Mammogram normal but physical exam found lump

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dasill
dasill Member Posts: 20
edited June 2021 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hello all,

I'm a 45 YR old with a very strong family history of breast cancer and therefore have been very vigilant with my scheduled checks. In 2017, I had MRI-guided biopsies of both breasts was done and found left breast flat epithelial atypia (FEA). The right breast was benign and left breast excisional biopsy was benign without further atypia. I had a lumpectomy that Dec on my left breast.

Everything has come back normal since then with my alternating mammograms and MRI's (every 6 months) until yesterday. I just had my mammogram last week and that came back normal but upon actual breast exam with my doctor yesterday, she found something in my right breast. I felt it too and now I'm freaking out. I have a calculated 39% chance of breast cancer in my lifetime. 😱 My mom, grandma, multiple aunts, and cousins have had it.

After visit notes: Right breast: UOQ 9:30-10:00, 6cmFN, about 1cm of likely fibrocystic nodularity noted, but asymmetric to the left side. No skin changes or retractions. Normal NAC (with more prominent nipple tissue vs left and stable) without discharge.

Left breast: 12-3:00 periareolar incision well healed with minimal to no induration, otherwise normal exam with no new masses or nodularity, no skin changes or retractions, normal NAC without discharge.

I'm trying not to read into this but because I'm literally just starting my cycle, my doc said it could be hormonal. However, I'm scared! Because our schedules don't align with both our vacation times, we are waiting until end of July (middle of cycle) breast exam. That's 6 weeks! How do I not go nuts thinking the worst from now until then? Thanks for listening!!

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  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited June 2021

    Of course you're scared, this is scary stuff! Let yourself be scared, but also try to keep reminding yourself that

    a) it probably isn't cancer

    b) if it is cancer, it's probably very treatable (almost all cancers found by screening are)

    Try to shift your "the worst".

    I had a family history of cancer but negative on BRCA mutations. My doctor found a lump but didn't really suspect it, she thought she was just being cautious, so she ordered genetic testing (for the new mutations discovered since my BRCA screening) at the same time as she ordered a diagnostic mammogram (my first mammogram ever at age 39).

    My genetic screening came back at about the same time my malignant result did, showing no known mutations of concern but 57% lifetime chance of cancer (I have no idea how they figured that, either). But of course by then it was 100% chance.

    I was terrified, having watched my mother die of it. But really it just turned my life upside down for a while and now I'm pretty much back to normal life.

    That is your likely "worst" here.

    Of course, you could be the exception - someone has to lose the odds. But you could also get hit by a car tomorrow.

    In any case, for myself and as I have seen on these boards over and over again, it is much easier to deal with a thing you know (even when it's quite bad) than a thing you fear and can't know.

    Ask your doc for anxiety meds if you think it will help you get through this time. Distract yourself with whatever you know works for you. Come vent here. Hang in there!

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited June 2021

    Hi dasill! Salamandra is correct on the limbo time increasing anxiety and on other suggestions she made.... I think time periods like 6 weeks are harder to wait for than 2 weeks or 6 months.... Yes, do whatever you can to distract yourself and get back into or stay in a healthy routine even if everything feels upside down. Do enjoyable and relaxing things even if you're having difficulty enjoying and relaxing.... Self-care is especially important right now and self-validation of feelings....

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  • dasill
    dasill Member Posts: 20
    edited June 2021

    Thank you! Yes, I definitely have medical anxiety and I've always been a hypochondriac. I definitely do not fear the white coat - I just don't like not knowing what I'm dealing with. I'm a pretty tough person but the unknown is what gets me. Thanks for your reply. It certainly helps knowing there's so much support and I'm not alone here. I'm on a beach vacation in 10 days so I will try to focus on that!

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