Can losing 10-15 lbs change appearance of breasts on mammogram?

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GoldenGirls
GoldenGirls Member Posts: 608
edited April 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I know that weight loss can change the appearance of your breasts and shift areas of density on a mammogram. Am wondering if a 10 or 15 lb weight loss is significant enough to do this?


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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited April 2019

    no I don't believe so.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited April 2019

    GoldenGir

    Yes. The breast is composed of a good deal of fat. If you lose weight, and you are prone to losing weight from your breasts it can make the breasts appear more dense compared to pre weight loss images.

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  • GoldenGirls
    GoldenGirls Member Posts: 608
    edited April 2019

    Thanks djmammo! I'm hoping the two areas on my mammogram that require a closer look are because of my recent weight loss. Fingers crossed.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited April 2019

    GoldenGirls

    Was it mentioned in the report that "the changes from prior might be from interval weight loss"?

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  • GoldenGirls
    GoldenGirls Member Posts: 608
    edited April 2019

    I haven't seen the report and haven't been able to get a hold of anyone who can tell me anything other than there are two areas on my right breast that the radiologist wants to look at with CEDM and ultrasound. When I pushed for more information she gave me a vague response about fibrous tissue and just wanting a better look to be sure -- nothing to worry about.

    I go in for the CEDM and ultrasound tomorrow. Almost two years ago my left breast had areas of density not seen on the previous mammogram. After a CEDM and ultrasound they chalked it up to fibrocystic changes and told me that my weight loss was likely the cause. I have lost around the same amount of weight again so am hoping it's the same. I've been told that this particular radiologist is very thorough and overly cautious, especially in women with a family history.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited April 2019

    Not to hijack this thread, but I have a mammogram next week and I have lost 30 lbs since my last mammogram. Would the density increase even more than GoldenGirls? djmammo? Thanks!

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited April 2019

    Cowgirl13

    Depends upon the size and density before and after the weight loss. If you have totally fatty replaced breasts, if they get smaller they cant look more dense.

    Conceivably someone might go from a scattered to a more hetero, or from a hetero to a more dense. All depends on the ratio of fat to other components in the breast to begin with.

    Also some people are more prone to losing from certain areas more than others so if you usually lose from the breasts when you lose weight (change in cup size) than it may show up denser all things being equal.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited April 2019

    Thank you!

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited April 2019

    Golden and cowgirl, congrats on your weight loss!

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