WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for February, 2003: Re: Breast Lumps

Re: Breast Lumps

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 11 Feb 2003 09:48:23 -0600 (CST)

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At Tue, 11 Feb 2003, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote: >
>I am 38 years old with no family history of breast cancer and I having some
>pain in my left breast, in December I saw my doctor and he ordered a
>mammogram. I was informed that I had 2 lumps in my left breast. I was
>then sent to have an ultrasound done. I was informed that these lumps are
>2 solid masses one is 1.5 cm and the other is 1.2 cm. 5 years ago (I was
>33, and I had some pain in my left breast) I was sent for my first
>mammogram and it had a normal reading (so I was told). Well when I was sent
>for the ultrasound they got my other mammogram from 5 years ago to compare
>the two and I was informed that the lumps were there 5 years ago on the
>first mammogram but the radiologist missed them and said I had a normal
>reading. Now, the current radiologist feels that I need to have an ultra
>sound needle guided biopsy because he feels the masses are slightly larger
>than 5 years ago. In the meantime I informed the Radiologist of medicine
>allergies I have to local anesthetics and he thought I should do these in
>the hospital to be safe. OK.... now my gynecologist sent me to a breast
>care center in a hospital to have the biopsies done. The day of the
>biopsies the Diagnostic Radiologist that was going to do my biopsy came in
>and told me I didn't need a biopsy that these were fibroid tumors, they
>were on my mammogram 5 years ago although they missed them they were there
>and now they are on the new mammogram clearly but there is NO Change......
>and if there was any chance of cancer there would certainly be a
>significant change in 5 years...... So here I am now with 2 opinions......
>my gynecologist, says its up to me what to do next, he feels both guys are
>good..... that didn't make me feel better.... what should I do? Do I need
>another opinion? Thanks, Terri

The underlying reality is that these lumps are virtually certian to be benign, so either choice is acceptable. Were this happening to my wife, I suspect that I would counsel repeating the mammo in 6 months and going from there.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for consultation and examination by a licensed medical professional.

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