Called back for compression mammogram...questions.

Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
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first, i'd like to say hello and thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this or to respond. i am a month away from my 40th birthday. a week ago i had routine mammograms (my last one was at age 35). 2 days later "nurse cindy" called and said that i needed to go to the hospital for a follow-up compression mammogram. i asked if something was found and she said "all it says is focal density." well, i thoght that must be just a reference to my dense breast tissue. figured out online that it means theres something there. also "it" says more than focal density. recieved the paper in the mail to take to appt. and it says, " left breast suspicious focal density subcollar region, increased in size." interesting since i didnt know there was anything there to increase in size. i have done regular self checks and never felt anything. after that call it took some time but i finally found a lump. it is to the left of the nipple and shape & size of almond. it is hard to find. i had to lay flat on my back with arm over head and "trap" it under my fingers. it is very movable. as far as history, i had 5 fibroadenomas removed at the age of 21. they also felt like almond shape and size. mother had modified radical mastectomy 8 years ago. she responded well to chemo and radiation and is fine now. anyone have similar experience? if i had known what focal density meant i would have scheduled the comp. mamm sooner than aug15th. cant help worrying. thank you for taking the time to read this and my prayers are with you all.
 
also the boo in my name is a labrador retriever.

Post Edited By Moderator (gma) : 7/25/2006 8:25:13 AM (GMT-6)

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Well hello, boo's girl, and welcome. We will be hoping that your time on this board is short. One of the worst parts of this disease is waiting. It seems we're always waiting for something.

You are very welcome to hang out here and use this board to vent your frustrations, share your tears, and deal with people who have really "been there, done that".

Welcome again.

Jo-Ann

A good friend will bail you out of jail...
but a true friend will be sitting
next to you saying,
"Dâmn... that was fun!".

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Thanks! sorry about forgetting the subject line. i have never joined or posted on a forum before this one.
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Hi, I fixed your title line for you. You can edit your post by clicking on the pencil picture should you need to do it in the future.

We love our dogs, don't we? I have Missy and Pity, both black schnauzers and I am their "girl", too.

I hope you get a biopsy done on the lump, if it has "grown". And I would be rather upset that I was not told initially about it being there, given your history. We're here to hold your hand and help in any way we can. We have been there, done that.

Hugs, MK


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Hi Boo's Girl! Welcome. I am sorry that you are having to face this right now. I agree with what MK said regarding the biopsy. Something else you might want to do is get a copy of your previous mammo report so that you can read it and compare it to your latest report. The waiting game is the hardest thing of all. Why not call and see if you can get this set up earlier? Be persistent.

As Jo-Ann said, come here anytime. We will be here to give you support and hold your hand.

Hugs...Deb

 

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Hi Boo, welcome! I post under my dog's name too, as MK said, we love our dogs!

Sorry you are going through this. Definitely get copies of your reports for your own records, and if needed, you can take your films to be compared with the new ones for another opinion.

Be your own best advocate, and kudos to you for getting a baseline at 35!
I was diagnosed right before turning 31, so I am pleased to see you taking good care for proper screenings.
Keep us posted!
Lori

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thanks MK for fixing the subject line.

as far as getting the next mamm scheduled earier, i would love to but apparently i was lucky to get the opening that i have. i believe that all of you are right and the least i will have done is a biopsy. when i had it done 20 years ago i had an inch & a half incision and 6 inches of tubing for drainage. it was outpatient though. do they still do it that way?

thank you Deb and Lori. i didnt know that i could have copies of my reports. i am going to get them.

also my name is Ruthie. i am married (17yrs) with 2 sons (16 & 10).

Thanks for posting!

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Hi, Boo's Girl. Glad you found us and dropped in with your concerns. Here is a web site with information on mammograms. Maybe it will give you some insight into what the docs are looking for. Explore the Imaginis web site. It has good information that should be helpful. Keep us posted on what you find out. Hope your stay here will be short. Hugs, Lauri
 
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/special_views.asp

"Go confidently into the direction of your dreams. Live the life you always imagined" Thoreau
 
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

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Hi Ruthie, Have you seen the roll call post at the top of the page of topics? It will tell you about most of us and there are even some pictures where you can see us. One more question, what state do you live in? I am in TX but originally from WV and OH. In fact Thursday I am going home to Wild Wonderful WV for my 50th class reunion and to see my 93 yr old mother and other family members. I will be gone for about a week. I have three grown kids, nine grandchildren and two of them are married giving me two great grand daughters. Keep with us and let us know how things are going. We care. Hugs MK


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hi MK! i will check out the roll call. i live in Va. 30 minutes north of Charlottesville. i am going to Nags Head NC on sunday to spend a week at the beach with my mom. i havent told her about my mammograms yet. i'm going to but i dont want her to worry needlessly. she's had some anxiety issues this year and i'm afraid she might freak out a little. it wouldnt do any good for both of us to sit around imagining things and she's way too creative. Have as much fun as you can at your class reunion! It's great that your mom is 93! My friend Carolyn's father just turned 92. they cant keep him out of trouble. he's cut his finger almost off fixing a fence, fell off the roof into a bush and hurt his arm climbing on a fertilizer spreader. i hope i end up old and hard-headed too. thanks for talking to me!

Lauri, thanks for the link. i am going to check it out. Theres a lot to know about. i've got some studying to do.

                        Ruthie

           
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Hi Ruthie,
 
Welcome to a great place, even though we would all like not to have to be here.  You will get wonderful support and advice.  We will be crossing our fingers that this is B9. 
 
My initial biopsy was done in the surgeon's office with a needle that was used to withdraw fluid from the lump.  He put it in a clear jar of solution and, non-chalantly said, when it looks like this, it's usually cancer.  Nice, huh?  Surgeons don't have good bed-side manner.  From what I understand, there are many ways to biopsy, so I would just wait to see what the mammo shows.
 
We'll be here holding your hand while you wait.

L & H,
Kathy