abnormal mammogram going for a ct

[konasmom]

Hi all, I am new to this site. In Feb this year I was in the hospital due to complications with my MS/Epilepsy. During my visit I mentioned to the Doctor that I have had an itchy left nipple for quite some time, and also felt a lump, the nipple though not inverted ( my nipples would never invert, they can poke an eye out :) Anyways, during my visit I had a mammogram. I received a letter in the mail stating that they found an abnormality and I needed to make an "important appt." to follow up. However. also in the letter it did say that the mass did not "appear" to be malignant, however..... 6 mos have passed and I have yet to go in for my ultrasound. I have a very good reason, I was with my mother who passed away from cancer, I had to spend that time with her..... For the past 2 mos, my stomach has been extremely bloated, so I made an appt. with my OB/Gyn. He checked my belly and told me "I don't think its cancer" meanwhile he orders a vaginal ultrasound, and blood tests CEA and CA-125 Serum. I went in for my Vaginal and noticed the tech staying in the same spot to the left (her right) she printed about 7 pics and said ok your done, the doctor will follow up. Before I left, she turned the screen to me and said look. It looked like a huge golf ball, maybe bigger. I have never had fibroids or anything. Anyways..I am so sorry this is so long. I went to the window and said, I called numerous times last week about getting the doc to order the ultra sound on my breast and have heard nothing. And do you have my blood test results? I have a PPO, I can go anywhere, but because I was in the hospital during my mammo, I need my OB to order it, which before I left they gave me the ultrasound order. My question is could this golf ball have something to do with the abnormality in my mammo, I mean do things grow at the same time in different areas? It's been a week since my vaginal ultrasound and no word. (no news is good news?) My breast I am getting looked at finally next week. I have noticed changes in my left breast, it has a different feeling, it had the itchy nipple for so long the itch seems to be there still, but no longer is it as easy to scratch (you know when something itches and u just cant find the right spot?) It seems to have spread if that makes sense. I know I probably sound like a crazy person. With my MS I don't get around well and as often, with my epilepsy I cannot drive, so things don't get done as quickly. I made a promise to my mom before she died I would get it all looked at. Help! *some nipple discharge, a weird freckle on my nipple, and some light brown spotting like tiny freckles maybe 7, next to the areola between my breasts. in general, my left breast looks different from my right and feels different too.

[japdip]

Neither a Radiologist nor any other type of Physician can tell with 100% certainty if something is or isn't cancer. Keep in mind though that with years of experience of reading films one is very attune to many things that are a clue as to what something "seems to be". Both malignant and benign lesions have certain qualities that are familiar to the Radiologist. Breast Cancer is not exactly a "loner" but even when metastisis is an issue the most common relation is to brain, bone, lung, liver. Only a biopsy is the method for a definite diagnosis even though there are many characteristics that can make a lesion "most" likely to be malignant. With your history and positive genetic results I would have EVERYTHING and ANYTHING checked out sooner rather than later. NO, hapa doesn't bring anything to mind at the moment I'll send you a private message regarding mine when I finish this.   Take care ...

[konasmom]

I've been waiting and waiting for a reply, LOL and your kind words come thru and I start bawling, what a goober I am!! Thank you so much. I didn't mention that my mom was a 3x cancer survivor, uterine, stage 4 colon (she beat it!) and then Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) during her short fight, 9mos, we found that we carry a cancer gene HNPCC, my sister was diagnosed with colon cancer at 49. (after removing a large portion of her colon, she is in remission) There is an "umbrella of 8 types of cancer" and breast cancer isn't one of them, and because the radiologists words were doesn't appear to be malignant, however..... make this very important appt. right away, I just forgot about me.....Can a Radiologist tell without the ultrasound, just by sight, that its not "malignant?" I just noticed your screenname, I am a hapa? Does that mean anything to you LOL
Anyways, thanx again, just for being so understanding and kind.....

[japdip]

First, please accept my sympathy for the loss of your Mother. I'm quite sure this hasn't helped your health problems but we do what we need to do at the time and try to catch up later. By the way, you don't sound the least bit "crazy" ... but then aren't we all now and then ?? LOL
Now to the problems ... yes two things can be going on at the same time; they can or cannot be related so don't base anything on the fact that you may have two issues at the same time. I'm glad you are getting things in order now and will be getting some answers very soon. Hang in there ... things will settle down in time which is never soon enough for us as a rule. You know ... both problems could very likely be benign conditions that are totally unrelated. When we turn our attention to more important matters we often ignore our own health and wellbeing. Please do honor your promise to you Mother and keep on investigating until you get some satisfactory answers, even if it does take a lot of time. Take care now .....