More Tests Really Necessary?

Hi, I am a 35 year old mother of 3 chidren. I am adopted so I don't have any family medical history. I started my period when I was 10 years old. I am a smoker but do not use any drugs or alcohol. I have a couple of questions about my breast health.

I recently had my baseline mammogram, which showed asymmetric density. There was an area in the left breast that they were concerned about. I had a diagnostic ultrasound which showed nothing besides fibrocystic breast tissue. Then, I was referred to a general surgeon, who also performed an ultrasound. Nothing could be seen on this one either. Now, I am being sent for a diagnostic mammogram with compression.

Is that really needed since two ultrasounds didn't show anything besides fibrocystic tissue? (which is more fibrous than it is cystic)

Also, I have very irregular and heavy periods, probably due to endometriosis. (three years ago, I had a lump of incisional endometriosis removed)

I have abdominal pain, particularly when I am active. When I cough I have to hold my stomach because the pain is so bad. I can't even walk around for long without getting bad pains in my stomach. I take pain pills somewhat regularly now for this problem, particularly when I am menstruating and for about a week after I stop menstruating.

I am scheduled for a laproscopy, hysteroscopy, and ablation on Oct. 13th.

The reason I am telling you about this problem is that it leads to my other question: could what they are looking for in my breast somehow be related to the endometriosis that I probably have elsewhere?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear jps4soc:  It is not uncommon for a density to be discovered in a screening mammogram.  The next step is often a diagnostic mammogram with spot compression.  Often the spot disappears upon compression indicating that it could have simply been tissue that folded over on itself.  If the density remains, then further investigation will be recommended.  It is highly unlikely that this finding is related to the endometriosis.