ultrasound
ndfan57 posted:
Hi, I am 55 years old, always had good mammograms, although they always tell me I have dense breasts (I'm not large breasted either). This year the radiology center switched to digital imaging. Now they want me to come back for another mammogram on the right side and an ultrasound of that breast. I'm scared! Could this be due to the switch in the technology or how the films are interpreted? Any help would be appreciated.
6 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:ultrasoundHi, I am 55 years old, always had good mammograms, although they always tell me I have dense breasts (I'm not large breasted either). This year the radiology center switched to digital imaging. Now they want me to come back for another mammogram on the right side and an ultrasound of that breast. I'm scared! Could this be due to the switch in the technology or how the films are interpreted? Any help would be appreciated.
mhall6252 responded:
Try not to panic (easier said than done, I do realize). It could be due to the switch in technology. And it's better to be safe than sorry. So we'll all be holding your hands while you wait for the additional testing and results. And please let us know when you get the results.
Hugs,
Michelle
Hugs,
Michelle
Michelle
Read my blog at www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
Smile and the world smiles with you!
Read my blog at www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
Smile and the world smiles with you!
Report This| Share this:ultrasoundTry not to panic (easier said than done, I do realize). It could be due to the switch in technology. And it's better to be safe than sorry. So we'll all be holding your hands while you wait for the additional testing and results. And please let us know when you get the results.<br /> <br />Hugs,<br />Michelle
GGrandmaJan responded:
I would think it was the switch to digital. Please, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Now repeat this. It really does help take the edge off your panic.
Also they just might want to have a good baseline on the new machine. Please, let us know how you do. We are here for you with any questions or concens of yours.
Hugs
Jan
Also they just might want to have a good baseline on the new machine. Please, let us know how you do. We are here for you with any questions or concens of yours.
Hugs
Jan
He who laughs at himself, never runs out of things to laugh at.
Report This| Share this:ultrasoundI would think it was the switch to digital. Please, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Now repeat this. It really does help take the edge off your panic. <br /> <br />Also they just might want to have a good baseline on the new machine. Please, let us know how you do. We are here for you with any questions or concens of yours.<br /> <br />Hugs<br />Jan
ndfan57 replied to GGrandmaJan's response:
Thank you ladies. I talked to my mom last night and she said she went through the same thing when she was my age. We both have dense breast tissue and her doctor was convinced that that's all it was, after the ultrasound. That was over 20 years ago and she's had screenings almost every year since then. So I do feel a little better. This morning I do the re-do of the mammogram, and they will see if they can fit me in for the ultrasound, otherwise I'll have to go back. I'll be out of town for a couple days next week, but I want to get over with as soon as possible. Your support means a lot. Thank you !
Report This| Share this:ultrasoundThank you ladies. I talked to my mom last night and she said she went through the same thing when she was my age. We both have dense breast tissue and her doctor was convinced that that's all it was, after the ultrasound. That was over 20 years ago and she's had screenings almost every year since then. So I do feel a little better. This morning I do the re-do of the mammogram, and they will see if they can fit me in for the ultrasound, otherwise I'll have to go back. I'll be out of town for a couple days next week, but I want to get over with as soon as possible. Your support means a lot. Thank you !
Please know that if you too have dense breasts mammograms and ultrasound are not the best diagnostic tools for detecting breast cancers.
You should be vigilant and ask to have an MRI once a year. There are also other diagnostic machines specifically designed for women with dense breasts.
One of these is the BSGI - Breast Specific Gamma Imaging, another is a kind of CT type mammo. With both there is an injection of a special substance that is picked up by cancer cells and with the BSGI you sit in front of a camera and these cancers "light up" and are seen on the images. With the other machine you then have a mammo after the injection.
So my advice is that if you do have dense breasts do not rely on a mammo and ultrasound alone - insist on more definitive tests - especially since your mom has had this problem.
Good luck today and let us know how you make out.
Judy
You should be vigilant and ask to have an MRI once a year. There are also other diagnostic machines specifically designed for women with dense breasts.
One of these is the BSGI - Breast Specific Gamma Imaging, another is a kind of CT type mammo. With both there is an injection of a special substance that is picked up by cancer cells and with the BSGI you sit in front of a camera and these cancers "light up" and are seen on the images. With the other machine you then have a mammo after the injection.
So my advice is that if you do have dense breasts do not rely on a mammo and ultrasound alone - insist on more definitive tests - especially since your mom has had this problem.
Good luck today and let us know how you make out.
Judy
Report This| Share this:ultrasoundPlease know that if you too have dense breasts mammograms and ultrasound are not the best diagnostic tools for detecting breast cancers.<br />You should be vigilant and ask to have an MRI once a year. There are also other diagnostic machines specifically designed for women with dense breasts.<br />One of these is the BSGI - Breast Specific Gamma Imaging, another is a kind of CT type mammo. With both there is an injection of a special substance that is picked up by cancer cells and with the BSGI you sit in front of a camera and these cancers "light up" and are seen on the images. With the other machine you then have a mammo after the injection.<br />So my advice is that if you do have dense breasts do not rely on a mammo and ultrasound alone - insist on more definitive tests - especially since your mom has had this problem.<br />Good luck today and let us know how you make out.<br />Judy
Phew. I'm all done. They took 3 more views of the right breast and nothing showed up. Apparently what they were concerned about only showed up in 1 view. The ultrasound had the same result. All they could see was normal breast tissue. The radiologist agreed and he'll send a full report to my doctor, but I'm clean, thank goodness. The ultrasound lady said what sometime happens during compression is that the tissue can get folded and multi layer which means they show up different. Since nothing appeared in the other views, that's what most likely happened. Good advice on the additonal testing. I'll talk to my doctor when I see her next month. I know you don't have to have it in your family to get breast cancer, so I will be vigilant. I do need to cut down on my wine consumption though. I read alcohol can raise your risk. Thank you all for your concern and support! This is a great site!
Report This| Share this:ultrasoundPhew. I'm all done. They took 3 more views of the right breast and nothing showed up. Apparently what they were concerned about only showed up in 1 view. The ultrasound had the same result. All they could see was normal breast tissue. The radiologist agreed and he'll send a full report to my doctor, but I'm clean, thank goodness. The ultrasound lady said what sometime happens during compression is that the tissue can get folded and multi layer which means they show up different. Since nothing appeared in the other views, that's what most likely happened. Good advice on the additonal testing. I'll talk to my doctor when I see her next month. I know you don't have to have it in your family to get breast cancer, so I will be vigilant. I do need to cut down on my wine consumption though. I read alcohol can raise your risk. Thank you all for your concern and support! This is a great site!
I'm so doing the happy dance for you! Great news and I am so glad that you are in the clear.
As for the wine...all things in moderation
)
Hugs,
Michelle
As for the wine...all things in moderation
)Hugs,
Michelle
Michelle
Read my blog at www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
Smile and the world smiles with you!
Read my blog at www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
Smile and the world smiles with you!
Report This| Share this:ultrasoundI'm so doing the happy dance for you! Great news and I am so glad that you are in the clear.<br /> <br />As for the wine...all things in moderation <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/wink.gif" align="top" border="0">)<br /> <br />Hugs,<br />Michelle
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