Any other ladies with only one dense breast?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I'm curious as to how many women out there are like me and only have one dense breast. It is the same breast I've been having ongoing issues with (I sound like a therapist). Is it typical to have just one or is it more common to have both be dense?

(This question popped into my head as I was working out this morning)

Thanks Ladies!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    I guess I'm the only one :( On both the MRI report and my mammograms it shows that my left breast is very dense while my right one is not. I haven't found anything that tells me if this is common or not. Off to Google some more...

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  • tamtam
    tamtam Member Posts: 70
    edited September 2011

    I wish I could help you out on that one Frown but mine are both very dense.

    Just a side note: I had the MRI come back saying it had a hard time seeing through my dense breasts and the OBGYN confirmed that's what the report meant lol, it took a little bit to find out the meaning and I thought only Mammograms couldnt see through denseness. I hope you find someone that gives you information on the one sided denseness Smile 

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  • SarahsMom
    SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
    edited September 2011

    Hi - green sea turtle -  I missed your post - one dense breast here, left for me,  too!! Classic focal asymmetry.

    Mega issues with it - already had a ductal excision due to spontaneous nipple discharge and two papillomas, have two areas of increasing thickness and calcs that are scattered, for now. UGHHH! What are your issues?

    Do you also go in every 6 months? I am getting tired of diagnostics!!

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited September 2011

    I'm just hoping my only problem is dense breasts...this is the second year in a row that I've been called back for more screening, this time an ultrasound, and it was inconclusive, so it was recommended that I get an MRI.

     I'm going to see my primary physician on the 7th to come up with a "plan" as she calls it.  I've been taking HRT since my hysterectomy a number of years ago, but I just switched from synthetic to bioidentical last March, and feel soooo much better.  Hope I don't have to stop them!  I'm 71 and most of the time feel like I'm in my 30's.

    This is such a great forum...so glad I found it!  All the best to everyone on here...it feels so much better when you can share with those who have a common goal.  I really dont' want to talk with my family yet and worry them needlessly...they have enough problems. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    @Tamtam- My appointment with the BS is at the end of the month and I am definitely asking her about the MRI/dense breast thing, how much it impacts the image,  and what screening tool is better for it and why.

    @Carpediem1965- Aw, now I don't feel so alone, ha, ha. Thanks for giving me the actual wording for it- that'll make it easier to look up. I also have 2 areas of increasing thickness. I have an inverted nipple, sticky discharge and it gets this achy feeling that comes and goes. I've had mammos, US, biopsy (dx benign fibroadenoma), ductogram and MRI. The MRI showed lots stuff (seems benign) but I don't understand all of it. For example: "there are some randomly-scattered, non-specific, but benign-appearing, microandular and curvilinear enhancing foci." Huh? Lots of other stuff too. BIRADS 3. But that is on my list of questions for the breast surgeon, which my radiologist wants me to go to since the tests were unconclusive for why my nipple is acting the way it is, and he's not comfortable with that.

    I've been on the six month thing for a couple of years now. Before this recent round with the nipple thing it was mammos and US every 6 months. Now I'm supposed to go in in 6 months (well, 3 now) for a follow-up MRI and US to check the stability of some of the extra things they found. It does get tiring. I was pretty easy going about the mammos/US every 6 months but for some reason before the MRI I was a little anxious. I have a feeling I will be worried just before the follow-up one. Which is not like me- I'm a pretty easy going, don't sweat the small stuff kind of person but I feel like maybe they'll find something, you know?

    @Kaara-welcome to the dense group :) An MRI is much better at seeing through dense tissue than a mammogram so I'm glad you're getting one. I have some questions as to how much it can actually see since both mine and tamtams MRI talk about having background parenchymal enhancement (which is basically dense tissue) but it is better than a mammogram.

    This is a great forum and the ladies (and men) on here are wonderful. It really is nice to talk to others going through the same thing who can understand how we feel.

    Take care of yourselves!

