Dense Breasts

Hi Sharon68 - Mine was not found on a mammogram either due to dense breast tissue.  Just like Suzanne3131, my lump was palpable.  I found the lump myself while checking them.  Went to my primary care, who could also feel the lump.  Went for a mammogram (was not my first one) and the lump did not show.  I was also very small breasted (about a AA cup).  My lump did show on Ultrasound, but did not show up on my mammogram or MRI.  Luckily, there are 3 different tests they can do to check.  I guess if your lump is not palpable, they might not think to do an Ultrasound or MRI.  Lucky for me, they knew there was definitely a lump because we all could feel it.  I had my first mammogram at age 37, diagnosed with BC at age 40.

I have ready that dense tissue is an optimum environment for breast cancer to grow. It's not just about hard to find.

No mine was not picked up by either Mammo or US..my BS said it was a good thing I was "so persistent" I think he meant bitchy. I have been having mammos (sometimes US) since I was 35. I was 43 at the time of diagnosis and according to the BS he estimates I've had the primary tumor for about 7 years. My BS showed me both the mammo and US and dense tissue is white and cancer is white on the film. I think MRI's should be allowed for women with dense breast and a family history of BC. I am fortunate to have gone to a BS at a good cancer center and there they have a patient advocate who fights the insurance company for approvals for MRI's. My twin had an MRI after my diagnosis and has a great sense of relief knowing it was clear. She will get one every other year.

Diane

I hear you! I'm STAGE IV, dx stage 3C 5 years ago due to very dense tissue. I was 44 and had NO idea ABOUT dense tissue until dx. I'm in this mess becuz of dense tissue and no one did anything about it.

Surgeon said they missed it for 4 years at least. I literally feel my life will be lost to this eggregious error. It's unreal. At least the word is semi-getting out there. I've been told the blame lies w/both the radiologist and my obg/yn - as no one ever mentioned the "extremeley" dense disclaimer to me.

I'm 49.

- Kim

My tumor did not show up on Mammo related to Dense breasts. I had prior mammo's and my Doctor did not warn me of the dangers. It has taken me 3 years to get over the blame game.

Koda

Thank-goodness Connecticut has that law. I am in a VERY rough spot. It's entirely possible that I will not make it. If my onc gives me the "get your affairs in order speech", I believe I will call 60 minutes. We can't keep dying becuz of this OUTRAGEOUS neglect in woman's health. If I don't get on TV, then I will  just allow another truly innocent person like me to take the hit.

I had a career I loved. To make it even more beyond belief, I was suprisely recruited by the top company in my field 2 days after going out on ltd, last fall . I could not believe it. I thanked the mgr and their team for extending the opportunity to join their wonderful team, but said I would not be able to make that move at this team. The point is - I had built a good life and a bright future. I was really contributing to society, on a big scale. Now, I'm just trying to manage brutal chemos.

- Kim

I was told I have very dense breasts (I am a and was instructed that I have an US as well as the routine mammogram each year - or I can stagger 6 mos for one and 6 mos for the other.  I missed two years (my bad) and a friend scheduled me for my mammo but didn't realize about the US.  When I got the mammo I was told it was normal and showed nothing, but my breasts are so dense that I need to have the US - I had the choice of coming back the next week or in 6 mos.  I figured since I hadn't gone in two years I would go back the next week - glad I did:  US showed 8mm tumor which turned out to be IDC.  I feel very lucky that it was picked up on the US.  Scary stuff.

Yes, my 1.97 tumor was not seen on digital, diagnostic mammos that I received every year for 4 years.   And like Lago says, not only is it harder to find, but because we have more ducts and lobules (vs. just fat), we are also at higher risk.  

Thanks for this topic.  It actually came up today with my BS.  With news that my BRCA analysis was negative I opted to go for a lumpectomy scheduled for next Monday.  However, the surgeon said he would like to order an mri since my breast were quite dense.  He wanted no surprises!  That seems to be the thought of most everyone on this thread as well.  I can't stress how awesome it is to find a site with so much info!  Thanks aagain!!!

My treatment finished almost two years ago and this past Friday the onc told me I had dense breasts (which I'd alrady figured out) and that she was going to get me a scan in late April and then a mamo in July - I had the same earlier this year - wanna bet it came up at one of the conferences because why, all of a sudden are we all getting so many scans when before it was only a mammo?  God help us all I wonder sometimes what we'd do if we didn't have one another.

I see that no one has posted since 1/27, but I thought I would add my story anyway. 

I had been told I had very dense breast and it was hard to read mammos.  I have had microcalcifications in the L breast that have been monitored closely by mammo for several years.  When I went for annual exam in Oct. my GYN felt a lump in my R breast she thought was a cyst.  I had a mammo and US on the same day.  Mammo results were normal "come back in a year".   But US results showed a mass.  The mass turned out to be atypical ductal hyperplasia, but when I had that removed they also found LCIS and a stage I IDC.  After finding the cancer unexpectedly the surgeon sent me for MRI on both breast and each one has areas that need follow-up in 6 mos. The IDC was at the chest wall and would have grown for years unfound on mammo.  I am thankful that I have a good GYN who was able to feel the lump as I could not (only with her help), and a good radiologist that read the US because the mass was difficult to see on US as well. 

Add one more example to this list.  I am small-breasted with dense breasts.  I had regular mammograms, and had often been told about my dense breasts, but I didn't understand that increased my risk.  I had discharge from my nipple, so my doctor ordered a diagnostic mammogram (different from a screening mamm).  My DCIS did not show on the mammogram, but the technician must have felt something when she did the breast exam because the next thing I know they want to do ultrasound (fortunately they did it right away).  The DCIS did not show on the ultrasound either, but they were concerned enough to recommend biopsy.  The biopsy came back positive for DCIS, but they had no idea how big it was.  So then came the MRI that showed it was 8 cm - pretty big for DCIS - about half the breast.  So I had a unilateral mastectomy in July.  I am not bitter because I know it could have been much worse.  No chemo, no radiation for me.  Just the surgery, and I'm doing fine now.  But the DCIS had probably been slowly growing for a long long time ....

Forgot to add that I only found out I have dense breasts when I got the second opinion.  And ILC often does not show up on mammograms and is not palapable.  Still get the answer - standard follow-up protocol is mammogram.