Hi everyone Im looking for some advice. I have private mammograms with my work every 2 years. Each one I am always referred to investigate a suspicious area in my right breast. In October 2023 after my private one, I had mammogram, ultrasound. In order to find the suspicious area, the dr had to use a 3d tomosynthsis and do biopsy via this. Luckily came back benign and marker was placed.In September 2025 again i was referred again now showing an area inferior to last one that was marked. They again did a mammogram and ultrasound and was advised that they think area had been there before and nothing to worry about. In march 2026 I have been experiencing localised pain in right breast and was referred back to clinic who did mammogram and advised no change since last one. No ultrasound given. I understand breast pain is rare for cancer so I honestly expected an ultrasound this day due to pain thinking it was maybe a cyst. July I asked to be referred again. Im still waiting. Once speaking to referral team they advised breast clinic don’t feel need to do any other scans and have been referred to pain clinic. The pain is getting worse and I was just wanted to check if anyone else experienced this.
Dear @lyns79 , Breast pain was my only symptom for 12months before I eventually found a lump. I was told that I have dense breasts. Fortunately I have now been treated and I always request ultrasound plus mammogram on my annual follow ups. My NHS trust only offer 2d mammograms but I’ve read that 3d mammograms may be more reliable for dense breasts. I cannot offer any advice but just sharing my experience. X
Thank you @tulip29 for your reply and im so sorry you have had to go through this. I feel a lot of the information given regarding breast pain is incorrect. Did you contact breast clinic with pain before you found the lump?x
No I didn’t contact anyone about the breast pain but I did look it up and kept reading that it wasn’t a symptom of breast cancer. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had seen the GP but I was caring for two very elderly parents, one with dementia, at the time, and had no time for myself.
@Tulip29 im so sorry to hear that. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
Hi there,
I am sure it’s all ok but I would advise for your own peace of mind another ultrasound, as having that worry in the back of your head isn’t good. And you will then be more informed. Did they say that the concerned area had calcifications? Re pain I had DCIS but there was no lump, no pain, nothing visible at all and no symptoms and it was only the mammogram that found it. So trust your instincts and push for a more thorough exam. The best of luck!
Hi @lyns79 - it’s great you’re having these regular checks.
I had clear mammograms and ultrasound before cancer was found 11 months later. I’m not sure whether this has been discussed in your case but I believe I should have had breast MRI - it’s not available on the NHS but I should have been told to look into it privately. It’s available near me for £425 (btw if you live in London it tends to be much cheaper outside London so worth travelling). I wish I had known this and spent the money as I’m sure it would have detected it when the mammogram/ ultrasound didn’t (at least in my case, of course your situation will be different).
MRI is much more sensitive and accurate than mammograms and ultrasound. I believe mammograms miss 1 in 8 cancers, esp with dense breasts (which apparently half women have so no idea why this isn’t made clearer) and esp bc the kind I have (lobular, which is about 15% of all bc) grows in long thin lines so v hard to detect.
I would keep asking ‘what is the gold standard check in this situation?’ - that might get more info out of the clinical team (they may be following a protocol so not mention it spontaneously but if you explicitly ask you may find out).
I hope this is helpful.