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Avatar universal

breast strech marks and breast lumps

I am 37 and have no family hx of cancer or breast cancer.  I had my first mammo in Nov and got a call back from my dr. (left msg on my answering machine) stating they would like to do additional images of my left breast to make sure everything is ok and she was putting the prescription for it in the mail (there was no sence of urgency in her voice)  I also received a letter from the imaging center that an abnormality was seen and required further testing.  My Dr. did not use the word "mass"  "shadow" or "cyst" just stated exactley what I typed.  With that said, she did a breast exam on me 3 weeks prior to my mammo and she felt nothing.  I have since heard that you should avoid caffine prior to your mammo and not do it with in a week of your cycle due to the hormanal changes in the breast.  I had caffine and was on my cycle has anyone else ever heard that?  She ordered a bilat diag mammo and an ultrasound of the left breast...

In addition, my left breast is fattier than my right one and I have 3 long strech marks on my left one from my pregnancy and gaining weight over the years ( I have lost 35 lbs since June) good for me!!! When I lay down flat and do my breast exam I feel lumps under my strech marks, is that common?  I tell my self not to worry, it is what it is.  Either there is something there or there isn't and if there is it's either cancer or it's not.  those are my choices.  I do know I am very scared and I don't want to die if it is cancer.  I have a 2 yr old little boy and the thought of not being here with him makes me almost have a break down.  Any words of wisdom???????  Thanks and happy new years to all!
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492898 tn?1222243598
I understand why you would be worried, and having a two year old doesn't help. I do think though, that you have little to fear, as taking more films and pictures is pretty much standard, or routine when you have dense breasts tissue. it's totally normal to have that and the older one gets, usually, the less dense the breast tissue becomes. it's just harder to see but certainly no reason to take out tissue just so one can see better. LOL.

I know, all these things are scary but then, if it happens again next year or another time, you won't be so worried.

What I mean is, that it's not that they think you have cancer and why they are calling you back. if this is your first mammogram, they also like to get a baseline to which future mammograms can be compared to.

Hope that helps, kat
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Avatar universal
I am sch for both of my test on the 20th.  I feel confident most of the time that I am fine, but ya know there is that little seed of dout that creeps in every now and then and that is when I freak out, as we both know cancer is not a respector of age or person.  I just keep in mind that I worked for a urologist for 5 yrs and when a pt. had suspecious test results we had them come to the office to discuss the results and if additional testing was needed based on the suspecious results, we sched. the test or appt. for them we did not send them a script in the mail.......wait for them to get it in the mail, wait for them to sche the test and them be given the next avail.  We took care of everything to expidite their diagnosis and treatment plan.  

Here is another question if you know the answer.  I have read a lot about dense breast being more likely to develope breast cancer, if this is true, why don't they (the surgeons) go in and remove some of the fatty tissue in the breast?  By doing this it would avoid giving bad cells a breeding ground and making the area clearer on future mammograms making it easier to read the images???  Does that make sence or is that just a stupid question all together :-).....
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25201 tn?1255580836
First let me say I'm sure you aren't dying and I doubt that you have cancer. Second I would advise you to have the additional imaging that was recommended. Dense breast tissue can cause questionable results on a screening mammogram. The additional views will concentrate on a particular area which may well prove to be only breast tissue folded over on itself. The mention of not using caffeine before the mammogram isn't really how it works. A reduction in the use of caffeine is often recommended to reduce the occurance of Fibrocysic Breast Condition that is related to the hormonal levels within the body. Cysts or even solid masses can develop as a result of the increased hormones and this could also be what they are seeing on mammogram. The skin on the breasts is the same as skin on any other part of the body .... the stretch marks can develop due to lack of elasticity of the skin .... same as with a pregnancy and the stretch marks on the abdomen. So, stop freaking out and get those additional films done so you can relax and enjoy that 2 yr. old ....  Regards ....
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