kind of worried.......(and scared too)

[THE HAT]

i had my annual physical yesterday and everything was fine.....except my dr. found a lump in each breast, well she actually called it a thickening. one at about 10 oclock, and one at about 5 oclock. she said that she is pretty sure that they are just cysts but, that she wants to have me have an ultrasound to confirm it. she actually asked me if i would mind to go have an ultrasound. she didn't make it sound life or death but, more of might as well make sure since it is an easy check.
she said that it is a good sign that i have one in each breast, and that they felt like that(cyst) also. i have always had what she calls "lumpy" breasts. (sorry if tmi just explaning it all).
i am 32 yo, and in very good health with no family history of cancer, except my father had prostate cancer last year.

the "lump" at 10 i have noticed for a long time in my monthly exams, and have never noticed any change, but the 5 oclock one i have not noticed, though i must admit i don't always do a good job on the exam in that area under the breast.

so i go this coming thursday for my ultrasound. i should know something by the following monday.
i am quite nervous and keep going through the oh this is nothing i will be fine, to the omg what if....moments.

just had to (sorry bad line coming) get this off my chest and put it in writing.
tks for listening.

 

[Sandcass]

Here's hoping & praying that everything checks out fine. Sounds to me like it will.

 

[Aidensmom]

I hope everthing comes out fine!

A high caffiene intake can contribute to "lumpy" breasts. I used to drink an entire pitcher of iced tea a day in my late 20's, and had the lumps. I drink a very limited amount of caffiene now and don't have the problem. If you drink a lot of caffiene, that may be the cause...

 

[Daxx]

Prayers and pixie dust coming your way. During my very first mamm., the radiologist found calcifications in my right breast and said they might be either pre-cancerous or non-cancerous. They said I could wait 6 mos. for another mamm. or have a biopsy. I requested a biopsy and found that they were non-cancerous. On 3/20, I have to go for my 6-month follow-up mamm. to see if there are any differences/changes from post-biopsy. I'm trying not to get nervous about it.

I guess what I'm telling you is that I understand what you're going through and wish you the very best. Go find the GAGWTA thread -- the gals there were a huge help when I was going through my biopsy. They'll offer you all kinds of info. and advice!

Good luck!!!! Keep us posted! ~Daxx's Wife

 

[Sandcass]

Just wondering, what age are we supposed to start getting mammograms? I'm 35 next month. Please say I have time. I'm DREADING it.

 

[cepmom]

sending you some ...I went through a very similar situation a few months ago. I also have lumpy breasts ~ had a lump removed in 1989 and another needle biopsied in 2000. I went for my first mammogram (age 36) and was horrifed when they called me back for more films because they couldn't see "something" clearly. I thought for sure something was wrong. Turns out everything was fine, nothing to worry about. I think most practitioners are very cautious when it comes to breast lumps...better to be safe than sorry and get every lump checked out.

I second the suggestion to check out the GAGWTA thread...lots of wonderful women on there to offer their support and advice.


Sandcass....I think you are supposed to start getting mammograms between 35 and 40, but most insurance will only cover 1 mammogram between 35 and 40 ubless you have a family history of breast cancer, then yearly after age 40 (at least here in MA) I was dreading it too and put it off for almost a year before I went in but it wasn't too bad....a little uncomfortable but nothing horrible

 

[THE HAT]

thank you all for listening and for sending me to the GAGWTA thread.. i have gone an posted there also. just sort of "freaked" about this, as my whole physical she kept saying how healthy i was etc........just going to be a long week. waiting is never easy is it?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

See you over there...

 

[skooniebird]

i had my annual physical yesterday and everything was fine.....except my dr. found a lump in each breast, well she actually called it a thickening. one at about 10 oclock, and one at about 5 oclock. she said that she is pretty sure that they are just cysts but, that she wants to have me have an ultrasound to confirm it. she actually asked me if i would mind to go have an ultrasound. she didn't make it sound life or death but, more of might as well make sure since it is an easy check.
she said that it is a good sign that i have one in each breast, and that they felt like that(cyst) also. i have always had what she calls "lumpy" breasts. (sorry if tmi just explaning it all).
i am 32 yo, and in very good health with no family history of cancer, except my father had prostate cancer last year.

the "lump" at 10 i have noticed for a long time in my monthly exams, and have never noticed any change, but the 5 oclock one i have not noticed, though i must admit i don't always do a good job on the exam in that area under the breast.

so i go this coming thursday for my ultrasound. i should know something by the following monday.
i am quite nervous and keep going through the oh this is nothing i will be fine, to the omg what if....moments.

just had to (sorry bad line coming) get this off my chest and put it in writing.
tks for listening.

I had the same thing happen at 35. Had 3 mammo's and 2 ultrasounds. Ever since my first exam at 16 they have said I have cystic breasts. So heck if I can tell one lump from another myself. It just ended up being misshapen nodes. They think from breastfeeding and a duct occassionally getting blocked and swollen and thus mishapen. Scary though as breast cancer is virulent on my mom's side. So now I will get a mammo every year. 36 now and had second "annual" few months ago and all was the same. Hope everything comes out ok for you. Try to think of funny things (since you can't change what any outcome might be) like you may get to try all kinds of pretty hairstyles and colors in wigs. Laughing is the only way to make it easier. My sister-in-law's Dr. said recently that in the past year there have been more advancements in treatment than in the previous 20 combined. That's a looker upper. Thoughts and prayers are with ya.

