Am I going about this the right way?

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dannysgirl
dannysgirl Member Posts: 1
edited May 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I am 68 (well, OK 69 next month). When my gynecologist died several years ago I just decided to stop the well woman check ups. About a year and a half ago, while showering, I felt a small hard pebble like growth which appeared to be on the outside of my breast. After a couple of months, I decided to have a mammogram which came back OK so I quit thinking about it.

It never went away, but recently became a little bigger (though still very small and now feels more inside than outside and more flattened out). I called my health care provider (a nurse practitioner) who advised me to see him immediately. He took a look at it, said it was probably nothing and ordered another mammogram and said we would go from there. He said "don't mention it to anyone". By "anyone" I assumed he meant the technician doing the mammogram so when they called me to make the appointment and asked if I had any problems, I hesitated but said "no". Now I'm wondering if I did the right thing in not mentioning it and whether or not I should mention when I have it done next week.

One other thing...all the mammograms I did have the last few years before quitting were done at one hospital breast center here in town. I didn't see any reason not to go back there, but he wants me to go to one affiliated with his practice which I guess is OK, but he also said there was not need to send previous records to them.

I don't want to discuss this with anyone I know, but would appreciate someone else's thoughts on this approach. And whether or not I should even be concerned about such a small lump.






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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited May 2019

    That approach sounds deeply strange to me. AFAIK, it is generally considered very helpful for radiologists to have access to prior records to make comparisons and to know what/where they are looking for.

    A very small lump can still be cancer, so it makes sense to be concerned and to follow the appropriate steps for confirming or (more likely) excluding cancer. To me, that would include making sure the radiologists doing the mammogram and review have as complete information as possible to screen it...

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2019

    I get that medical professionals have one imaging center they refer people to but past information is useful and why would he tell you not to mention the lump? If you don’t currently have a GYN, can you make an appt with one and get a mammogram referral? When I’m looking for any kind of new doctor I ask friends who they go to and like.

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

    dannysgirl

    An ultrasound would be more helpful than a mammogram at this point. It would be unusual for a cancer to be that superficial and also, not be significantly larger in a year and a half. It may be in the skin. An ultrasound is indicated at this point either way.

    Not telling the imaging center about the lump perhaps was to have this mammogram paid for as a screening exam which are pretty much covered in all states now. Do you have to pay $ for a diagnostic mammogram with your insurance? Perhaps your doctor figures that if it is a real cancer that has been there that long, it should be picked up on a routine screening exam. Just a thought.

    If a referring physician (non-radiologist) is financially involved with an imaging center (owner, partner, investor etc) it is illegal in some states for them to refer patients from their practice to that center (self-referral). If its merely associated with their healthcare system/hospital then that's usually ok.

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited May 2019

    That sounds odd that he said not to mention it to anyone. At the facilities here the schedulers ask if you haveva lump. If you do, they will only schedule a diagnostic mammogram, which includes an ultrasound.

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  • ChaiZ
    ChaiZ Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2019

    Hi all! I am 31, and for several years I have had non-bloody unilateral, uniductal discharge. It is sometimes spontaneous and can always be expressed. About a month ago it became frankly bloody and I have since also been aware of a different, slightly uncomfortable sensation in that breast. So I went in for a mammogram and ultrasound with a general radiologist. He said of the tests that "there was nothing he could convince himself that we could take a biopsy of" and recommended three options- surgically removing the ducts in that quadrant, a ductogram or returning in 6 months. I decided to return in 6 months, but I am wavering not feeling confident that this is the best option. Should I seek out a breast care specialist? The mamo results did state that I have dense breasts.

    Thanks!

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

    ChaiZ

    The ductogram is the gold standard for evaluating nipple discharge.

    Here is an article on the subject of nipple discharage

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