Aa
worry about tests
Went for my first mammo at age 60. Don't believe in them. No cancer history in family, mom lived to 87. Got a call that there was an "assymetry" in right breast. They scheduled a followup diagnostic mammo and I noticed the Dr. also put "possible ultrasound". Well, for 2 weeks I surfed the net and worried. After they did the diagnostic mammo, the girl said it would be a half hour wait for the radiologist to look at it. In the meantime, I'm sitting in the waiting room surrounded by cancer magazines, feeling my anxiety level rise. The girl finally came back and said they have to do an ultrasound. (surprise surprise, since the Dr. already wrote that on the referral). Then I really got scared because all I read on the internet indicated that they do ultrasound to distinguish tumors from cysts. Mind you, they never mentioned the word lump. After the ultrasound, the radiologist said "everything is fine. See you next yr." I said" you will never see me again." In my opinion mammos find all kinds of lumps, cancers, etc. Most of them are benign. I had 2 friends go for biopsies, both were benign. Why are they scaring women to death like this? If you feel a lump, go for a mammo. If you have no history and no lumps, forget it.
This discussion is related to Asymmetric breast tissue----possible cause or outcome.
This discussion is related to Asymmetric breast tissue----possible cause or outcome.
Hi,
I am very happy for you that your test results came back in your favor.... But with respect to the mammograms - both my sister and I had our first mammograms just last March. My sister is 49 and I am 47 and we were both diagnosed with breast cancer back to back within 3 weeks of each other. I would also like to add that I had NO LUMPS, my left breast was "full" of microcalcifications (DCIS) - (12 centimeters to be exact) an early stage of breast cancer. The right breast was also starting on its way as well. I had a double mastectomy in June and am blessed that it did not spread and I did not need further treatment. My sisters, on the other hand spread to her lymph nodes, she has had her surgery and now awaits chemo.
So please, mammograms do save lives - they both saved my sister and I. (our first mammograms to boot).
Take care
I am very happy for you that your test results came back in your favor.... But with respect to the mammograms - both my sister and I had our first mammograms just last March. My sister is 49 and I am 47 and we were both diagnosed with breast cancer back to back within 3 weeks of each other. I would also like to add that I had NO LUMPS, my left breast was "full" of microcalcifications (DCIS) - (12 centimeters to be exact) an early stage of breast cancer. The right breast was also starting on its way as well. I had a double mastectomy in June and am blessed that it did not spread and I did not need further treatment. My sisters, on the other hand spread to her lymph nodes, she has had her surgery and now awaits chemo.
So please, mammograms do save lives - they both saved my sister and I. (our first mammograms to boot).
Take care
I think the women who respoded to you were not necessarily offended but the more than likely owe their lives to the testing that you say you don't believe in. I also understand your need to "vent" and your anxiety about the additional testing is pretty much normal. We all tend to "freak out" when we think something as serioous as breast cancer is a possibility. Perhaps after a year has passed you may be willing to go for that re-check. By the way, family history only accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers discovered. Take care .....
I'm sorry if I offended anyone, just expressing my personal opinion. I was so upset after this false positive that I needed to rant.
I know your anxiety level was rising but really, to come in to a breast cancer forum with women who've had breast cancer or lost Mother's, sisters, daughters, grandmothers and friends to this horrible disease and say mammograms are a bunch of hooey? I don't think so.
Sadly, it's not exact. Nothing is.
It did not catch my 10 cm mass. I wish it had! They couldn't image my cancer or feel it. An MRI showed it, thank goodness! I'd take a benign biopsy any day over chemo and radiation and mastectomy and all of the side effects of those treatments and surgery!
Consider yourself and your friends lucky. Very lucky. I wish you continued luck.
Sadly, it's not exact. Nothing is.
It did not catch my 10 cm mass. I wish it had! They couldn't image my cancer or feel it. An MRI showed it, thank goodness! I'd take a benign biopsy any day over chemo and radiation and mastectomy and all of the side effects of those treatments and surgery!
Consider yourself and your friends lucky. Very lucky. I wish you continued luck.
Your opinion regarding diagnostic testing is one the is unfortunately shared by many.
It was an opinion that my deceased aunt had... before her late stage Breast Cancer was diagnosed back in 1991... "Oh," she'd say... "Cancer, that could never happen to me"... "we have no family history"... "I watch what I eat and keep my weight down" "I feel fine" "and, look at Mother, she's alive and kicking and she's pushing 98!"
