New here...worried about upcoming diagnostic imaging

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Paxtrist
Paxtrist Member Posts: 5
edited September 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hello everyone! I'm new here. 41 years old...had my first ever 3D mammo on the 20th of August. Didnt hear anything back for a few days, nothing showed up on my patient portal, so since I was told "no news is good news", I felt all was clear. Well, last Tuesday I got a call from the imaging center. "Doctor found an area of concern, wants you to go for diagnostic imaging." Of course I asked what was concerning. Was told there was a focal asymmetry in the left upper outer quadrant going into my armpit. I also requested for my report to be loaded to the portal so I could view it. BIRADS 0. Scattered fibroglandular tissue throughout. Focal asymmetry left upper outer quadrant 6 cm from the nipple. Doesn't say much more than that. I go Wednesday for diagnostic mammogram, spot compression, true lateral view and US. My questions are : How do these tests differ from the screening mammogram? Are they more painful/uncomfortable than the screening?

I'm not going to lie, I'm worried about this. I was told to expect at least a 2 hr appt and the radiologist would talk to me about the findings before I leave there. I really wasn't expecting this. I have no palpable masses that I'm aware of. I had 1 aunt who died from BC years ago...she was in her 50s. And her daughter also had BC but survived. I have noticed intense itching with scaling in my left nipple from time to time but chalked it up to irritation/change in detergents. And the past month or so, I have had soreness in my ribs under my left breast, but also didn't think it could be related to my breasts until now. Am I overreacting?

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited September 2019

    I wouldn't say you are overreacting... it's hard not to be worry when you have a call-back. If you want to see real over-reactions, read this forum for a while!

    The good news is that because this is your first ever mammogram, there is no basis for comparison. So while the imaging is showing something that needs to be checked out further, it might be showing what for you is normal breast tissue. The next set of tests will help determine if this is the case.

    I've had many diagnostic mammograms and have never found them to be much different than a normal mammogram. The procedure is basically the same except that they are focusing on one specific area and taking magnified views. They also will take more views from different angles, so you might be contorted into a different and possibly more uncomfortable position. But overall it shouldn't be much different than the screening mammogram. The ultrasound is a breeze - easiest test there is. You lie there, the tech squeezes the goop on your breast and then moves the wand around. Nothing to it.

    Good luck, and let us know how it goes. And keep in mind that approx. 10% of women get call-backs from their mammo, from there about 25% require a biopsy (and 75% don't), and of those biopsies, approx. 20% end up with a cancer diagnosis whereas ~80% of biopsies are benign. So while of course anything can happen, at this point you are at the first step of the diagnostic process, and the odds are very much in your favour.

    image

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  • JudyO
    JudyO Member Posts: 225
    edited September 2019

    Sorry to jump in on someones chat but I have a question for Beesie and can’t figure out how to message her. I saw in an old post Oct 2013 you had 5/10/15/20 years seers survival stats. Where can you get the most current stats? Thank yo

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited September 2019

    click on her name on any post.

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  • Paxtrist
    Paxtrist Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2019

    Thanks! Those odds are definitely in my favor and do make me feel better. I just wish Wednesday would hurry up and get here...I usually don't wish my days away but I want to get this over with and hopefully be even more relieved after the diagnostic tests.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2019

    Hang in there, Paxtrist, and please let us know how things go.

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  • Spoonie77
    Spoonie77 Member Posts: 925
    edited September 2019

    Paxtrist - wishing you the best. Waiting is the hardest part.

    I went for my fist mammogram and subsequently was diagnosed at 41 too. Family history of breast cancer. Negative for genetic markers. I was expecting to get a call back simply because they told me that usually on your first mammogram they need additional images. So initially I wasn't freaked out by having to go back in for more images. Unfortunately after they did my Imaging that quickly changed. They took me in to do an ultrasound and both the Tech and the radiologist told me that they were 99% sure it was cancer. I left there with a BiRad 5 and a date with a biopsy.

    I truly hope that when you go in on Wednesday that your journey will end there, that you will have a benign result and nothing more will be needed. Please keep us posted and remember you're not alone. No matter what happens. Hugs.

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