So yeah I'm like, it couldn't hurt, and if it turns out to be nothing then the peace of mind will be super worth it to me.

hamster_fan

Wait, would a mammogram just give me a false sense of security if I have dense breasts or whatever since I'm sort of young? Should I do an ultrasound instead...?

hamster_fan

Well I guess the doctor would probably know whether to get a mammogram or ultrasound or both...

ParakeetsRule

If they can't tell what something is on a mammogram they'll do an ultrasound to get another look. That happened at one of the mammograms I had later on the cancer-free side. There was a dense patch they couldn't get a good look at so they checked via ultrasound.

hamster_fan

Ugh. I wish I could just do both in one day haha. Thank you!

ParakeetsRule

They might. Sometimes they schedule an ultrasound for after the mammogram if they think there's a good chance they'll need it. My last two were like that. One I needed, the other I didn't.

hamster_fan

Oh nice, that would be awesome if they can do that... Kinda kicking myself now for not asking for one in the first place, at the time I thought the chest x-ray and blood work would be enough, but after reading some more I'm still suspicious. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

MinusTwo

I started having mammograms at age 32. I had a proactive OB/Gyn and very dense breasts. NOTE - was called back every single time from age 32 to age 67 because I had dense breasts and needed a screening mammogram & an ultrasound. At age 67 (after 35 years) I was diagnosed with DCIS. It doesn't hurt to ask...

SmoothOperator78

Premenopausal breasts change all the time due to hormones and body composition changes. It’s one of the reasons why the recommendations for self exams are to do it at the same time in the menstruation cycle each month. Of course, they aren’t recommending self exams anymore because of whatever reasons, but being aware of changes and what the changes are like in which phases of the menstruation cycle is a wise thing to keep tabs on.

If you notice a lump, get a clinical breast exam from your provider. That’s when a mammo/US would be ordered for someone <40 who is at a normal level of bc risk.

hamster_fan

Okay, thank you for the response. I don't even know if it's a "lump". My mom says that with the type of thing I'm feeling (like q thickening of breast tissue basically) if it was breast cancer I would be having other symptoms. She also told me they aren't recommending self exams anymore but eh I feel like they're still pretty important for potentially catching things early... but I just want to be sure I know whats going on so I really hope they give me a mammogram haha.

Sunshine99

Who is NOT recommending self exams? That's how both of my cancers were first detected.

hamster_fan

This is what the American Cancer Society site says: "While the American Cancer Society does not recommend regular clinical breast exams or breast self-exams as part of a routine breast cancer screening schedule, this does not mean that these exams should never be done. In some situations, particularly for women at higher than average risk, for example, health care providers may still offer clinical breast exams, along with providing counseling about risk and early detection. And some women might still be more comfortable doing regular self-exams as a way to keep track of how their breasts look and feel. But it's important to understand that there is very little evidence that doing these exams routinely is helpful for women at average risk of breast cancer."

So I guess for women of average risk they don't necessarily recommend them. But yeah I'm like, why wouldn't you want to do them anyway? The worst that can happen is you find something and you get it tested and it turns out to be benign right...?

Mine is just large sections of tissue that are firmer and harder than those of my other breast so I think it's a good idea to get it checked out. And I'm glad I am aware of them just in case.

AliceBastable

Keep in mind that most women do not have any symptoms of breast cancer other than a palpable lump for some, or, in the small percent who have IBC, visual changes to the breast. In my case, I had seen my PCP just a few days before my mammogram and she did a manual exam as part of a routine visit. She felt nothing, but told me I was years behind in my mammogram and to get one. The mammogram did and gave it a Birads 5. And I've found out since that I was lucky the mammogram saw it, because it was ILC with just a tiny bit of IDC (the biopsy showed mixed, but post-surgical pathology was ILC, so apparently the IDC was all removed with the biopsy), and ILC can be sneaky and evade both touch and some imaging.

