negative mammo & ultrasound means I'm ok?

[heyjude55]

I know I've been foolish but I don't self-exam & had not been to a gyno in 2+ yrs. My family dr. gave me a thorough physical 2 wks ago & said she felt something she did not like in my rt. breast-she referred me to a surgeon even though I had a neg. mammo 3 months earlier. The surgeon said he felt what she felt but also mentioned he felt something similar in other breast though not as much & not exactly the same.He said he thought it was probably normal for me but because he said I was at risk for breast cancer, he ordered cone biopsy. The radiologist would not biopsy w/ot doing ultrasound 1st. Ultrasound was done-radiologist felt the area too & did another mammo w/ extra views. She said she could not demonstrate what they all felt on film but recommended either open biopsy or MRI next. My family dr said she knows what she felt & worries it may have been there for awhile; she insists I must follow up-says she would prefer biopsy. Says what she is feeling is "area of abnormality rather than a discreet lump." I trust her & know she is very good but what is she looking for?  I am 63- one g'mom died age 34 of bc. Other gmom of ovarian cancer. Mother was cancer free-she had no sisters. I was only child-I had total hysterectomy (cervical ca) age 41.
I had my only child @ age 35; did not breast feed. I am healthy although a few recent bouts of skin cancer (basil cell) and currently have largish thyroid nodule whiich is being watched rather than biopsy. How can I have cause for concern when mammo & ultrasound are fine? wouldn't there be an obvious lump if something were wrong?

[katarina777]

' Wouldn't there be an obvious lump if something were wrong?'

No, not necessarily. I would also go with your doctor's hunch and do the biopsy. There is a reason she is concerned, and your doctor is not only trying to cover her behind with you, as in.....afraid of lawsuit if she happens to be wrong even if there is no obvious reason to preoceed with an invasive procedure.

She sounds good and it also sounds like you trust her.

Katrin

PS: kumps are not always seen on scans and/or felt by palpitation.

[japdip]

Although it is YOUR decision I personally would go ahead with the recommended biopsy. Watching rarely solves anything and certainly NOT a question as to what the Dr.s are feeling in your breast. Many things can on occasion be missed by both Mammogram and Ultrasound. In the end a biopsy and ONLY a biopsy can determine with 100% certainty the true nature of some abnormality within the breast tissue. All these things you state (?family history, one child, didn't breast feed) really have very little to do with what may be present now.  Regards ....