They Saw Something in My Mammogram

Hi there, first off let me say share that my 32 year old sister was diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma stage 3 (breast cancer) earlier this year, and she is almost done with her chemo and will have her double mastectomy at the end of this month, we have no history of cancer in our family. When we found out about her cancer, I was just recovering from my breast augmentation so I freaked out. After speaking with my OB/GYN we agreed that it was a good idea to get a baseline mammogram, I'm 30, never had had one before. Well after the mammogram I got a call to schedule an ultrasound because it was abnormal. That night, I "thought" I felt a lump, but said no myself nawww I'm just being paranoid. So the ultrasound revealed a mass on my right breast(not sure if it's hard/soft), where I had "thought" I felt something, so I was then scheduled for a biopsy. Turns out I have a benign fibroadenoma, which is basically just a benign tumor. The surgeon told me this will NOT turn into cancer, nor will it increase my chances of having breast cancer and should only be removed if it causes so much pain that I can't live a normal life. Just thought I would share, good luck with your tests!

Don't panic till they redo the test. sometimes it is nothing more than a shadow because of the angle. usually they keep you at the place and say don't get dressed till we read it. saying a prayer that it is nothing.

I just went yesterday because at my annual my OBGYN found a lump. I had a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The mammogram was obviously abnormal because of the lump but when they did the ultrasound they could see it was a fluid filled cyst. (Actually there were 3 although you can only feel 1 on my left side and 1 on my right side.) They told me to come back in 2 years for another mammogram and I have a clean bill of health.
Remember that 80%of breast lumps are benign/non cancerous.
Best of luck!

Having this happen is common. It's happened to me. Nothing was wrong. I suggest that additional scans may be more common with the first mammography because they're establishing a base normal with which to compare future exams. Please stop worrying. It's highly unlikely that you have cancer.

Someone asked a similar question last week. Several women reported this happened to them and all was well.

Blessings. I've had two cysts removed. Benign.

Boy do I know how you feel!! Last March I went for a mammogram because my step-mom was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (she is now cancer free, BTW). They found something questionable, did another mammogram, ultrasound and then a biopsy. This over the course of a week (it was Spring Break, I recall). I was on high anxiety and lost a few lbs.

Turns out it was a benign fibroadenoma. Nothing to worry about and will never be cancer.

It's easy for us to say, but don't worry until there is something to worry about. Just do what they say as far as tests, schedule them quickly so you can get to your diagnosis ASAP and move forward.

All my best. Please update SWH!

Stay positive. My wife went through this exact same thing last year, she is now 43. She got the call back just like you and had to have a more thorough exam. It turned out to be nothing. It will be fine.

They saw something in your mammogram? Good! If there's anything of questionable content inside you, you *want* them to see it! The job now is one of investigation. If they find it isn't anything to worry about, you can be thankful that you don't have to worry about it. If they discover something to worry about, you can be thankful that they have found it now, not at some time in the future when you feel something. The sooner you can start dealing with a cancer, the better!

You're just letting them check out what they're wondering about.

I'm sorry your SIL is going through cancer treatments, and having it happen to someone so close makes you think about your own mortality. But you don't know if you have cancer. You may not. Keep breathing and go get your tests. Let us know how they come out.

By the way, I had one of those surprise mammograms, with a lot of tests after it, and it turned out to be a very small amount of very early cancer. I will always be thankful to the radiologist who found the "What is it?" spot, as well as the surgeon and the staff. I have been cancer free for almost twenty years.

Because it's your first mammogram they don't know if the soft tissue masses are something new or if they've been there for years. No previous mam to compare it to. So they'll bring you in for a mam in a different position and ultrasound which will be reviewed on the spot by a radiologist.

At this point all the radiologist is saying is "I see something but I don't know if it's something important. Come on back in and lets do a little more stuff so I can get a better view of this and we'll figure out what's up."

I had a call back on a mam and my mind obviously went to 'OMG it's cancer'. So I did a little googling and found that the call back rate on mammograms is 10%. Out of 1000 done 100 will need further review for some reason. Out of that 100, 8 or 10 will require a biopsy. 80% of those will be benign.

So although it's hard not to worry just know that the odds are in your favor that there's nothing to worry about and all this is being done because they don't know exactly what the masses are because there's no previous mam to compare.