Abnormal Mammogram

[47goingon20]

Hi..I just got a letter from radiology that says my recent mammagram revealed abnormalities. I am going to meet with my doctor to ask what to do next (repeat mammagram or ultrasound?). I'm 47, in excellent and never had an abnormal one before. I'm not terribly worried, but am a bit concerned. I've read that sometimes just a change in the tissue can appear as an abnormality.  I've started weight training in the past month; and my breasts have firmed up quite a bit. Could something like this change the density of my breast tissue and appear as an abnormality when compared with my mammogram film of a year ago?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear 47goingon20: It is unlikely that your exercise has changed your breast tissue since there is no muscle within the breast.  Your breasts have probably become firmer due to the muscles on your chest becoming firmer.  Mammograms can show abnormalities for a variety of reasons, many of which are not cancer.  It is likely that your doctor will recommend a repeat (diagnostic rather than screening) mammogram and/or ultrasound to further describe the abnormality.  From there, the doctor will decide whether additional testing, such as biopsy, should be done.

[47goingon20]

Thank you so much!!