hamster_fan

Yes, I did read that too! I guess there are different types though and the last doc I saw thinks that with what I have it would have shown up on my blood work or I would have been having symptoms. But either way I'm taking it very seriously. I'm a little frustrated that it's not an obvious hard lump, it just feels like parts of my breast tissue have become firmer although it's still rubbery. So I can't really find that much info out there talking about what I have, it seems like it's mostly focused on outward appearance or hard more defined lumps, so I have a lot of anxiety over it because I don't understand what it is and of course I'm worried because it's only in the one breast. I mean, it actually is SORTA in the other breast, but I don't understand why it would be so much firmer/larger in the one. 🤔 Sorry for rambling I'm just anxious lol. Thank you so much for the response.

ParakeetsRule

It's not unusual for breasts to have different features. They aren't always going to be the same! It's super common for them to be different sizes, after all. I think for now it would be best to try not to worry. Most likely it's nothing. If you tell your doctor about all your concerns and she seems to ignore you or blow you off, you can always get a second opinion.

hamster_fan

I think that's a big reason why my doc/mom weren't concerned, because although in one breast it's thicker/firmer, the doctor said "I can sorta feel it on the other side" and I guess they don't have to be totally identical. And like I get it but what can I say, I'm a worrier, and I'd rather be safe than sorry!! Thank you for your response, everyone here has been so helpful ☺️

MinusTwo

Hamster - OK - time to get a grip. I don't know of ANY women who's breasts match. None. As others have said, you are going to have lots of changes at your age. And they will continue. It never made any sense for me to do self exams because my breasts were so lumpy. If you are at high risk (family breast cancers for example), you need to plan regular visits to your OB/Gyn. I've never heard of a chest x-ray detecting breast cancer. Mammograms & Ultrasounds are the normal scanning tools. And to echo what others have said - it's highly unlikely that you'll have symptoms - neither physical symptoms or anything that might show in blood work.

So - if you don't have an OB/Gyn - get one and keep regular appointments. Other than that, you really need to move on with your life. If you can't stop the anxiety, please do talk to your doc about medication. Go in peace.

hamster_fan

Interesting, I'll ask my gyno why she ordered those tests at my next appointment. Understood, thank you!!

wrenn

I actually thinks some of these "not diagnosed but worried" threads are dangerous to mental health. When someone has seen a doctor but still visits a cancer forum they should be guided away not encouraged to keep looking for cancer.

This one is another example of the anxiety not being decreased by the forum. If my daughter had inherited my tendency toward health anxiety I would be upset with her visiting a cancer site. The initial kindness is helpful but when it continues it does more harm than good.

I wish the OP well and I hope you find the type of forum that can help you relax and move away from trying to find cancer in your breasts. Speak to your primary care doc about help with that. Anxiety can be debilitating. Take care.

hamster_fan

Thank you, I do work with a psychologist but sometimes it's hard for me to tell between what is a rational behavior/worry and what is not. 😅 I'm sorry, I totally understand your point.

wrenn

I get it Hamster. I do the same and it is scary. I think you should try to stay away from cancer sites and talk to someone about ways to calm yourself o

ParakeetsRule

As someone who was told by several medical professionals at my yearly exams that the weird lump was "nothing" I don't see a problem with somebody stopping by to ask questions. That's what this section is for. I wish I had thought to do that. Maybe my cancer would have been caught years earlier before it had grown from a tiny hard seed into a big lump and spread out of my breast. I ignored my instincts and paid the price.

wrenn

Stopping by to ask questions makes sense but when someone says they have been assessed clinically in person and also mention that they have health anxiety ("I'm driving myself crazy looking up descriptions") I think it is kinder to address that anxiety by encouraging them in ways that contribute to decreasing the levels of fear.

It's great that people here are so helpful and in some cases of "undiagnosed" more information is helpful.

I just think we have to recognize and respond to anxiety. I think this person was replying to those engaging her and was reasonable about moving on.

Anxiety is ugly.

Peace.