But, when the sad reality of my aunt's Breast Cancer sunk in, she lived to regret that way of thinking. In fact, one of the last things that she told me before she lapsed into unconsciousness prior to succumbing to the Cancer was... "have yearly exams and never neglect your health... otherwise, you'll wind up like me... and, you don't want to wind up like me!"
So, please... don't assume that just because everything turned out fine in one set of tests in one year that nothing will ever be found in subsequent tests in the future. No one knows what the future holds for us and who would want to gamble with one's health or one's life for that matter.
Also, be aware that not all Cancers appear as a definable lump in the breast. It can appear as a tiny microscopic speck that can be neither seen nor felt; but can be detected with diagnostic testing techniques ie. mammography, ultrasound and MRI.
I hope that you reconsider your thinking... as there is immeasurable value in the early detection of any Cancer.
It was an opinion that my deceased aunt had... before her late stage Breast Cancer was diagnosed back in 1991... "Oh," she'd say... "Cancer, that could never happen to me"... "we have no family history"... "I watch what I eat and keep my weight down" "I feel fine" "and, look at Mother, she's alive and kicking and she's pushing 98!"
But, when the sad reality of my aunt's Breast Cancer sunk in, she lived to regret that way of thinking. In fact, one of the last things that she told me before she lapsed into unconsciousness prior to succumbing to the Cancer was... "have yearly exams and never neglect your health... otherwise, you'll wind up like me... and, you don't want to wind up like me!"
So, please... don't assume that just because everything turned out fine in one set of tests in one year that nothing will ever be found in subsequent tests in the future. No one knows what the future holds for us and who would want to gamble with one's health or one's life for that matter.
Also, be aware that not all Cancers appear as a definable lump in the breast. It can appear as a tiny microscopic speck that can be neither seen nor felt; but can be detected with diagnostic testing techniques ie. mammography, ultrasound and MRI.
I hope that you reconsider your thinking... as there is immeasurable value in the early detection of any Cancer.
I don't usually post unless I have a specific question, but I was intrigued by your post. I respect your right to your own opinion, but I suspect you'd feel a lot differently if you (God forbid) had a different result on your mammogram or ever lost a family member to a late stage cancer that could have been treated if caught earlier.
I don't think they (whoever they are) are scaring women to death. If a lump is found they have to investigate it, and I for one would expect them to. Family history is not the only risk factor, and not having a family history does not mean your risk is zero. There was no known history of cancer in my family for about 4 generations, until my cousin was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer - at age 25. There are lots of factors, and still more research to be done. It's not meant to scare anyone; it's just meant to inform. For instance I never knew that the fact that I began menstruating very young is considered one of the risk factors, as well as not having had children by my age. Now that I know I don't find myself any more "scared," but I find it helpful to have that information and it makes me maybe just a little more proactive.
Also, some cancers don't present with palpable lumps, hence the suggestion that women begin having yearly mammograms after a certain age.
I agree, it can be nerve wracking to go through the process of mammos and ultrasounds. Personally, I believe I don't feel a huge amount of anxiety going through them because I have armed myself with a lot of factual information - but the choice is an individual one. Though I disagree with your decision to ignore future surveillance, it's your decision to make and I respect your right to make it. But I would avoid giving that blanket advice to others; we all need to come to our own individual conclusions just as you did. My suspicion is that most women will find annual surveillance a necessary evil, but what do I know? Just my two-cents on the subject.
I don't think they (whoever they are) are scaring women to death. If a lump is found they have to investigate it, and I for one would expect them to. Family history is not the only risk factor, and not having a family history does not mean your risk is zero. There was no known history of cancer in my family for about 4 generations, until my cousin was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer - at age 25. There are lots of factors, and still more research to be done. It's not meant to scare anyone; it's just meant to inform. For instance I never knew that the fact that I began menstruating very young is considered one of the risk factors, as well as not having had children by my age. Now that I know I don't find myself any more "scared," but I find it helpful to have that information and it makes me maybe just a little more proactive.
Also, some cancers don't present with palpable lumps, hence the suggestion that women begin having yearly mammograms after a certain age.
I agree, it can be nerve wracking to go through the process of mammos and ultrasounds. Personally, I believe I don't feel a huge amount of anxiety going through them because I have armed myself with a lot of factual information - but the choice is an individual one. Though I disagree with your decision to ignore future surveillance, it's your decision to make and I respect your right to make it. But I would avoid giving that blanket advice to others; we all need to come to our own individual conclusions just as you did. My suspicion is that most women will find annual surveillance a necessary evil, but what do I know? Just my two-cents on the subject.
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