Should I have asked for a mammogram instead of chest xray?

Is there any history of breast cancer in your family? When there is they usually start mammograms at age 35. Not saying it can't happen, but the odds are very very low that it is any serious other than normal breast changes that happen through the years. I'd be thankful you at least got a normal X Ray and have a Mom that is a nurse and similar breast issues. Take care!

We understand. You can always ask, and let the doc know how you feel and perhaps he/she will be re-assuring.

Premenopausal breasts change all the time due to hormones and body composition changes. It’s one of the reasons why the recommendations for self exams are to do it at the same time in the menstruation cycle each month. Of course, they aren’t recommending self exams anymore because of whatever reasons, but being aware of changes and what the changes are like in which phases of the menstruation cycle is a wise thing to keep tabs on.

If you notice a lump, get a clinical breast exam from your provider. That’s when a mammo/US would be ordered for someone <40 who is at a normal level of bc risk.

Who is NOT recommending self exams? That's how both of my cancers were first detected.

Keep in mind that most women do not have any symptoms of breast cancer other than a palpable lump for some, or, in the small percent who have IBC, visual changes to the breast. In my case, I had seen my PCP just a few days before my mammogram and she did a manual exam as part of a routine visit. She felt nothing, but told me I was years behind in my mammogram and to get one. The mammogram did and gave it a Birads 5. And I've found out since that I was lucky the mammogram saw it, because it was ILC with just a tiny bit of IDC (the biopsy showed mixed, but post-surgical pathology was ILC, so apparently the IDC was all removed with the biopsy), and ILC can be sneaky and evade both touch and some imaging.

It's not unusual for breasts to have different features. They aren't always going to be the same! It's super common for them to be different sizes, after all. I think for now it would be best to try not to worry. Most likely it's nothing. If you tell your doctor about all your concerns and she seems to ignore you or blow you off, you can always get a second opinion.

Hamster - OK - time to get a grip. I don't know of ANY women who's breasts match. None. As others have said, you are going to have lots of changes at your age. And they will continue. It never made any sense for me to do self exams because my breasts were so lumpy. If you are at high risk (family breast cancers for example), you need to plan regular visits to your OB/Gyn. I've never heard of a chest x-ray detecting breast cancer. Mammograms & Ultrasounds are the normal scanning tools. And to echo what others have said - it's highly unlikely that you'll have symptoms - neither physical symptoms or anything that might show in blood work.

So - if you don't have an OB/Gyn - get one and keep regular appointments. Other than that, you really need to move on with your life. If you can't stop the anxiety, please do talk to your doc about medication. Go in peace.

I actually thinks some of these "not diagnosed but worried" threads are dangerous to mental health. When someone has seen a doctor but still visits a cancer forum they should be guided away not encouraged to keep looking for cancer.

This one is another example of the anxiety not being decreased by the forum. If my daughter had inherited my tendency toward health anxiety I would be upset with her visiting a cancer site. The initial kindness is helpful but when it continues it does more harm than good.

I wish the OP well and I hope you find the type of forum that can help you relax and move away from trying to find cancer in your breasts. Speak to your primary care doc about help with that. Anxiety can be debilitating. Take care.

I get it Hamster. I do the same and it is scary. I think you should try to stay away from cancer sites and talk to someone about ways to calm yourself o

Stopping by to ask questions makes sense but when someone says they have been assessed clinically in person and also mention that they have health anxiety ("I'm driving myself crazy looking up descriptions") I think it is kinder to address that anxiety by encouraging them in ways that contribute to decreasing the levels of fear.

It's great that people here are so helpful and in some cases of "undiagnosed" more information is helpful.

I just think we have to recognize and respond to anxiety. I think this person was replying to those engaging her and was reasonable about moving on.

Anxiety is ugly.

Peace.