confused about what steps to take now. . .

I am 34 years old and in October 2002 I felt a change in my left breast.  It felt like a very small round knot.  I went to the doctor and was instructed to get a mammogram.  After the mammogram, I was told to come back in 3 months.  The doctor said an ultrasound may give more information so I had the ultrasound immediately after the first mammogram.  Then I returned for the 3 month followup this January.  After the 3 month followup mammogram, I was told to return in six months for another mammogram.  I can feel the same small knot as before, as well as other additional small bumbs.  I asked the nurse who called me and told me to return in six months, if the second contained any new information from the first report.  I was told there was no significate change and some medical terminology (small nodular, fibercystic lymphnoids?? located in the upper quandrant of the left breast).  I am concerned about this and don't know really how to proceed.  I would certainly hate to wait if there is other diagnosis action I can take to ensure this is or is not something I need to dealing with immediately.  I am concerned while all these visits to the doctor and procedures I have no more information than this. Please help to guide me as to what action I can take and other options that may be available to me.  I don't want to overreact; however, I don't want to underreact either.  Sincerely,

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear taylorgray: Evaluation of a lump begins with the physical examination and then testing as you have had done.  The ultrasound gives information as to whether this is solid or fluid-filled (cystic).  The mammogram is an x-ray of the breast tissue itself, the radiologist looks for anything unusual or suspicious.  If the lump visualized as round and smooth on the mammogram it is more likely a cyst or fibroadenoma.  If it's more jagged, with radiating strands it would be more suspicious for cancer and a biopsy would be recommended.  Nodular, fibrocystic, lymphnodes are usually described as round or smooth - so it is less suspicious that this lump is a cancer problem.  Having it checked more often may be to make sure there is no change in the size just to be on the safe side.  The only way to be absolutely sure this is not cancer would be to have it removed and examined under a microscope, but the tests leading up to this (physical exam, ultrasound, mammogram) lean more to it being a benign (non-cancerous) condition.

[Binkie]

It sounds to me like she meant you have merely fibrocysts in your milk ducts. But, to cover themselves from litigation, the Medical Establishment would Never Consider writing you off. If they were to find cancer later on they could be in danger of getting sued
which raises their malpractice insurance premiums. Thus, the repeat mammograms.
If it were me, and I'm very weird, I would ask for an "exact, layman's definition" of that diagnosis to find if they believe you have cysts. IF so, I'd take 800 mg of vitamin E for a month and let it go. If I had gone to a doctor with My lump I had 15 years ago I can promise you they would have done mammograms and Lord knows what else. But I never went. I've read a write up by an M.D. Ph.d who says repeat mammos can CAUSE breast cancer just as
dental x rays cause uterine cancer (thus the use of lead aprons).
A decade ago I had a lot of lumps and the E cured them. And I mean just that: cured. Same thing with the single lump I had.