Mammography report question

I am 44 and just had my mammogram on 1/31/03. The last one I had was 10/17/00. I kept cancelling my appointmens due to family illnesses, deaths, my own illnesses and now as I see it....sheer stupity on my part. My report states the following and I have an appt for 2/17/03 for and ultrasound.

Calcifications: A few scattered righ breast involutional and single posterior at 9 o'clock left breast punctuate, benign and unchanged.

Masses: Well-defined lobulated 1 cm nodule in left mid breast at 3 o/clock increasing in size from 5mm on prior imaging.

Impression: Enlarging left breast nodoule.

BI-RADS: Additional follow up/imaging required.

While the calcifications don't really concern me so much...the enlarging nodule does. I know it's ridiculous to expect you to diagnos based on this information. But, maybe you could set my mind at ease OR be very direct with me - whichever is appropriate.

I do have a history of breast cancer on my mom's side of the family.

Thanks! Deb

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Deb, You are doing the right thing now by having this followed up on.  It could be an enlarging cyst (which the ultrasound is better at determining) or something equally benign, but we won't know what it is truly without further evaluation.  Don't beat yourself up about missing a mammogram, you're taking care of things now and that is what matters.

[surgeon]

scattered punctate unchanged calcifications, as you seem to know, are not a problem. An enlarging shadow might or might not be: the size change you describe over 3 years isn't very scary. However, with a change, and a family history, the wisest thing is most likely to have a biopsy. This can be done quite easily with a thing called "stereotactic biopsy" where the radiologist uses the xrays and a special set-up to guide a needle into the area. It's quite accurate, and usually there's very little discomfort.