 

[skooniebird]

Just wondering, what age are we supposed to start getting mammograms? I'm 35 next month. Please say I have time. I'm DREADING it.

If there is a history of breast cancer on your maternal side 35 is the best time to get a "baseline". As things are usually normal then, it means later thay will have something to compare it to. That's why they did mine. It wasn't bad. Especially if you have breast fed and they aren't as dense. I told the tech she could squish em as much as she needed they were so drained already.

 

[chell]

Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Since your doctor didn't seem too concerned I don't think you should be either. I know that is easier said than done.

A few years ago I had to have an ultrasound done of one of my breasts and it was so painful because I was so tender and sensitive that day. Be prepared that you may have some pain and/or discomfort but it wont be unbearable.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Good thoughts and prayers going your way. Let us know how everything turns out, ok?

 

[Muffy]

Sending prayers that it turns out to be nothing serious. A few years ago I had a breast biopsy. It was negitive but I remember the worry associated with it. I'm sure your ultrasound will prove it is a cyst. Take care.

 

[Christine]

I'll be thinking about you. I went through two very bad "scares" recently. The first one in Nov 2004 and the second one, this past November. Since I have started getting mammograms at age 40, they have found *something* each time. Mine have all turned out to be benign fibroadenomas, but still, it is VERY scary. I just know that I am prone to them (had two when I was VERY young). It is really nerve wracking.

 

[hdecker]

I have been through this numerous times. Ususally my Dr sends me for the unltrasound first before the mammo because the technician can tell by the color of the area whether it's a fluid filled cyst or something else. Mine have all been cysts, have had them drained; removed, one got so big I could have put a leash on it and taken it for a walk. I have to go back next month to have another one checked out and get drained. So far all the professionals I've talked to and the research I've done on the web points to there being no greater risk for cancer by being lumpy or fibrocystic, although I'm sure there are those that will disagree. I just go every 6 months, get squashed and think about how a man would handle getting squashed "down there!"

 

[PlutoPony]

I'm in the same boat as hdecker and go next week for my yearly adventure. Have had a couple of large cysts drained (painless) more so they could "see" behind them than from concern of the cysts being a problem on their own. My doctor just writes the mamo prescription to have them ultrasound anything they find suspicious and I make the appointment for when ultrasound techs are there and can do it right then if it's necessary - and it usually is. This saves going back and being stressed for a while. The mamo and ultrasound techs typically give me an unofficial "it looks OK" while I'm there but they're not supposed to give you an official reading on the spot I think. I have no family history of problems either but do get it checked regularly. And yes I am a coffee/cola drinker who's trying to cut back....
The odds of this being a real problem for you are low but try to remember that if it IS something that needs attention you're MUCH better off catching it early!
Good luck!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good wishes for good results, TH. And the ladies on the GAGWTA are wonderful, so supportive, knowledgeable.

As for when to get baseline, from the number of ladies I have seen both here and IRL with breast cancer, I would think there is no best starting age, 20's seem reasonable enough to me, along certainly with monthly BSE's. One thing to also keep in mind, many ladies think if no familial history, not much risk. However, as we (Marie is a BC survivor, 8 years) have learned over the years, familial history, through a factor for sure, is not as big a factor as many think, oncolgist says like 10% of the mix of factors. So, even if nobody in family has a BC history, still, be vigilant, get it done.

Okay, off my soapbox, LOL, my best for you TH.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree, Dan. I had no family history of breast cancer so it kind of took me by surprise to get it myself.

As far as my own (8yo) daughter goes, my plan is for her to get a baseline mamm at age 20 or so, even if we have to pay for it ourselves. She will know how to do BSEs as soon as she becomes developed, and if any areas of concern do arise, we will push for a full investigation without delay. Of course, by that time I am hoping there will be further advances in gene research so in fact she will have a head's up on whether she may in fact get cancer in the future, and I'm confident that treatment will also be much improved by then also (hopefully never needed).

I work with someone who's mother died at age 28 from undetected breast cancer. I was glad to hear they had started doing mamms on my coworker when she was just age 18, without having to push for them.

 

[THE HAT]

thank you all, for your thoughts and support!! it is such a help to be able to "write" it all out, and to get feedback on it.
it is such an odd feeling to be going through this. one moment i am having a normal day, and then the next i am going oh geesh i have this "thing" hanging over me for thursday.

i was just going to go by myself but, i have chickened out and have asked dh to meet me there. he will have to wait in the waiting room but, at least i know he will be there in case something is said. (he wanted to be there i was the one who said no i will be fine originally)

thank you for the prayers!!!
i will let you all know how thursday goes!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

one moment i am having a normal day, and then the next i am going oh geesh i have this "thing" hanging over me

You've just described how those of us who've had the real deal feel on a daily basis for the rest of our lives.