Mammogram/breast cancer ?

[30A Skunkape]

A friend recently got a mammogram and had to go back because they found something odd, but didn't have anything to compare it to (it was her first one because she'll be 40 soon).

After several hours in the doctor's office, another mammogram and several ultrasounds they finally decided it was nothing to worry about and said to check back in 6 months or so.

I don't know ANYTHING about the whole process and wanted to get feedback because it seems weird and I don't want her to have issues because she wasn't aggressive about it.

1) They scared her spitless and had her immediately come back in even though that meant they weren't doing the test at the best time of the month (which apparently can mess w/ the results), then decide not to even follow-up for 6 months or more? I would expect a shorter time frame.

2) She's not exactly flat chested so I am concerned that her just monitoring it might not be effective.

3) There is a family/personal history w/ cysts and breast cancer.

Wenches, Skunky

I am late arriving, but it sounds like most of what I would say has already been covered.

6 month follow ups are routine for irregular imaging results. The good news in this story is that it sounds like they obtained multiple ultrasound images, none of which were definitive. I was just reading last month how adding an ultrasound to a mammogram improves detection and identification, and if anything, was creating a trend toward more false positive biopsies being done. The odds are good that a 6 month follow up is perfectly acceptable.

 

[seagrovegirl]

Dr. Sandra Hansen...in Fort Walton Beach. (Mar Walt Dr.)..it is called the Breast Clinic and that is all she does. She found a lump on me during a routine digital mammo and immediately put me in another room and did an ultrasound, then asperated it on the spot! She tested the fluid obtained which took a couple of days for the results, however before leaving the clinic that day she explained she was familiar with the type of fluid she pulled and did not think it was cancer. And it wasn't. Is that sevice or what!!!!! I go no where else for the yearly breast check.

 

[Miss Critter]

Good to know about Dr. Hansen. Thanks.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Dr. Sandra Hansen...in Fort Walton Beach. (Mar Walt Dr.)..it is called the Breast Clinic and that is all she does. She found a lump on me during a routine digital mammo and immediately put me in another room and did an ultrasound, then asperated it on the spot! She tested the fluid obtained which took a couple of days for the results, however before leaving the clinic that day she explained she was familiar with the type of fluid she pulled and did not think it was cancer. And it wasn't. Is that sevice or what!!!!! I go no where else for the yearly breast check.

This is EXACTLY what I have done - right on the spot (only with about 20 cysts! :shock. I do this every 6 - 8 months. I even go down a cup size each time.
These docs that specialize in this area are confident in their findings. Very reassuring.
.

 

[NoHall]

I'm 37 and have had them for several years. A couple of years ago I had a spot on the mammogram, so they did an ultrasound. That wasn't conclusive, so I had to have an MRI. Still no clear idea of what it was, so I had to have a biopsy in the hospital. Scared the bejeezus out of me, cost me a fortune, and it was really nothing at all...which is better than having doctors who aren't thorough and/or breast cancer.

Having said that--the original finding on the mammogram was six months before. They told me that it was a teeny spot and had several reasons for thinking it was benign and that it would go away. When it was there 6 months later, they did the more aggressive investigation. I live in a community that is saturated with doctors, and I hear over and over that because of the threat of malpractice (in addition to simply being conscientious) doctors generally go further than necessary to get to the bottom of an issue.

So I guess I'm saying it boils down to the doctor and the patient--when mine told me what was going on, I trusted them ("them" being my gyno, my surgeon, and my radiologist) for another 6 months and they were right. But I know that not everyone lives in my special world...

 

[Paula]

Personally, i would follow up and not wait 6 months. Though it seems to be pretty routine practice, two of my close friends used their instincts to challenge this practice and in both cases they found breast cancer and were able to treat it early and with minimal intervention. Second opinions are always good for things like this in my opinion. I had a "wait 6 months" recommendation once for something similar and convinced the doctor to actually biopsy and it turned out just fine (as it usually does), but my peace of mind was well worth it. From what I can tell, there's nothing to lose, (is there?), and you are most likely to have peace of mind.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Personally, i would follow up and not wait 6 months. Though it seems to be pretty routine practice, two of my close friends used their instincts to challenge this practice and in both cases they found breast cancer and were able to treat it early and with minimal intervention. Second opinions are always good for things like this in my opinion. I had a "wait 6 months" recommendation once for something similar and convinced the doctor to actually biopsy and it turned out just fine (as it usually does), but my peace of mind was well worth it. From what I can tell, there's nothing to lose, (is there?), and you are most likely to have peace of mind.

I've been thinking about this for a couple of days, and as a mom with young children who depend on me for almost everything, there is no way I could stand to wait 6 months to find out anything -- "procedure" or not. There would be no messing around -- any followups would have to be done ASAP. I am glad that more and more doctors are taking such feelings seriously.

 

[seagrovegirl]

I've been thinking about this for a couple of days, and as a mom with young children who depend on me for almost everything, there is no way I could stand to wait 6 months to find out anything -- "procedure" or not. There would be no messing around -- any followups would have to be done ASAP. I am glad that more and more doctors are taking such feelings seriously.

That is why I go to a Specialist...Dr. Sandra Hansen. No guesswork...it gets taken care of on the spot if there is a problem. Dr. H is also a surgeon, and the scheduling gets the surgery done quickly (in a couple of days). If she ever told me to come back in 6 mo's to recheck...I would have confidence in her opinion.

If there is ever a question...go immediately to a specialist. And please check out your surgeon....if you need one......to be sure they are American Board Certified. Do not go to any surgeon for this type of surgery and don't go to a plastic surgeon unless they specialize in breast cancer.

My first experience with a lump, my doc sent me to her husband, a plastic surgeon who barely speaks english and it was a terrible ordeal...mainly because of communication and the fact he felt he didn't need to remove all the lumps and then didn't tell me that until the bandages were removed 5 days later and I realized there was only one incision. He had the nerve to tell me that I was ungrateful because he didn't scar up my breasts and I should be happy about that.

 

[Teresa]

hi scooterbug and all. scoot - glad you are looking into this for your friend as well as for yourself.

mammos were very scary for me at first because of density, and the technicians would invariable run out of the room in a panic, point out spots that appear abnormal, call me back for more exams, etc. I was finally referred to a specialist in pensacola. they were great doing ultrasounds, and explaining that what they were seeing was probably nothing. they explained everything very well, but basicaly left it up to me as far as whether to biopsy, remove, or just watch. I said take it out now. I don't want to worry about it. but that was my choice and others would have chosen differently for their own reasons.

once a baseline was established, and once I started having digital exams, there were no more scares. many women with dense tissue experience the mammo scare the first few exams. it is important, so make sure you choose an excellent doctor and radiology dept, etc. its all part of learning what you need to know to take care of yourself.

just like in all health issues, you must seek information, excellent health care providers and sometimes make choices.

 

[Teresa]

fyi to scooterbug and local friends. Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast (santa rosa beach facility) has a Women's Diagnostic Center offering comprehensive breast imaging and health education services. I highly recommend you request your doc to refer you to Sacred Heart for your mammos.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sacred Heart utilizes digital mammography systems, which provide numerous advantages, including excellent visibility of the breast, fast generation of images, the ability to magnify and manipulate images to prevent retakes, and less discomfort during compression. [/FONT]

Sacred Heart Hospital / Olsen Women's Diagnostic Center