Are different breast issues a cause for concern?

[curlytop1969]

In June, 2009, my mammogram showed a lump in my right breast.  A biopsy in July ruled it as fibroadenoma.  In November, I found a lump in my left breast and left armpit with left nipple discharge and itching.  Decembers mammogram showed that lump in my armpit was an enlarged lymphnode (which is still enlarged).  In February, 2010, the itching was so severe that I had to go back to my specialist and they did a bunch biopsy on my left areola.  It looked like Paget's Disease and/or Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  Results said it was dermatitis, which even started on the right areola.  NP also found a small lump around the 3 o'clock area on the left breast.  Then, in April, I found another lump around 5:30 on the left breast.  Went to regular doctor and he sent me back to specialist.  NP, my doctor, and I all agree that it's probably just another fibroadenoma.  Again, the NP felt the lump at the 3 o'clock area and said we need to be concerned about it.  She had me go for another mammogram.  The mammogram showed neither lump, even though all three of us felt both lumps.  It did, however, see the tail end of the enlarged lymphnode in my left armpit.  I am due to go back in June to my regular doctor, my yearly mammogram, and my 3 month check up with the Breast clinic.

I am 41 years old and have large and dense breast.   My 1/2 niece on my fathers side had breast cancer in her left breast when we were 36 years old.  We are only a week apart in age.  She had to have her left breast removed.  Can all of these different non-cancerous issues turn into cancer?  Should I be concerned over all these different breast issues?  Should I be worried or concerned about the two lumps felt, but not seen on the mammogram?

[bluebutterfly2222]

Thanks for getting back to me with your reponse.

MRIs are more expensive than mammos, and if you have insurance, usually need to be preauthorized (family hx, other risk factors, and/or a strong statement of medical necessity from your doctor's office would help).

But it's more than worth it, if it identifies  something that otherwise would not have been  found.   For one of our frequent posters, it was the only way her BC was detected.

Please keep me posted, and good luck re: continued benign findings.

bb

[curlytop1969]

Dear Blue,

No, no one has suggested a breast MRI.  Til reading some of the other post on here, I had never heard of it.  

When, in December, I had my mammogram, the regular mamm wasn't showing the lump in the armpit.  The tech did a spot compression with the round piece and that's when they found it.  However, the tech did not do a spot compression this time and I don't know why.

Thanks for the recommendation about a breast MRI.  When I go next month to the specialist, I'll ask about it.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Benign findings do not "turn into cancer,"  but some abnormal, but noncancerous,  findings may be associated with a higher lifetime risk for cancer. I think that your breast specialist would be the best person to ask whether any of the breast issues you have had might suggest that you would be at higher risk .

I have a question for you: since you have dense breasts, has anyone suggested that you have breast MRI instead of, or in addition to, or alternating with, your mammograms? Breast MRIs are very sensitive and may result in false positives, but they are also very good at "seeing" things in dense breast tissue that may not be seen with other types of imaging. This might be especially valuable in regard to the palpable lumps that are not showing up on your mammograms.

If you decide to discuss this with your breast specialist and do have breast MRI, please post again and let me know how things turn out.

Best wishes...