Breast Health Messages for 2001: Re: Confused....

Even without this history, you personal experience with a breast change that has not resolved over time warrents and investigation. This needs to be done REGARDLESS of your age and REGARDLESS of any mammographic or sonographic findings.

It sounds as if there are two things going on. Did you have a mass felt by some physicians? Is this mass still palpable? Is the "white" area you describe related to it, or is it something new? While a breast surgeon did take a look, did the surgeon see you since these new findings cropped up?

I would advise you to go back for the surgical consulation and point out these concerns. Certainly any mass or nipple change should be biopsied--at least with neeedle sampling. It would put your minds at ease and answer the question once and for all...so go ahead and INSIST that someone review your physical examination and films (keeping in mind that films may be 'negative' in up to 15% of breast cancers).

------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Originally From: megan69487@hotmail.com ------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Subject: Confused.... ------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Date: 12/11/2001 04:52pm

I'm 37 and about 3 years ago, my previous military pcp noticed a few lumps on right breast, and one that she wanted examined. Going over family history, I have 2 grandmothers, 2 aunts and a 38 year old cousin with advanced breast cancer and an uncle that died from colon cancer...mother refuses to have mammograms done and younger sister is being followed up this year for microcalcifications noted on her mammogram. My pcp set me up for a baseline mammogram, which just showed heterogeneously dense tissue. A tech at our military hospital also did an ultrasound and said he didn't even understand why I was having it, as I wasn't in any higher risk category to begin with. I had an appt a few weeks later to check the lumps, nowhere near my menstrual cycle, and another female dr. felt one in same place. I'd noticed an area that hardened around the areola and she said that was more than likely a clogged milk duct (youngest child at the time was 13). I followed up later with a male PA (my pcp), who said there weren't any, so I was going to leave it at that. A few months later, I noticed that same area around the areola would sink in when laying down, but the left breast didn't, so I called for an appt, and a different dr. did exam, noticed the area that was sinking in, and set me up to see military breast surgeon. He didn't see the need to biopsy the area but did recommend yearly mammograms, especially for what he considered high risk family history. I had 2nd mammogram done last December, which I noticed wasn't compared to the previous year. I noticed in that same area around the areola, there was a small whitish area that had gotten bigger than the previous year...even let a co-worker with breast cancer at medical center take a look (she had hers done before at same place and wasn't thrilled...they'd missed hers and also a close friend of hers that ended up passing away the same year) She also noted the same spot. I tried to get someone at our military to take a look at the films with no luck. I had an appt yesterday for some pain I've been having around my shoulder/back/arm (same side)...diagnosed with bursitis. I asked if he could do the referral for yearly mammogram during appt and he said my family history didn't warrant one and to wait til 40 yrs., because it wasn't a mother/sister with breast cancer. I'm not sure now whether to ask someone to review the records and put in the referral or not. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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