Thickening breast tissue

I had rope-like-sort-of-thickening, but I had it in both breasts. Honestly, I would have sworn both were exactly the same presentation. My gut told me otherwise. I had a bilateral mastectomy and my left (healthy) breast was totally clear. The right one had the cancer.

I was told an MRI would be my "gold standard" to determine if we needed to do a biopsy.

Again, left breast never lit up; right one did.

So sorry you are having to deal with this.

shoppingchicken, the thickening I had felt just like the density I'd had for decades. I didn't really pay attention until it felt bigger than the thickening in the other breast. The only other symptom I had was a temporary nipple retraction. Looking back, I should have paid more attention to that, but it was only there one day, and I thought it might be related to scar tissue from a previous biopsy in that area. I'm sorry you have to think about this for a whole month. I hope it turns out to be nothing.

I was told I had this "rope-like" thickening about 4 years before dx, but they did mammograms and cone mammograms and nothing showed up. Dec of 2006, I had 3 vivid "boob" dreams that woke me startled. No idea why, but 3 nights in a row and that 4th morning I told DH I was scheduling my mammogram. I mentioned this to the tech....they all said it was fine. Ultrasound (due to my insistence) showed a tiny shadow. That's how I ended up with the MRI. They took me back to ultrasound so they could do the biopsy, but the ultrasound showed nothing. Not even the tiny shadow. They spent 1/2 hour to 45 minutes or so looking and checking and finally told me I had to go back for an MRI needle guided biopsy. Bingo.

So what started in January, ended up in April for the actual biopsy. I was still perimenopause and they wanted me to just start my period before doing the MRI. Yeah, right...tell a perimeno woman to have a period on demand. *shaking head*

Then I didn't have the lumpectomy till May and the bmx in June.

I hope it is nothing for you. My left boob felt the same to me, but it was just like this weird "knowing" when I ran my hands over to do a self exam. I picked the exact spot that mammogram and ultrasound totally missed. But again, my left boob felt the same "ropey"/thickening areas as the right. Go figure.

Keep us updated and hope you come back with nothing.

Not sure where you live shoppingchicken: I understand some countries like Canada & England may have longer waits for specialty consults. Or perhaps you're in a more rural area of the US where breast surgeons aren't real plentiful. Anyway, I would hate to sit around for another month (although my tumor was probably growing for years before it was detected).

If your family doctor made the referral, is there any chance going through an ob-gyn might get you in a little sooner? Maybe you could get an MRI prior to the appointment so you have as much information as possible, especially since there could also be a delay in getting that scheduled...

Being a stomach sleeper, I noticed a strange sensation when laying like that. I was in perimenopause and thought it might be a cyst. Biopsy showed ILC. Another lesion=IDC was found with further imaging, in a separate quadrant. Both were too deep to palpate. I also had dense tissue.

shoppingchicken. ... i know how you feel...I'm the one who realized something was wrong with my right breast via self exam....was due a mammogram anyway. ... my ilc did not show up on mammogram but i showed the dr exactly where i thought the problem was ... biopsy confirmed cancer.... mri confirmed ilc. In beginning like you i was told if it was anything at all it was very small and caught early... very treatable...a few weeks later here i am looking at a double mx and who knows what else...iI'm still in shock... very scared confused and angry. Anyway. ...ii didn't feel a lump or knot... and it seemed to come up over night....iit was sort of like a tad swollen muscle without the pain and maybe a little warm to the touch. Im so sorry for you... and for all of us going through this together. Prayers and blessings.... i think we have a lot of sisters among us...ggreat support

Hi Everyone ~

My thickening presented as a pinkish, semi-circle discoloration, around the lower third of my breast that I was sure was IBC but was actually lymphovascular congestion caused by the tumors and one day it just got heavier. Also, 2 of my tumors were palpable but very different. One was a very distinct, hard lump and the other was more of a gelatinous, fibrous, bumpy, fatty mass that initially was of no concern to my breast team but I was very concerned about it with good reason. I insisted on an MRI instead of a mammogram which along with the ultrasound only showed the two palpable tumors. I actually had four.

It's a drag that were all here but it's amazing to have the support, caring and access to information that would have taken months to get otherwise.

Wishing you the best shoppingchicken and all of the BCO sisters. The majority of time it turns out to be nothing but it's great that you are following through.

I think they have to order it for you or you might have to pay out of pocket. My OB was the one who told me about the MRI as the next step after he told me he thought my cancer 'didn't present like cancer'. I am curious though, why they are sending you to a BS. Have you had an u/s?

So then, they never biopsied it?

Well, let us know if you need tips on how to handle an MRI if you are claustrophobic. I am and it was a big issue for me so I have lots of advice.

Xanax is key for me I call the day before and ask how long beforehand the staff suggests taking the Xanax (usually on the ride to the center...) This means that you need a driver... If you wear leggings that do not have any metal on them, they may let you keep them on! My feet went in first and I lay face down. They placed an IV and injected dye at some point during the session. It caused a weird flushing sensation for me. I am extremely claustrophobic - Xanax made it very easy! Take care. Hope you have answers soon. If they see something suspicious, press for a biopsy. It will give you peace of mind.

I have been following your posts shoppingchicken and all of what you are going through is very familiar to me. I had thickening of nipple tissue but they didn't find anything on mammogram, ultrasound, or needle biopsy - finally did MRI (I too am clostraphobic but in this case they had me facing forward with my boobs hanging down - not as bad as being face up for me). In the end, they had to do a surgical biopsy and found the ILC. Finally had lumpectomy two months later in 2011. Stage IIa hormone positive, node negative ILC. Had Onco DX test and was an 11. Have had radiation and am on Arimidex. I have encountered more thickening in the nipple area (or at least I think so) - my Radiation Oncologist and Medical Oncologist insist that it is not a recurrence - is just scar tissue, but I am concerned. Next step is surgical oncologist. Good luck to you - you will make it through!!!

This sounds crazy, but I just don't remember. I think the MRI was done after the surgical biopsy since it came back without clear margins. They wanted to see how it had spread - I guess. In any event, if it was done before the surgical biopsy, it must have not shown anything, because I was absolutely shocked to find out that I had cancer. I really thought that one of these tests would have caught it.

Where is the thickening in your breast - mine was right on the aerolea - crescent shaped kind of around one side of the nipple. I know how anxious I was just waiting for all the testing to be done. Keep us updated.

The waiting is the worst part. I understand your concern about more tests. Each time I got an all clear it was a roller coaster of elation to worry again when I couldn't get clear answers. Not sure if anyone has mentioned this. I haven't read back through the comments. Xanax worked wonders for me during the waiting periods.