Waiting for Follow up 6 month ultrasound

Hi Buddyrock! I understand that "probably benign" is not the same as definitely benign, which is what everyone wants to hear Unfortunately, imaging alone cannot determine benign status, therefore "probably benign" is the used terminology. Too bad we can't say that our medical bills are "probably paid" and get away with that! 😀 Lol

It may give you peace of mind to accept that referral to a breast specialist. It is not uncommon to follow new benign-appearing masses with recheck in 6 months. The breast specialist may be better able to address your concerns and put your mind at ease a bit.

Mass is simply the term used for any solid lesion. Lump, mass, lesion, tumor... all of these words are used to illustrate a solid form and as stand alone words, they do not indicate neither benign nor malignant finding.

I'm sending good vibes your way! I wish you peace and benign findings. I hope you find a breast specialist who addresses your concerns! Keep us updated! ❤

Buddyrock - I hope you are finding some information that is helpful for you as well as allows you to step back from that brink of anxiousness. I am with you. I was called back in August (2018) after my mammogram and had a diagnostic mammogram and diagnostic ultrasound. The 'results' have only led to more confusion and anxiety especially when the doctors provide conflicting information. I have been told that hypoechoic is more solid and hyperechoic is more cyst/liquid - no solid matter. Then I have been told the reverse! Same with 'shape' and 'visual' - as in round/oval clear and hyperechoic is what you want - not the hypoechoic. But then no, you do want hyperechoic. My point is, if there is a growth/mass/lesion/ found, why wait 6 months if they cannot definitively state that is NOT cancer as apposed to 'PROBABLY' benign? I understand the 'over diagnosing' and too many invasive procedures increase health costs across the board, but the guessing game most women are left with is pretty rough to deal with - almost cruel. I find myself fluctuating between, "It is all ok. They would get you in if they were worried." to "There are so many cases of women that were told to 'wait and see' that ended up with cancer." On a more positive note,I have found that the further away from that initial phone call to return for more testing, the more able I am to put it out of my mind. I have also had to be very aware of my 'Google' time and how it can be my worst nightmare - too much information - almost all of which predict horrible things! If I get tempted to 'research', I try to force myself to do something else - away from the computer. If I just have to gather information, I try to only peruse forums such as this. I have checked with a few other doctors and unfortunately, I have to wait the 6 months before any other steps will be attempted.

Snowchick: I loved your analogy of saying our bills are 'probably paid'!

Spoonie77: Those radiologist sites/resources can have some great information. Those are about the only resources that seem to be consistent with each other at least.

My 'Findings' report: (right breast; left was 'unremarkable' - shhh - don't tell it that it is unremarkable! No one likes to be thought of as such! ) Sorry - having been using humor quite a bit lately to try and shield and deflect the worry!

• Persistent 4 mm nodule upper outer quadrant consistent with mammogram
• asymmetric density in upper outer quadrant
• 4 mm hypoechoic nodule or cyst with internal septation/internal debris 10 o'clock;5-6 cmfn
• corresponds to mammogram findings
• BI-RADS III
• Density Category B
• Scattered Fibroglandular Densities that could obscure lesions
• Hypoechoic area with echogenic center

I hope all of you are doing well. Thank you for taking time to read this 'word purge'.

jp18