Are you worried about your recent mammogram results?
#mammogram #breastcancer #diagnosis #familyhistory
Background:
– 30F, 250 lbs, BRCA negative
– Mother diagnosed with breast cancer at 40
Concerns:
– OBGYN’s solemn tone during call
– Detected mass and asymmetry in mammogram results
Symptoms:
– Focal asymmetry + mass in right breast
– Scattered fibroglandular density in left breast
Recommendation:
– Diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound scheduled
Next Steps:
– Stay calm and gather more information
– Seek support from healthcare providers and loved ones
#breasthealth #mammogramresults #WomensHealth
Remember, early detection and proactive healthcare are key in situations like these. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to address your concerns.
I’m sorry you have so much pressure on your shoulders and to have such a worry to top things off isn’t fair.
I’m not a radiologist nor a breast surgeon but it’s hard to say anything definitive on the report alone. The mass isn’t well described and the report is incomplete but there are things that need to be investigated. Focal asymmetry can be due to a number of things, as can a mass, but with your history it needs to be fully investigated to exclude a cancer.
I’m sorry, I know it’s very scary but you have an appointment shortly and it may well be nothing concerning, but in case it is you’re doing the right things. It sounds like you are very much the rock at home, if you have other friends and family that be there to listed I would encourage you to talk to them (should you want that).
I always tell my patients that their first mammogram is always the worst, because there are no comparison films for a baseline and so you’re much more likely to have to get a callback for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.
I, of course, can’t say whether you have cancer. However, I can say that I receive *several* similar indeterminate reports from my patients on my panel every month and only have a few patients diagnosed with breast cancer per year. I’m sure most primary docs here are in a similar position. If you were my patient and this were the report, I’d honestly be surprised if the diagnostic and ultrasound found a cancerous lesion. Most often asymmetries are just caused by fibroglandular tissue and dense breasts.
You should still do the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. However, if you were in my office, I would tell you not to assume the worst. Even with someone with your family history, this more often turns out to be something benign.
Wording for mammogram reports is really unusual compared to other types of imaging reports. They have a very, VERY specific set of words they can use to describe their findings and cannot use other words. Highly structured, highly regimented, and very few of the descriptors make any sense (and honestly, sound overtly scary) to anyone who don’t review them commonly. So, basically anyone who isn’t a radiologist or breast surgeon. Your OB/GYN falls under neither category (not shaming them–I can’t biopsy a cervix and they can’t read a mammogram). I’ll demystify the language a little bit:
Mass: A 3d thing with convex margins that is seen on two projections (so, pictures from both angles they took of your breast that day). The most common masses seen in mammograms are cysts (benign), fibroadenomas (benign), and normal lymph nodes. Other masses include abnormal lymph nodes and cancers. The report has no further description to tell me what the mass looks like, which is common for mammograms requesting additional images, but it also means that I can’t tell you right now what type of mass they saw.
Asymmetry: Some sort of thing that doesn’t meet criteria for mass that is only seen on one projection (seen on one angle of picture, but not the other). This is usually just an extra chunk of normal glandular tissue laying on top of other glandular tissue, but sometimes breast scar tissue or some cancers present this way.
As you can see, lots of benign findings will be described by these terms. However, they will often call back and obtain MULTIPLE more images on mammogram and ultrasound, especially for baseline exams. This is because breast imaging is very unique in that it revolves around cancer: identify/biopsy cancer, or kinda prove something is not cancer. All their reports are abrupt and cold like this regardless of how scary or reassuring something looks, so I wouldn’t fret yet.