Ladies, I am scared out of my mind I took my daughter to have a check-up and she had her breast exam. The doctors found a really large lump in her right breast. She assured me it wasn't cancer, but her mammogram came back abnormal.
I've had surgery for having extremely fibrocystic breast and am wondering if that could be the case. I'm just trying to figure out if- other issues, besides cancer, can contribute to an abnormal mammogram?
it very well could be fibrocysitc disease. I had a lg. lump removed at 16, it is not all that uncommon, so I would relax unless the biopsy comes back abnormal.
I'm not sure what you mean by "abnormal". The fact that there is a lump there means a mammogram would be considered abnormal. The only thing a mammogram can do is detect a lump, it cannot diagnose what the lump is or what it is caused by. Your daughter will need to have follow-up tests to determine what the lump is. They may be able to use other visual tests, such as an MRI, or they may need to do a biopsy. I'm sure your doctors will be explaining what the next steps are.
Hang in there!
Hi T.---It's likely that if you've had fibrocystic breasts, your daughter might also. It is good to make sure that you know what it is. But, in the meantime, be sure you and your daughter are eating a plant based diet, meaning 85-90% of calories from the plant kingdom. Minimize your consumption of animal protein (www.thechinastudy.com) and eliminate diary, especially if it is NOT organic (www.pcrm.org and then put diary in the search box). Non-organic dairy is full of horomones given to increase milk production. I don't care what the industry says. It has to have an effect on human health and hormones. In any case, I don't want to be a guinea pig to find out years down the road it is confirmed to be bad for humans.
Back to plants. Eating mostly plants insures lots of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is particularly important for hormone issues, as it acts as a sponge and carries excess hormones out of the bloodstream and into the gut. THEN, we need insoluble fiber to make sure everything move on out of the body in a timely manner. If left too long in the intestines, everything from estrogen, cholesterol and harmful chemicals are reabsorbed into the body. At that point, we are continually increasing our risk of degenerative diseases. This, plus removing negative foods from the diet should all help to minimize any disease, including fibrocystic breasts and even breast cancer.
I work with health care professionals and am taking classes taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. I would be happy to share additional and supporting info on the topics I've raised. Just let me know. Good luck, try not to worry too much. In health, D.
Hi. I had an 'abnormal' mammogram last year. It was a 'shadow' in the end. My second mammogram came back normal. Also, fibrocystic breasts are genetic. I am fairly certain this is your daughter's case as well. My mom has them, and had several cysts removed when she was younger. I too have fibrocystic breasts, to the point where it's very difficult to do a self exam. I had 2 cysts removed at the age of 21. I am now 45. I have several cysts, but they don't need to be removed yet and they are monitored. I have requested annual sonograms along with my mammograms several years ago. This is highly recommended for someone with this condition. It's scary, but I am sure everything is normal. I definitely think you should take your daughter for a breast sonogram and a second mammogram, which I'm sure this is what your doctor will recommend. You might also want to see a breast specialist as well. Good luck.
I am 29 and when I found a lump my ob ordered an ultrasound because he said that in younger women breasts are too dense and they wouldn't really get a good idea from a mammogram part of the reason why they don't do them until you are 40 unless you have family history. However I would be looking for a new doctor. She shouldn't have assured you that it's not cancer until a biopsy is done. You can get it at any age. Mine was a large noncancerous tumor that was removed, she could have a cyst, a blocked duct....
Lots of things can cause an abnormal mammo that aren't life threatening.
Scary as all hell, but not life threatening.
I went with a friend to get her mammo because we were going to visit another friend who had just given birth at the same hospital when she was done. The radiologist said that he was going to tell her doctor to reschedule at a different time in her menstrual cycle because he wasn't able to get a clear picture. He specifically told her, in front of me, that there was no cause for alarm, but he wanted to do it again in a week or so.
(Keep in mind she had a previous breast reduction procedure and wanted that info from her doctor as well).
Anyway, she flipped out and called her husband and told him she had cancer. She went into the room with our friend who just had a baby and told her she had cancer.
The radiologist NEVER even mentioned anything close, but she went out of her mind. They did another mammo and got a clear picture, and there was absolutely nothing there.
Please try to stay calm. Your daughter needs you to try so she doesn't get all upset.
I'm sure the doctor will schedule another test at the very least to get a grip on what's going on.
Whatever it is, they found it and will get to the bottom of it.
I have a daughter and I would be afraid too. I really would.
Try to stay calm until you can find out more.
I'll keep you in my thoughts.
Best wishes.
Hugs, I'm sorry for your stress. Fibrocystic breast disease runs in the family, so certainly the "mass" could be a cyst. Also keep in mind that a mammo is NOT effective screening for a teenager because their breasts are so dense - ultrasound or MRI would be better screening. What type of doctor did you take her to - OB/GYN? I'd get her in to see a breast surgeon, don't be scared - may not need surgery but they would better know the appropriate screenings and tests.
It could be very dense breast tissue... which is what I have on one side of my left breast. It feels hard and like a lump but it is nothing.
But it could be a non-cancerous tumor that would do no harm.
However, a biopsy needs to be done to see what it is and what needs to happen to it.
.
It's probably just a cyst. With younger women, it is hard to get a good reading because the breast tissue is so dense. She will come back and have a diagnostic mammo ( basically just more pics than a basic mammo) and then possibly an ultrasound done. They may do a biopsy just to make sure, but it probably won't even get to that point. Keep us updated!!
