QuestionAbout a month ago, I felt a pea-sized lump in my left breast. It feels close to the surface, and is located at 9 o'clock, midway between the nipple & chest wall, using medical terminology. I am 39, no kids, no pregnancies, and no family history of breast cancer.
I waited until my period had passed; lump was still there, so I made an appt with the Dr (had to wait a week to get in.) That was last Monday.She also felt the lump, and sent me for a mammo (Tues.) Mammo didn't show anything, so they referred me for an ultrasound.
I called Fri to make an appt for the u/s, and the receptionist was very nice, asked if I wanted to get in that day, so I "could avoid a stressed weekend". Therefore, I was kinda surprised the u/s tech wouldn't tell me anything, just said the radiologist had to look at the pictures, and they would get the results to my doc in 3-5 business days. I know a friend had a mammo callback & ultrasound a couple weeks ago, and they gave her the results immediately.
Dr called me Thurs, said u/s also didn't show anything, other than a large blood vessel in the area of the lump, and the radiologist suggested MRI if I was still "uneasy". Dr didn't seem too concerned, mumbled something about possibly a biopsy, but was also going to talk to her advisors to see if they had any other suggestions. (My Dr is a resident at the local university practice, and has a couple experienced
doctors overseeing her.)
I was left feeling that the MRI or biopsy was unnecessary, and that my concern was unfounded, to say the least. I said I supposed I could wait a couple months, & see if anything changed.
Was this the correct response? Should I insist on the MRI and/or biopsy when the doctors don't seem to think it necessary? What type of lump is palpable, but doesn't show on mammo or u/s?
Thanks for letting me vent, especially after the past few days of jumping every time the phone rang hoping/dreading it was the doc calling with the results.
AnswerDear April, You have to remember that a Resident is still a student doctor and still learning, so it takes long AND unfortunately, often things are lost in the process of explaining to the real doctors what is actually going on and residents should make sure they present your case to the real doctors by taking ALL radiology films and reports to that doctor when they talk to him/her....
Also, ultrasounds will NOT show calcifications, so if this lump is a calicification in the breast the ultrasound will NOT show it.... Mammograms on the other hand will show calicifications providing the person doing the mammogram has done it properly so that the entire area of the breast and several views of that particular lump and filmed.... The radiologist did suggest you have a MRI if you were still uncomfortable about this lump and therefore, your doctor should do one to see what it says.... Also, the doctor should do a spot-cone compression of this palpable lump since spot-cone compressions will be only of that one area and not the entire breast.... Spot-cone compressions are done just like mammograms except there is a cone-like pressure plate that is used over that area of the lump only and usually better pictures appear.... Another thing is that dense breasts are always harder to find lumps both on ultrasound and mammogram....
My suggestion to you would be to get copies of your mammogram and ultrasound report and read them for yourself... Doctors often miss things the radiologist is telling them to do either because they are too busy or just not educated anough about reading them or understanding what the radiologist is saying....
Remember, YOU are the patient and you should do everything that you want to have done to put your mind at ease.... If you want a spot-cone compression, get it... If you want an MRI, get it.... Then wait for those radiology reports, read them and then decide with a DOCTOR or SURGEON if you need to have a biopsy.....
thank you, karen
