Breast Exam and upcoming mammo

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StepOnANickel420
StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
edited September 2017 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi all!

My name is Stephaney and I am 33 yrs old. I have given birth to 4 children. In 2009 I was diagnosed with cervical carcinoma in situ (percancer) and opted for a partial hysterectomy in 2011. I have various health issues including type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism. In 2013 I had a bilateral diagnostic mammo/ultrasound for breast pain and nipple changes. According to the report I have mildly dense but large breasts. No abnormalities were found in either breast. About a month and a half ago, I noticed a pea size lump/thickness under my right breast in the crease. Dismissed it as a swollen duct or something. Last weekend, I was in the shower soaping under my right breast and noticed a significant lump/thickness. It was in the same place where the small lump was a month and a half prior. I called Monday and got an appointment with my gyno on thursday. Dr did a manual exam of the left breast first and did not comment on any findings. Then he asked me where the lump was in my right breast and I showed him and he immediately confirmed it was about 2 cm and palpable. He ordered me for a bilateral diagnostic mammo on 9/25. I read his report on the exam (through the patient portal) and it said the left breast has fibrocystic changes and a definite mass in the right.

So while I am waiting for the mammo, what exactly is "fibrocystic changes"? Is it something i should worry about? Or just something that happens as your hormones change?

Yea, I'm worried but since there is no history of breast cancer on either side of my family, I know statistically it is probably benign.

Just hoping to get some good vibes and experiences from all you wonderful ladies (ahem, and gentlemen :) )

Thanks a bunch,

Steph

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  • Peacetoallcuzweneedit
    Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
    edited September 2017

    Hi there Step! I am sending you warm support.

    Fibrocystic breast changes are changes in the breast that typically happen as women age and are associated with hormonal fluctuation. It can appear or feel as lumps/pain/etc in your breast and the symptoms may subside or intensify around your cycles ( ie as your hormones rise and dip around your period). It is not cancer. However, if there are changes that continue and areas become more sensitive and increase in size or you have nipple discharge you would get it checked out....exactly like you did! Your physician is just writing that your breast has some lumps that are explained by fibrocystic changes.



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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Peace: Thanks so much for the information and reassuring words! They really mean a lot in this crazy time.

    Well, about an hour ago, I was laying in bed and felt a sharp pain in my left breast and, as a reflex, pressed on my boob. (4 o'clock position) and felt a smallish lump. It might be about 1 cm??? Sent a message through the portal to my gyno informing him of my find and what his recommendations are, if any. He might still decide to just wait till my mammo on 9/25 ( I hope not, tho).

    I do have some mental health challenges that I have had for years. Bipolar 2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. I haventt been on any medications for these disorders since May. So I'm battling with my anxiety on what seems like a minute by minute basis. Other than that I am doing okay mentally.

    Do you think I should press for a mammogram sooner? Or just wait and see? I want to be proactive in my health care and treatment but don't want to rub the Dr the wrong way...

    Thanks :)

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited September 2017

    StepOnaNickel, Anxiety is just awful and makes it much harder for us to approach real health issues rationally. I have a thread on Anxiety here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/83/topics/855477?page=1

    If nothing on that thread is new to you, or helpful, then I would recommend (in addition to following up with your Dr about the imaging) that you follow up with your mental health providers to get your anxiety back under control. I'm sure you know that once it is activated again, it might be hard to just "gut it out".

    Here is some basic information on the diagnostic process that might help you curb your anxiety:

    Image result for breast cancer diganostic process

    So notice that 75% of women going for diagnostic workups are told that they have clearly b9, or most likely b9 (follow up in 6 months to confirm the areas stability). Of the other 25% who are referred for biopsy, 80% of those are told they have b9 results. So at this stage, the odds are most definitely in your favor. Please do follow up with your doctor about your new find, but try not to go too far down the "what if" path. Good luck!

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited September 2017

    Did your doctor recommend trying to get a mammogram sooner? The 25th isn't too far off really.

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    At my appointment on thursday, he just said the next available, which was the 25th. I received a call from my Dr yesterday and he said he recommended moving up the mammo to this week but I am waiting for the scheduler to contact me.

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Just got off the phone with the mammography scheduler. My mammo has been moved up to tomorrow 9/20 @ 1 pm and an ultrasound has been scheduled for 1:30 pm. I have also contacted my PCP to refill my Klonopin prescription to help with my anxiety. I am probably going to spend the rest of the day napping.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited September 2017

    Ok good the sooner you have answers the better! Try to relax as best you can--you will get through this!

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Well crap. Did the regular mammo and a 3D mammo... didn't see anything. Did a spot check ultrasound, didn't see anything. But I can still feel the lump in my right breast, I mean, even my gyno felt it. Radiologist told me to come back in a year but I think I am going to try to get a seconds opinion in a few months if the lump doesn't go away or gets bigger.

