QuestionI am a 42 yr old female and had my first mammogram. The
results were "inconclusive" and I went in today for a followup
visit. They did another mammogram on my right breast only.
The memmogram was different...focused on a certain area of my
right breast. I was then sent in for a breast ultrasound. I was
asked to wait for the radiologist to evaluate the ultrasound. The
rad tech came back in and said I was free to go and that I
needed to come back in every 6 months to check my right
breast. Apparently there were several areas that appeared on the
mammogram and the ultraound was used to further evaluate
these areas. Basically I was told that after the ultrasound that
these areas did not seem suspicious. The edges were smooth
and not jagged as is typical of a cancerous mass. No further
evaluation or biopsy was recommended. I asked when a biopsy
would be in order and was told that the radiologist felt these
areas were not suspicious but that an ultrasound or a
mammogram is not a 100% guarantee that an area is benign.
It seems to me like the natural next step is a biopsy to be sure
that these areas (I think there are 3 of them) are truly benign. I
am interested in your thoughts. My doctor should receive the
report in the next few days and I plan to follow up with him.
AnswerDear Sue, You need to make the follow-up appointment with your doctor and have him explain the 2 mammo and ultrasound reports.....
Radiologist can usually tell if something is very suspecious and that is when they recommend a biopsy... However, sometimes even a biopsy can not tell for sure, since Fine Needle Biopsies are also NOT 100% accurate...
Talk to your doctor or if you want a second opinion, see a breast cancer specialist who can read the films and reports.....
thank you, karen
