Breast Cancer Plz Answer?

Question

Just over a week ago I found a lump in my right breast, I went to the doctor and she sent me for a mammogram and an ultrasound. The mammo showed a very dense area in the area of concern, the ultrasound was normal. There is quite obviously a palpable lump so my doctor has refered me to a specialist for a biopsy.
I usually trust my gut instincts in this kind of situation, I am telling my family that everything is ok and the test will show that the lump is benign, but deep down I have this nagging feeling that this could be bad. I think when I'm telling them that all is ok I'm trying to convince myself allso.
I thought mammograms and ultrasound would show if it was cancer, has anyone else been through this ? Should I trust my instincts I am really terrified ( even though I am putting on a big "I am fine" show for the family)
I am only 28 and I have 3 kids that were breast fed, this should go in my favor right?
I would apreciate any advise on this topic.
Thanks

Answer 1

If you have the lump in one of your breasts there is a chance of it is cancer. However the mammogram had shown some doubt while and ultrasound is clear. Mammogram does not show the actual thing always. so you have to go for biopsy of the lump .

If at all you find any abnormality in your breasts, than what I have explained earlier, you should report to a Qualified Oncologist for further evaluation. – It is for detection of Breast Cancer I if present.

There's a whole world of testing that goes along with taking care of your breasts. No matter where you are on the line between healthy breasts and breast cancer, tests can be nerve-wracking. But they are an indispensable part of:

* finding breast cancer early, when it is most treatable
* helping treatment team design the treatment that is right for you
* determining the effectiveness of your continuing care

There are two different stages of testing. Screening tests (such as an annual mammogram) look for signs of disease in women without symptoms; they should be part of every healthy woman's routine. Secondly, Diagnostic tests (such as magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], blood tests, or bone scans) become part of the picture when breast cancer is suspected or has been diagnosed. Here you will have to learn more about other evaluations viz: Ultrasound, MRI, PET scans, and more. You'll also see images of what these tests look like.

Breast cancer symptoms vary widely — from lumps to swelling to skin changes — and many breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all. Symptoms that are similar to those of breast cancer may be the result of non-cancerous conditions like infection or a cyst. Only it can be found out and diagnosed by tests such as Ultra-sonography and Biopsy, apart from Mammography.

1. Mammography is an x-ray of the breast that reveals suspicious areas that are denser than normal breast tissue or have abnormal deposits of calcium. Mammography is an important screening test which can show a breast cancer long before it is big enough to be felt in the breast. Women over age 40 should undergo a mammogram every year in order to detect breast cancers when they are small and can be treated easily. Since mammograms have been used routinely in the United States, the death rate from breast cancer has fallen dramatically as cancers are found earlier, when they are more likely to be curable. – I HAVE ALREADY IN MY EARLIER BLOG WRITTEN ABOUT THIS AND AGAIN REPEATING BECAUSE IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL TO FIND OUT AND LOCATE THE DISEASE IN THE EARLIEST AVAILABLE OPERTUNITY.

2. Ultrasonography uses high frequency sound waves that enter the breast and bounce back. The pattern of their echoes produces a picture called a sonogram that detects whether the breast lump is solid (possibly cancerous) or filled with fluid (non-cancerous). An ultrasound is usually recommended to evaluate a palpable breast lump or an abnormality seen on a mammogram.

3. Many times when an abnormality is felt in the breast or seen on a mammogram, the doctor will recommend a biopsy. In a biopsy, tissue is removed from the breast and examined by a pathologist, who can tell if cancerous cells are present. There are three ways to do breast biopsies: fine needle aspiration, large core Breast Biopsy and surgical biopsy. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) uses a fine needle, inserted into the breast tissue, to withdraw cells from the suspicious area. Large core breast biopsy uses a large core needle in a spring-loaded device that removes "cores" or plugs of tissue from the suspicious area. Surgical biopsy is the surgical removal of part or all of the lump or suspicious area.

So, there is no need at all, to get nervous or to be afraid for having a mammogram or needle biopsy (second one - if needed only) but it is very essential to undergo this as CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA-

I also request you kindly to see my blogs on Breast cancer topics at Yahoo-360 under link - http://360.yahoo.com/jayaramanms - which will give you further idea. -

Answer 2

You sound a lot like me. I was only 28 with 2 breastfed children and no family history when I was diagnosed. I had an area of dense tissue that showed normal on an ultrasound but after having a biopsy they found stage 0, non-invasive breast cancer. It's been over a year and a half now and I'm cancer free.

It's totally normal to be scared, you wouldn't be human if you weren't. Just remember that 80% of breast lumps are NOT cancerous. The odds are definitley in your favor, but it's not something to mess around with or take risks with. The earlier breast cancer is caught the more treatable it is.

There is some WONDERFUL support and information specifically for young women and breast cancer at youngsurvival.org

I'll be praying for you, let me know if you'd like to talk more!!

