worried about lump

[outnumbered]

I am 40 years old, with dense breast tissue.  My family history is several great aunts with breast cancer.  Lots of liver and colon caner in my family tree as well.

I discoveed a lump close to my right armpit.  I immediately went to my obgyn, who then ordered a mammo and US. The mamo did not show anything regarding the lump beause of its location.  The US findings are as follows: 1.2 x 0.9 x 1.1 cm hypoechoic nodule which appears to have a an eccentric fatty component.  Flow cannot be documented into this fatty component to confirm unequivocally that this represnts a lymph node.  Further its margination is somewhat ill defined.   I am scheduled for a MRI next week.  I am panicing!!!!!  Not only am I thinking breast cancerr, I am also worried about lymphoma.  Do I have reason to panic, or does this sound quite routine to check out something that is probalbly benign.  

Also my left breast showed on mammo a small group of microcalcifications in the inferior posterior breast which on magnification views appear to be amorphous without suspicious forms.  I have been put on a 6 month follow up for that.
Does that sound routine as well?

My base line in 5/05 showed scattered calcifications on the right and I had several 6 month checks but was put back on an annual schedule in 2007.  No mention was made of a "group" or anything in my left until now.

Am I making too much of this?  I am still planning on all the necessary follow ups, however, as I wait for the tests, all I keep thinking is this does not look good.  Have I read too much into the reports?

Thanks

[outnumbered]

Thanks for the reassurance.  

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I understand your concern.  The calcification findings on the mammogram are still commonly associated with benign conditions such as fibrocystic disease or fibroadenoma, and their development should indeed be followed up closely, but in no means tantamount to cancer.  The hypoechoic area in your right breast may be a lymph node but the nature of which should be confirmed by further testing such as the MRI or a biopsy procedure.  Lymph nodes can enlarge and present this way in response to infections, and also from benign breast changes.

I agree with the way your doctors are following up your breast changes, and also that there is a good chance that all of these findings will be benign in nature.  For now, relax and continue with your doctor's recommendations.  Regards and God bless.