Mammogram and follow up Ultrasound?

[Dazey29]

Hi.
I am a healthy woman in my later 40's and have always had normal mammograms.
I had a regular gyn.exam in May 06 where she did the manual breast exam and now yesterday Jan 07 went for my routine mammogram again.
My question is this-
I have been told I have dense breasts (no other problem with them)
Seems like each time I get a mammogram they need to take one or two more pictures of the left breast mostly (to get a clearer view)but then the radiologist comes in after viewing them and says all is fine.
Yesterday after the mammogram he came in and said all is fine but mentioned that there are new guidelines since 05 I believe that women with dense breasts should get a mammogram AND ultrasound.
So on the paper he gave amd always gives to take home nothing is checked off as a problem (no changes,no abnormal findings,etc)BUT he did write in follow up ultrasound (he says they recommend within 3 months )and then he said next year when I come to get the mammogram and ultrasound done then.
Should I be concerned or is this really just routine as it seems to be?

I should mention that for instance they called me back in just for one extra picture before I was done because "he can't see all of you"
So obviously that is the density..
Just feel anxious-any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Dazey29]

Thanks Kim -that info helped ease my mind.
So how was it when you had the ultrasound? All checked out fine? And do you have to have both tests from now on  each year?

[anxiousmomtobe?]

It is really hard to get good pic with dense breasts and they are just being very cautious.  I think that is good medical practice.

[Dazey29]

I am wondering then why not just get the ultrasounds and make women with denser breast get the mammograms if it's harder to see the results?
Maybe that the ultrasounds are more expensive?

[kim11]

I too am in my mid 40's and have very dense breasts.
For the past several years I've had ultrasounds with
mammograms because they can't read the films from mammo.
I have asked the same question, "why not just do the
ultrasounds" since you can't read the mammograms very
well.  However, I've been told that mammograms are still
the most reliable and dense breasts should have the
additional ultrasounds.

[poco102361]

I too have dense breasts and had a mammogram in august which came out fine. Last month I started to have problems with my left breast, very painful and tender. The doctor ordered a mammo and ultrasound on the left breast only.  I asked the technician that did the mammo and the tech that did the ultrasound why not just do the ultrasound only on dense breasts if the mammo doesnt see everything. Both told me that the ultrasound is very hard to do on the entire breast since it's a "hand's on" technique and not an actual mechine and you can miss something unless their specifically looking for something. For me, I knew exactly where the pain was and what I thought I felt. when they did the ultrasound they only concentrated on the area where I felt pain. After going through it I can see why an ultrsound is only used for specific findings and how the mammo covers more of the breast area, hope this helps.  

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I think and us is actually cheaper.  I think a mamogram is always the first choice.

[jte131107]

What could it hurt to be extra cautious? If your breast are dense then the ultra sound is just extra precautions. It wouldn't hurt to have it done!