Answer 3

Only a biopsy can determine cancer, mammograms and ultrasounds just show areas that are questionable. I've read that 80% or more of lumps are benign, certainly there are plenty of women who have cysts and such.

I understand that you are worried, but try not to be too upset at least until you know what you are dealing with. Chances are that it will turn out to be nothing. The waiting to find out is the hardest part.

breastcancer.org is an excellent site for information and for support.

Answer 4

OK Mammograms don't CAUSE cancer. . . they don't help it. . . but it's more like feeding sugar to a hyper kid than a causal relationship. It's too little exposure for too finite a period. . . (Sorry, I had to get that in!)

Mammo's and U/S don't show if it's cancerous--just what the lump looks like and if it's likely fluid filled. Take a non-asprin pain killer before the biopsy. (Especially if they are "core" biopsies. They kinda hurt. Sorry to tell you that. . . )

I've been thru it twice, was dx'd with BC at the age of 32 and recurrence at 33. . .

Chances are it IS nothing. But if it's not, it's treatable. There is hope. . . and there are resources. Check out the Young Survival Coalition: www.youngsurvival.org after you hear.

Best wishes.

Answer 5

You are doing what you need to do to take care of yourself. It is much better to get the biopsy and find out for sure that it is a benign mass than to let it go and find out it was cancer.

I had an abnormal mammogram a few years back and had to go back for more views - it didn't go as far as a biopsy. But I totally understand the anxiety involved when you have something going on and don't know what it is.

Right now IMO your age and history are in your favor - I would suspect it turns out to be a fibroadenoma, and not malignant.

Go and get it taken care of, and good luck.

Answer 6

I am much older than you but I went through almost the same thing. They did the mamo. twice and didn't even do the ultrasound. I also have dense breast tissue. Having dense breast tissue is another risk for breast cancer. The higher the breast tissue density the greater risk for breast cancer. The breast has more ducts and lobules verses fat. I went to get my mamo. alone and they sorta let me know that something was wrong and told me to contact my family Dr. to set up a core biopsy. I did the same thing with my family, I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure. PLEASE TAKE SOME ONE WITH YOU to your surgeon that does you biopsy, because if something is wrong you are going to need someone, because its going to hit you like a load of bricks being dropped on your head. My husband was in surgery when I had my biopsy and I had no one. Hopefully if it is cancer you have caught it early. Mine was thought to be in stage 2 then upgraded after all the ct scans and bone scans and PET scans, to Stage 3. If you do have cancer they wont know what type until the results of the biopsy comes back. But all my surgeon had to do was look at me and tell me you know this is reallly bad dont you! It just blew me away. The best thing that you can do is keep a positve attitude it will help more than you know. Dont worry until you know something for sure. If things are bad you have to hold it togehter for you and your children. If you'd like to talk you can e-mail me at [e-mail]. You do need to vent to someone. God Bless! and Good Luck!

Answer 7

Becareful!!!! mammograms are only about 70% accurate and highly dependant on the readers. Alwaysgo to a very busy breat center. Ultrasound even less. If you have dense breast the stats go down. The is a new procedure called a PEM. It is a positron emission mammogram and being used for your circumstance, but not available everywere and this is very new! also, breast MRI is very common place but can lead to many false positives.

however it will not replace biopsy.

good luck.

Answer 8

When I was 20 I had a lump in my breast that was very sore. I went to the doctor and the doctor diagnosed it in about 5 seconds. It was a condition called mastitis, which is just an inflammation or infection of the milk ducts. It usually happens to pregnant or nursing women, but can happen to any woman (I was neither pregnant or nursing). The doctor gave me an antibiotic and told me to take Aleve (naproxen sodium) for pain. It was gone in 2 days. To ease your mind some more, most breast cancers are not painful. But to be safe, go see your doctor :) Good Luck!

Answer 9

If they recommended a biopsy... do it.

I went through a very similar situation and the biopsy is what ruled Stage 2 breast cancer. I was 27 at the time.

I breastfed my daughter and have no history of the disease in my family. I thought i was "just fine" too, even when they called me in to the office to tell me the results.

I am now in remission after having chemo and 3 surgeries...

Good luck and i'm here if you need someone to talk to.

Answer 10

In order to determine the level of impact of that affection you must consider the following risks factors:

1) Have cases of cancer in my familiar file?
2) I am a person of legal age (>40 years)?
3) Have a life without exercise or sedentary?
4) My feeding is with products process and greasy scrap iron and foods of origin animal?
5) Have a life with the high daily stress, by the work, or my responsibilities?
6) During the day, I am exposed to strong environmental contamination (toxic in the air, water, use of chemistries in the work, etc.)?
7) I expose much to the sun?
8) Drink alcohol and I smoke frequently?
9) Have overweight or Obesity?
10) Have some problem of health like the diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, chronic anemia, undernourishment?

Whenever you respond yes, to anyone of the questions, your risk of cancer WILL BE MUCH GREATER!

I’m Adviser in Naturist Nutrition.