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  • SarahsMom
    SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
    edited September 2011

    Green Turtle, ugh. yeah, it's been 5 years of this stuff for me so we have a lot in common. I hate the ambiguous words - probably, we think, probably not. Now I will add benign-appearing and non-specific to the heap. I know it could be much, much worse for us but BIRADS 3 sucks. I feel like they are covering their butts by saying "probably benign."  Well let's stay in touch, sounds like we've had similar problems. Are you high risk, as well? I have BC in my extended family - maternal grandmother and aunt. My paternal grandmother died from ovarian and another aunt died from bone cancer.  I also had the early period, too many years of birth control and late baby.

    Kaara, I hope I have as much energy when I'm 71, you rock!! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    Hi Carpediem,

    Yes, lets definitely keep in touch! I feel the same way about the BIRADS 3. Of course it's better than having cancer but after being diagnosed it again and again it gets old. I'm not sure I'm high risk. Nobody in the immediate family has breast cancer. My maternal grandmother and maternal great aunt both had breast cancer in their late 50's. All four paternal great aunts had breast or ovarian cancer when they were in their 30's or 40's. I did have an early period at 11. Only on birth control for 10 years. Had my babies at 27, 29 and 30....*shrug* You made me laugh about adding the benign-appearing and non-specific to the list. I think I will have to make a list of all the terms just to see how creative they are Tongue out By the time I hit the five year mark like you I'll probably turn it into a drinking game, ha, ha....

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited September 2011

    I have moderately dense breasts and the left side seems the worse. First lumpectomy age 19 for large fibroadenoma then age 49 same breast stage 2 IDC lumpectomy. Now I can't get my oncologist to give me scripts for MRI and am seriously considering BMX with my family hx of breast, colon, prostate cancers.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    cp418- why in the world can't your doctor get you an MRI?? With dense breasts and having cancer you should have already had one. Are you going to a breast center? Can you get them to get you an MRI? That would frustrate me so much. You need all the information you can get and the best way to get that when you have dense breasts is with an MRI. Talk to your PCP and see what he/she can do. Be a polite and consistent nuisance and get that MRI!

    Take care and good luck.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited September 2011

    This a breast center within the hospital where I received my treatments: lumpectomy, chemo, rads, ooph. This has me very angry and frustrated because I think it is due to insurance issues. I meet with my breast surgeon in 3 weeks and she will get an earful from me.  I had one MRI done in 2007 and it was ordered by a pulmonary specialist.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    Absolutely have a heart to heart with her. This seems almost negligent on her part. Can you get a second opinion? Most insurances will cover that.

    Take care.

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  • Sgirls505
    Sgirls505 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2012

    Green Sea turtle - several things I have read and come across myself with regards to dense breast tissue: Apparently it is normal to have dense breast tissue in your breasts. This tends to happen to women in their twenties and upwards. It is more common and normal to have it occur in both breasts. Having said this, if it's only found in one breast then it could (depending entirely on the ultrasound results, any other signs, i.e. nipple discharge, family background, contraception, and age, etc) be hormonal and that there is nothing to worry about. The consultant will be able to discuss the ultrasound results with you and re-assure you about what it means. Any changes you pick up/feel or see - be sure to have it checked again. I tried to research this on google and didn't come across enough info about what it means when you find it in one of your breasts, like you said. Yet, having a check up is the best advice. Sometimes reading things online can scare you or make you nervous - things that may not even apply to you so, just focus on what your own results indicate and what your consultant suggests.

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  • SarahsMom
    SarahsMom Member Posts: 1,779
    edited August 2012

    S girls, you are right about younger ladies.  For me, at 47, my breasts should be getting less dense. The right one is, but the left is getting more dense, particularly in 2 areas. My right breast is like 20% dense and my left is over 72% now.  Focal asymmetry is when your breasts don't mirror each other.

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  • SuzyQ2012
    SuzyQ2012 Member Posts: 31
    edited September 2012

    A bit late to this post, but I just found out I have focal asymmetric density. My first mammo at age 34 was normal. Now at age 40 it came back with the focal asy dens. On R side. I had a screening mammo, then a diagnostic. Then I had an US which showed nothing. I am having a stereo biopsy on Tues. 9/25/12. The doc said it's "probably nothing" but they need to biopsy to be sure. I'm nervous as it didn't show up years ago, but so many things I read make it sound ok. Anyway, I guess I'll know soon enough.

    I'm going to ask the BS about the whole density thing.

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