I’ve been lurking and reading for a while but just confused.
I have two masses in the top of both breasts, I’m 36 with moderate risk (family history and personal qualification) and I went to my GP to discuss. Ultrasound was clear but the tech had pointed out the glandular tissue in the breast.
Gp referred me to a breast specialist as he felt the “ridges of thickened tissue” 8 cms from nipple”
The Breast specialist dismissed it as hormonal changes or weight gain. The chances of something being wrong are reduced because it’s in both breasts she tried to reassure me.
The entire two months the masses didn’t change with my cycles. But in the shower I can feel what I am assuming lymph nodes close to my armpit and down a little towards the breasts.
I was ordered a dye mammogram (enhanced mammogram) I got my results today and was told everything looks normal and the masses aren’t showing up on ultrasound or the Enhanced Mammogram. She did say the left had some background noise and to come back in a year.
I asked her what then the masses could be and she just reaffirmed that it’s normal breast tissue but to ease my mind we can do some blind core biopsy’s.
Am I just wasting the drs time? I feel like something is there, how can it feel like that and look like that to be told it’s just hormonal (with no changes over the cycles)
I have had night sweats and hot flushes periodically
You are not wasting anyone’s time @unsure-mumma and I’m sorry if anyone has made you feel that way . You should have the biopsies done and go from there . If you mention your worry about the lymph nodes they may do an ultrasound scan on those too . Make sure that you explain that there’s been no detectable change with your cycle . As you are having flushes and night sweats it does sound as though there’s something hormonal going on .If there are questions you want to ask but haven’t write them all down in a little notebook and take it with you . Make sure that you ask them all and get answers . There are a lot of benign breast conditions that could be causing your symptoms - since I’ve had BC friends and colleagues have told me that they have had to go for extra screening and been cleared. The uncertainty you’re experiencing now is particularly horrible .
Take care and best wishes xx
I have the biopsy booked for the 31st of Jan. but after talking to my partner and expressing my frustrations here I am feeling much more centred.
I think I just became so overwhelmed waiting and waiting that the relief was almost like a spiral. I still want to know what’s going on but am taking my results as positive.
Yes it is sort a like a spiral that’s hard to get out of once you’re in . Try to take a day at a time and do some nice things that will help you stay out of your head if you can. Glad you are feeling a bit better xx
So pleased you have come to the forum, we are all here to support you, can’t really add any more advise, I completely agree with Joanne her advise it excellent.
Hopefully all will be sorted very soon, so easy for me to say when you are feeling so anxious, please push for the answers, try to make a few notes before your next appointment I think this helps.
Hi, sorry to find you on here and so worried, understandably.
Please don’t worry about wasting Drs time. You’ve done the right thing getting checked out, you know yourself better than anyone.
The trouble is things can be missed, particularly if you have dense breasts. I had loads of mammos and ultrasounds for cysts and lumps and bumps but I was always sent on my way. All was not well and I had malignant calcifications and a 10mm invasive BC found a year later, right next to where they had checked with ultrasound the previous year!
These random biopsies don’t sound ideal either. Biopsies need to be accurately targeted at problem areas. My invasive was picked up with biopsy but they told me it was only 1mm and they were probably over treating me! It was actually a lot bigger.
You also have the option of getting a private second opinion and an MRI. It’s not cheap but if it gives you peace of mind the money is well spent. Not all trusts have a belt and braces approach and I know my trust refused me MRI’s on numerous occasions despite my concerns about them missing things more than once.
Don’t give up until you get the answers and reassurance you deserve. Sometimes we have to advocate for ourselves.
Good luck. In all probability you will be fine, but you just need to know for sure. X
