28 yr old with strong family history of breast cancer

[kmscarpa]

Hello,
   I am 28 years old and recently went in for a mammogram and ultrasound for a lump I found.  During the ultrasound they discovered that the lump was a cyst and that I had a lot of calcifications around my ducts.  The radiologists can in and examined me himself.  He said that my breast tissue looked abnormal and because of the family history he was going to send me in for an MRI to get a better look. My breast is sore and I have been having some mild arm pain.  I had a cousin who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 and died at 40 and a grandmother who lost a breast to it at 49.  2 out of 5 women in my family...I am scared because I have a three year old.  Does anyone have any thoughts or insight?  Thank you

[ncmichigan]

I'm sorry to hear your mamogram and US results are so scary. No one wants to hear about the possibility of cancer. However, please don't freak out. I think most of us here try to emphasize that statistically most women end up with benign results, especially in younger women. Even the small percentage who end up with breast cancer diagnoses have every reason to be hopeful. Most are caught at an early stage and are highly treatable. The important thing is to be vigilant, get screened and follow through on the recommendations if something unusual is found. It is so much easier to deal with "what is" than to worry about "what ifs". I hope for good results with you MRI, but if not, a biopsy would be the only way to be 100% sure of what was going on.
Please keep us updated of what you find out if you wish. Try not to stress out too much. I know from personal experience (with three biopsies of 5 areas in the last six years) that's easier said than done, but the odds are really in your favor. Take care and I sincerely wish you all the best!
Sending you a big hug (       ),
nc

[kmscarpa]

I got the results today and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts

Mammogram results-right breast

No definite mass can be seen.  There are numerous mircocalcifications in the upper-outer quadrant of the right breast which could be malignant calcification's (for right side.)  There are some calcification's deep to the areola on the left side.  On ultrasonography, the upper-outer quadrant of the breast had a irregularly hypoechoic appearance with some cysts.  

Birades Code DO-incomplete-needs additional info

Ultrasound-right breast

No distinct mass is seem but there is an extensive area of abnormal echogenicity in the upper outer quadrant of the breast.  It contains some small cysts.  Mircocalcifications are also present within it.  There is an area of hypodensity which is more suspicious of a carcinoma.

I am of course completely freaked out...I have also been having right arm pain and the sides of my ribs were my lymph nodes are sore.  If it looks likely that I have cancer then I would like to know...I am a single mother to a beautiful 3 year old little boy.  So please and thoughts, comments, or similar experiences would be much appreciate! Thank you!  

[zouzi]

Hi,
Calcifications can also form near masses that aren't cancerous,like cysts and fibroadenomas which are both benign lumps.These types of calcifications usually do not indicate breast cancer, although they should be thoroughly checked particularly when they appear clustered or have irregular shape.
It's a good thing that you are having a MRI as your doctor recommended.The abnormal breast tissue that your doctor detected could simply mean that you have dense breasts that makes it more difficult to see things clearly.A MRI is an excellent tool to detect any abnormality when a young woman has dense breasts.
Please,don't be scared...a family history of BC would only be a strong connection if your mom or sister had this disease and not cousins or distant relatives.Many women who have no family history at all can get breast cancer.
Also keep in mind that breast pain is almost always an indication of a benign condition and I sure hope that the MRI will prove just that.
Please let us know how things are proceeding.
Wishing you all the best and good luck!

P.S Please keep the same thread,if you have any additional question,by responding in the space below my comment,
Thank you.