worried

I had my yearly mammo this past week. got a call from my dr office saying i need another and a ultrasound. I am 45 years old never had to return for a follow up. the nurse said its 7mm about the size of grain of rice. and for me not to worry. I go back in 2 weeks. the nurse said that sence i had my mammo durning my period and that i drink caffeine this could be the reason. I have never heard of this before and no one has ever told me not to get a mammogram durning menstrual.  So now I am freaking out what the 7mm dense nodular could be! its going to be a long 2 weeks. ANY advise would be much welcome!!!

[japdip]

First may I ask PLEASE only post one time on a subject ... if you have additional information to add then do it as a comment on your first post. Posting several times will only delay the answers ... Thank you.
Being called back after a Mammogram is NOT an ususual occurence; it happens more times than not and your menstrual cycle can alter the findings. As a rule a woman's breasts are quite tender at certain times of the month and they usually put off the Mammography until this subsides. Breasts can become lumpy at this time and small cysts or Fibroadenomas can form which may disappear later. Just relax and keep your follow-up appointment in 2 weeks.   Regards ....

[Tinabudde]

Hi Kitkat, in these cases you can't help but worry, it's the big C.  I have the brca 1 and brca 2 genes so any lump I worry alot about too, it's just natural to worry nobody wants to be sick or have problems.  It might be a calcification or cyst, it could be some fibrocystic breast tissue, there's so many things.  Breast lumps are not always cancer.  My mother had a masectomy at age 81 last August, she had the exact size and shape lumps in the other breast and had a biopsy in January, the doctor was 100% sure it was cancer before the surgery but it wasn't!   It was a benign breast tumor.  My mothers blood tests for cancer proteins were high too and dropped after the lump was removed!  But it wasn't cancer which is good.  It's good they are re-testing you.  Try to think positive and think ok it's small whatever it is, we'll retest figure out what it is and take care of it and get back to normal.  LEt us know how you make out. hugssss.

[kitkat161]

Thank you for your support!  I will try to post better next time. I'm trying not to worry. I made some calls to my dr and they helped me to feel better about waiting. So i hope its a good sign. my friend said when she had her mammo and they saw something they took her straight into another room and did a ultrasound. I'm keeping the faith!  Thanks again!

[kitkat161]

very scared today. just keep thinking what if. after a mammogram and they call back why do they make you wait 2 weeks before they do anything? it's really hard for me to wait. I think it would be more helpful if there is something differant on your mammogram they would see you sooner.

[japdip]

There are many reasons for delays between filming and the report being delivered to your Dr. and then perhaps more time goes by before he/she can see you in the office. It also makes a difference whether you have a screening or diagnostic Mammogram. The Radiologist is present when a Diagnostic Mammogram is done and can order any additional testing he/she may feel necessary. With screening Mammograms, they are read at another time which often results in a call-back. It can also depend on what day of the week the test is done ... first it is read, then dictated, the report then is typed and sent to your prescribing Physician. When it's US we can all think of better ways of doing things but with this as well as any type of testing it's one step at a time and that can't be rushed if we want it done RIGHT. RELAX ... Take care now ......

[Tinabudde]

Hi Kitkat, it takes 2 weeks because they have to get the copies of your older mammograms and compare them, and look at all angles of the lump, so they can be sure what they right is correct.  Also it takes time for the radiologist to dictate the report so it can be typed and sent to your doctors office.   Many times if they do see something on the mammogram they take you back for the ultrasound while you are there, I know my hospital does that, they call the doctor immediately and get the script for the ultrasound.  It could be that the lump isn't there, I would have thought if it was they would have done another ultrasound at the time to define it so it could be it was some time of fibrotic material that broke up.  I know that sounds odd but I have lymphedema and fibrocystic breasts.  I had a 10cm lump, with my history of breast cancer and having the genes my doctor sent me to a surgeon after the mammo and ultrasound, they did a needle biopsy in the office and later called me to say it was negative but they wanted to remove it.  I mentioned it to my lymphedema therapist and she worked on the area, it was in the noon spot on my breast and after she did work on it, it did break up, I'm not sure what it was but it was gone after 2 treatments so the doctor assumed it was debris.  So lumps are not always cancer, it's natural to worry, cancer is very scary, I went through it and my mom is going through it, but try not to worry, just take it one day at a time.  Do you have any family history of breast cancer?  

[kitkat161]

My grandmother had breast cancer when she was 78 they took the one breast off.with no treatment she died 8 years ago but it was not due to breast cancer. My mom had a cyst back in the 80's she had it removed.she has had no other problems.  today is sunday so I can't get ahold of my regular dr. I am going to ask for some meds to help me threw this. I did call the hosiptal and they said the reason they cant get me in sooner is because they are booked up and the fact they need a ultrasound and a closer look with a mammogram on this one spot i think its called a cone.   thanks for all you help!!!  God Bless!!!

[kitkat161]

I called and got into another place. now I wait 2 days not 2 weeks.I'm still VERY scared. I'm going to a breast center this wednesday. Please keep me in your prayers. I called my regular dr this morning in hopes of getting some meds for my nerves.On June 14 i weight in at 140 my home scales this morning says 133. so my nerves has gotten to me. The nurse ask me if it was a mass on my mammogram and I told her I was told dense nodular is there a differance?  Thank you for your support!