Been waiting 3 weeks for an ultrasound

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SunnyK2
SunnyK2 Member Posts: 3
edited October 2020 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hi Everyone,

New here and having a hard time understanding my mammogram results. My grandmother had a radical mastectomy when she was one year older than I am now. I asked my doctors office how concerned I should be, they said that the changes from my last mammogram and what they saw caused concern for cancer but that they needed more information so not to freak myself out. Obviously having a hard time not freaking myself out, and because of covid everything is backed up and I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity to go back for my diagnostic ultrasound.

Narrative

MAM TOMOSYN SCREENING BILATERAL

HISTORY:
Screening exam. No personal history of breast cancer. Family history
of breast cancer in her grandmother.

COMPARISON:
Prior mammogram dated 7/9/2019

BREAST DENSITY:
The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of
mammography.

FINDINGS:
Right breast: Increasing calcifications right inferior and central
breast. Nodular asymmetry right posterior central breast seen on CC
view only.

Left breast: Nodular asymmetry left posterior medial breast at the
retroglandular fat junction. Several scattered punctate
similar-appearing calcifications, stable.

ASSESSMENT:
Right breast: BI-RADS 0 - Incomplete, Need Additional Imaging
Evaluation
Left breast: BI-RADS 0 - Incomplete, Need Additional Imaging
Evaluation

RECOMMENDATION:
Right breast: Additional views and ultrasound are recommended.

Left breast: Additional views and ultrasound are recommended.

The patient will be sent written notification of these exam results.

This exam was reviewed with the aid of the R2 Image Checker.

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Comments

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited October 2020

    Sunny, yes, it is definitely too early to freak out!

    From the description, it appears that in each breast there is a nodal asymmetry, an area where the breast tissue appears different than everywhere else, possibly with a small nodule. This might represent a small mass, but if there is a mass, it could be something benign like a fibroadenoma or a cyst.

    When is your ultrasound?

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  • SunnyK2
    SunnyK2 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2020

    Thanks Beesie! I've got one more week to wait. I assumed that when you had to go back in for a follow up visit that they would get you in quickly, so I was surprised that three weeks was how long I'd have to wait, but covid has backed everything up I guess. I wasn't all that nervous until the doctor said that there was concern for cancer, which is silly because I know the reason they wanted me to go back in was obviously concern of cancer....but somehow hearing the doctor say it made it seem like a real possibility.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited October 2020

    The problem with breast screening is that when imaging shows something, it's often very difficult to know what it is. Sometimes there are indications in the way things look that heavily lean something towards being benign or being malignant, but even then the Radiologist can never know for sure. And often, there aren't clear indications either way. Each type of screening "sees" different things, so by combining mammogram imaging with ultrasound imaging, the picture of what this might be may become clearer. Often that's enough to say "yup, nothing here to worry about". But sometimes it's still not clear so that leads to a biopsy. Approx. 70%-75% of biopsies end up being benign, but if the Radiologist thinks that there is even a 2% chance of cancer, a biopsy will be recommended.

    So at this early stage, it can go either way. Most often, call-backs turn out to be nothing; hopefully that's the case for you.

    Good luck with the ultrasound and let us know how it goes.



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  • SunnyK2
    SunnyK2 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2020

    thanks so much for helping me not freak out, the ultrasound showed that it was benign cysts. Thank you for yourvsupoort

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited October 2020

    That's great news! Thanks very much for coming back and letting us know.

    Now go celebrate!

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