Possible Meaning of Mammography..WORRIED

[JAP33]

I had a hard benign small lump removed in the Left breast about 10 yrs ago, My last 3 mammograms were in 05, 08 and last week. My report is as follows:The breast parenchyma is heterogeneously dense. There is a New Spiculated asymmetry within the left breast at 11:00 position middle depth.Benign apperaiing calcificationsare present bilat. the BI-Rad is 0..assessment incomplete addition imaging is needed. I am 51 yrs old with a HX of vulvar cancer about 12 yrs ago, otherwise nothing significant, I am scheduled next week for a spot compression mammogram and ultrasound.. should I be as worried as I am.....Everything I read that uses the word Spiculated goes with a high risk of malignancy.

[bluebutterfly2222]

What wonderful news!!

Thanks for getting back to us--you've made my day!

Regards,
bluebutterfly

[JAP33]

Good news. I just got back from my spot compression mammogram and they didn't need to do the ultrasound, they said everything looked fine so whatever they thought was there once spread out on the spot mammogram was nothing to worry about. Thank you for thinking of me and I will continue to pray for all of us, and become even more of an advocate to be checked regularly, I will not wait 2 years this time.... God Bless to All

[JAP33]

Thank you for your thoughts, I will definately keep posted on the results next week. I appreciate the good thoughts and prayers, and to all that are on this site, know that I pray for each of you also. May God Bless everyone here, No matter how this all turns out I have become truly a supporter for breast cancer, and all cancers/ I guess the oone good thing so far is I take this all a bit more serious and am now really stressing to my daughters to do the same. Thank you all again

[RTRM321]

With dense breast tissue as described, much could be hiding in there, hence the request for additional views.  The mammographer will do a few more pictures using a small compression paddle to help spread the dense tissue apart to see thru the area better and they will most likely do another angle or two of  your breast.  They may also do an Ultrasound for additional information.  Sometimes spiculated masses could be the way breast tissue appears over other breast structures giving it a distorted look, so try to keep a positive attitude that what the Radiologist sees is a projectional (not real)mass.  And as stated by bluebutterfly, if a biopsy is recommended, try to keep a cool head and remember that many, many women get called back for additional views and biopsies!  Just remember why you had your mammogram done in the first place......You wanted to know if anything was lurking in your breast, right?  Well....there might be, and the radiologist has a good eye to see stuff like that!  Good luck with your appointment!

[bluebutterfly2222]

You are correct that the word spiculated is not one we like to see on a radiologist's report...

However, nothing can be  concluded until you have the additional imaging and receive the BI-RADS rating from them.  Even then, no definite answer could be given until a pathology report from a biopsy comes back, should a biopsy be recommended following the spot compression mammogram and ultrasound.

I understand what an anxious time you are going through, and the waiting is the worst part for most people.  All I can advise is what applies to most areas of life: "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted....

Best wishes,
bluebutterfly