    Has anyone experienced a palpable lump that wasn't detected on mammo and ultrasound, but was later found by a second opinion?

    Frustrated... :(

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited September 2017

    StepOnaNickel, can you get a copy of your written report? They should somehow make sense of the fact that you have a palpable lump but no corresponding finding.

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    I have to wait a couple of days for the reports to post to my patient portal. I can post once I receive them. I just got off the phone with another breast center in my town for a second opinion and they told me to have my images/reports faxed to them and they would get back to me.

    I just looked at the place they marked on my breast for the ultrasound and it was not where the lump is. I did another self breast exam and the lump is def there. Jeez, I kinda feel like I'm losing my mind.

    Steph

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Hello all!

    I just received a call back from my obgyn and they said next week I will be scheduled for a biopsy. Not sure which kind of biopsy. Still waiting on my mammo and us reports to post.

    I am not as worried about this and a sense of calm has fallen over me.

    Steph

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Ok. So I just received the report back on my mammo/us. It stated that "both breasts are mostly fatty tissue". "Benign appearing calcifications superiorly in left breast" "BiRAD 2- benign finding" "mammogram and ultrasound results that are discordant with palpable masses should not eliminate biopsy or further evaluations" "return in 1 year for mammogram since pt is symptomatic"

    I am expecting to be scheduled for a biopsy this week, since that is what the nurse said on friday. I did hear back from my pcp about anti-anxiety med, he refused to refill my prescription. I asked for an explanation, he wouldn't give me one. Will keep you informed on what happens!

    Stephaney

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited September 2017

    StepOnANickel, as your report doesn't mention the finding, the biopsy (per the note about discordance) should give you answers. Sorry you've got another wait coming up. It's possible that your pcp doesn't want to refill anti-anxiety meds (early?) as they can be addictive. If you need some information on what you can do to manage your anxiety, please see my link here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/83/topics/855477?page=1

    Good luck and do update us when you know something more!

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  • mommakat
    mommakat Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2017

    Step,

    Sorry you're still in limbo. Just some narrative on the meds, from my experience. I have always been prone to anxiety and panic attacks. My PCP's over the years would give me ativan or xanax and I would refill as necessary (very infrequently). The last 2 years, I had a marked increase in the attacks (and tons of personal drama to go with it), and at my last visit (the PCP would make me come in for the refill), he suggested I try something to take every day. I declined, and made an appt with a psychiatrist. I didn't feel comfortable with my PCP suggesting more than the occasional Xanax prescription, AND I hated the feeling like I was a junkie coming in for a refill. Even though they were well below the prescribed rates.

    Anyhow, I don't know who you see etc, but since I've been with the psychiatrist (who did diagnose me with GAD and gave me something for every day), I feel MUCH better, even through all of this, and she doesn't make me feel like I'm begging for the meds, which I feel good about. I'm not a fan of drs handing anti anxiety meds out like candy, but on the flip side, especially when faced with health issues on top of the mental issues you're already coping with, it's not a good feeling to have to beg for them.

    Hang in there!


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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Thanks for the feedback. Due to my mental diagnoses, I have been on meds since 2012. I came off everything in May. Maybe that is why he won't refill the Klonopin. It's okay though, I have been doing much better.

    Got the call from my obgyn today who said that he put the ball in the breast centers court to schedule a biopsy. Not sure when I will hear from them. If they won't agree to a biopsy, I am going to go to another breast center for a second opinion. I just feel like I am getting the run around :(

    Stephaney

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Discouraged!!! I am being sent from the breast center to my PCP for a chest wall ultrasound in October. The breast center refused to do any further evaluation because nothing showed up on my imaging??? She asked me what I wanted done... I said either a MRIand/or biopsy... she refused. So now I get to go to my PCP and see what he says. Feeling dismissed and am losing faith in the medical community itself! FML

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited September 2017

    So sorry you are feeling discouraged StepOnANickel! Now, it sounds like the breast center does not feel that either a biopsy or mri is warranted. I think following up with your PCP for an explanation would be a good next step. Perhaps he will be able to help you understand their rationale for f/u in one year. I'm afraid that sometimes, when facilities are following their protocols for standard of care but not explaining well what the standard is or their protocols are, people are left feeling dismissed, even though the standard was met. Hoping your PCP can talk to you once he's completed your chest wall us in October. Please do let us know how it goes!

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  • StepOnANickel420
    StepOnANickel420 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2017

    Lots of phone calls today... not going to my PCP in October for a chest wall ultrasound, not getting a second opinion. My insurance(Healthy Texas Women Medicaid) will not cover the PCP appt or the chest wall us. Medicaid will not cover a second opinion at another breast center since nothing showed up on my imaging (won't double pay for nothing). I give up and will go back in a year maybe.

    Thanks for the support ladies.

    Stephaney

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