Mammogram vs. Yearly

medoohsa · October 2008

My sister had a mammogram three months ago and the results were just fine. She had her yearly today and her gyno found three lumps. I had a mastectomy last October (I went to the same gyno after finding a lump), so in an abundance of caution, he wrote an order for an MRI for her.

Is it possible for her to have developed three cancerous lumps in three months time? She's absolutely terrified and went home without having the MRI done. She promises to come back into town tomorrow and have it done. We also have fibrocystitis (or whatever that's called) in my family and both my mother and younger sister have had lumps removed from their breasts.

I don't know how to reassure her because I've been where she is, but I just can't imagine that she has breast cancer so soon after a perfectly fine mammogram. Is that wishful thinking on my part?

Anonymous · October 2008

It could be nothing, but all breast lumps should be checked. Unfortunately, no single screening method is fool proof. Whether it's a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, PET scan, etc, each method can miss finding lumps/areas of concern.

Especially with your having had breast cancer, your sister needs to be very vigilant.

Please make sure she gets her MRI soon. I know she is scared, but this is no time for her to bury her head in the sand. Not having the MRI (or biopsy, if the radiologist feels one is needed) will not change the outcome. If there is a problem, the sooner it is found and dealt with, the better.

Prayers that the lumps are perfectly benign. In the meantime, hold her hand if need be, and help her get to her MRI. You are a great sister!

Dukemom

medoohsa · October 2008

She's promised to have it tomorrow. I plan to be there every step of the way, but I'm hoping they're just cysts and nothing too drastic will be in her future.

Thank you for your reply.

Mammogram vs. Yearly

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