Having my first mammogram and Ultrasound

[connieq288]

I am 34 and I felt a lump in my left breast near my underarm.  I went to the doctor and she said that she thinks its a gland but that my breast are very dense.  I have huge breasts so not really sure what to expect.  I was adopted so not sure about all my health issues.  My adoptive mom died from breast cancer.  SHe had it twice so I do check my breast once a month.  I have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound next week.  Of course I am worrying.  I thought for sure she would tell me it was nothing and taht would be it.  I have looked online what dense breasts mean because I wasnt sure what it meant.  And of course everything says that the more dense they are the higher chance of having cancer.  I know Im young so Im hoping everything will come back normal but still worried that they might miss something because they arent sure if its just the density or not.  Seeing my mom go through breast cancer I am scared.  Does Density really matter and is it really something to worry about.

[RTRM321]

I am sure you are nervous to have your first mammogram and ultrasound!  Try not to worry, as many patients and/or their doctors feel lumps.  Dense breast tissue may always feel lumpy, bumpy and it can be hard to determine what is "normal" for you.
Being a Mammo Tech, I describe "Dense" breast tissue to patients daily.....
First of all there are basically 3 types of breast tissue....1)Dense, 2)Fatty, or 3)a combination of fatty and dense!   Fatty tissue is like looking at a clear blue sky and the Radiologist can see Everything in there!  Dense tissue is like looking at a storm cloud......it appears white, and fluffy and it is hard to see "through" the tissue.   A combination of fatty and dense is also diffucult to read because things could be "hiding" in the white, cloudy tissue.   An ultrasound can help determine if something being felt is a "solid" mass or a "fluid filled" cyst.  If any of the Radiologists readings/determinations are still inconclusive, they might recommend a needle biopsy.  I hope your images don't come to this, but if they do, STILL try not to worry!! ;)   A tissue sample is the sure-fire way to find out what something is!   Most biopsies come back benign and not a problem.   I am sure you are concerned with your situation and especially with your adoptive mom having breast cancer!  Thankfully, her situation has made you do your monthly exams and be aware of your breasts!!  I hope all goes well with your appointment!
Best wishes......

[zouzi]

Hi,
It's very common in young women to have dense breast tissues, and this could indeed make it more difficult to assess abnormalities through mammogram.For this reason you have been asked to have a diagnostic Mammogram and ultrasound test to have the breasts adequately evaluated. The dense breast tissues does not really mean anything significant nor does it point out to cancer.
I can surely understand your fear concerning this lump,but keep in mind that most lumps in breasts are benign in nature.
If you are worried about an abnormality being missed, see if your Doctor can recommend an MRI which is an excellent tool to detect any lump through dense breasts.
I hope that your upcoming tests will be favorable to you.
Take care and best wishes...

[Cheerpul]

I am hoping that everything comes back normal for you, too.  Having dense breast tissue makes it more difficult to read a mammogram because there is not as much contrast between dark and light areas.  Digital mammograms provide better definition.  Your doctor and radiologists are checking to try to identify this lump and see what's going on.  At your age, the chances are better that this is not a breast cancer issue.

Medical history of family members is helpful if there is a BRACA gene murtation which often occurs in families with several instances of cancer.  The majority of breast cancer cases occur in women with little or no family history of breast cancer, so not knowing your history may not be as detrimental as you think.  

Having gone through your Mom's experience will naturally make you more attuned to the possibility of breast cancer.  Waiting to have tests done and receive the results is hard.  Remember that you have a different situation and try not to let the "what-ifs" worry you.  You are going to be checked out very thoroughly at a young age.  If the doctors are not sure about something that they find, they will follow through until they know what it is.  Even if this turns out to be "nothing" (which I hope that it is,) you will have a very solid baseline examination to compare to in the future.  

I am thinking of you.