Nursing and Mammogram

I think for your safty you need to wean your child & have the mammogram. Breast cancer is a real threat & any lump should never be ignored. My mother had breast cancer & there was no history in our family, so it was quite a shock when we got the news. You have given your child more than enough benefits from breast feeding. Ask yourself this question, "Do I want to be around to raise this child?' If there is any chance at all that this may be cancer, why in the world would you ever risk not being there to watch your child grow up. Your child may be attached to the breat & I know you are attached to this special bonding time (I know I've been there), but for the long term good of your family you must listen to your Dr., wean your child & have the mammogram. Please!!!

I am still nursing my 2.5 yo and had an ultrasound in December because of a lump in my breast (the size fluctuates in my cycle as well). The radiologist determined that it was a cyst. When you say the ultrasound showed nothing--what do you mean? Nothing came up on it--they couldn't see the lump or anything? Did the person who read your ultrasound talk to you about what they found/didn't find or did you only talk to your obgyn? Why is your doctor still concerned? I am going back to my doctor for a followup tomorrow but based on what the ultrasound found, I don't have to have a mammo unless the lump changes. I have heard mixed things about whether a mmamogram can be read while someone is nursing or not. Good luck whatever you end up doing!

I just went through this. My midwife told me that a mammogram wouldn't show anything, due to my nursing, and she was right. I had to fight insurance, as they were insisting that it was a "maternity" charge. Which makes no sense, since nursing means POST maternity. Sigh. Anyway, the coding was adjusted to show that it was to look for a cyst, non-lactating. That was a $5000 charge.
The biopsy is what what necessary to confirm/deny what was going on (benigh, clogged duct in my case). So be sure you get the doc to code it correctly, and then follow up/fight if needed. Just my experience, and I'm sure it could go any which way. You do want to get it checked of course, but watch how it's handled is all I'm suggesting.
I went to Northshore, by the way. They were SUPER fast, but I almost felt like it was too fast, if that makes sense. The benefit, I was in there twice in two weeks and had my diagnosis.
all the best to you!

Wow - that is a tough situation. The fact that the lump fluctuates throughout your cycle is a good sign though. I'm guessing it reduces in size depending on where you are in your cycle?

I would continue to look for a specialist who could read your mammo without you having to wean. If you are not ready, and your 3yo isn't ready to wean, best not to rush into it. I have been told anyway that even if you did wean, you'd have to wait 6 months to get a regular mammo (I've heard this from several doctors, plus a midwife). I've never heard that you could only wait one month - but then again I'm less qualified to say than your ob/gyn is.

Good luck!