I am 70 years old - generally healthy - my annual mammogram was Thursday 19th. It has always been good. The nurse called today and said that I need to go to Springfield May 9th for Imaging, as something showed up in my right breast. That is all she was allowed to say to me. I would like some ideas or sample questions that I can think about and look up so I will have a bit of knowledge and that will allow me discuss the findings and any recommended treatment when I do go. Otherwise, I will just sit there and be talked to and not able to think through all the new information enough to ask questions.
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Female Person's Age: 70 Already Tried: nothing - this is all new to me - that is why, I would love some different possibilities so that I can research and obtain some knowledge to process my own diagnosis against.
Welcome to Just Answer it is my pleasure to help you
having mass appear in mamogram may be of diffrent causes
yes it can be a tumor but up to 50% of women may develep fibrocystic disease of breast which present as a mass
most probably your dr will suggest doing a biopsy on your next meeting
which is basicly sending a small tissue aspitrated by needle to the lab to examine it to make sure it is not cancerous tissue
it is very simple procedure
it has just been a year since my last mammogram, so if it is a malignent tumor - is this considered catching it "early" ? What are some of the new treatments used these days?
What if it is fibrocystic disease - what are some of the treatments for it?
dont get to premature assumptions that it is cancer i didnt say that
Are there any other reasons for "something to show up" ?
More often, there is an area of the image that needs further evaluation. This could be because the patient has dense breast tissue. Dense tissue appears white on the x-ray film....and so do all signs of breast cancer (both masses/lumps or calcifications). You cannot see white pathology through white, dense tissue. It is like trying to see a white volleyball in a the snow in a photograph. Sometimes, compression views are needed in these cases, just to ensure nothing is "hiding" behind that white tissue
I know that you didn't say that - and I am positive about it - I just want to have a broad idea of several directions this thing could go in so that I can have a bit of prior knowledge .
a radiologist might ask for a breast ultrasound, and maybe even a biopsy. Even if your case goes as far as a biopsy, around 85% of these are benign.
That is good to know - but if nothing showed up last year - does this mean that to catch it now it is good for treatment - is this considered "early" - there is nothing obvious to see or feel.
Worst case scenario, you may eventually diagnosed with breast cancer. But, if you think about it logically, this is not life ending. It means that you were diagnosed early....before you had an advanced lump that could be felt. This is what regular screening mammography is designed to do! Mammography is designed to find early breast cancers, which can not be felt. The survival rate, in these cases, is about 96%!
OK, so what are some of the treatments for both fibrocystic disease and some common types of breast cancer? Are there any other problems that could be causing this? Obviously these two issues are the most prevalient or most likely ?
Fibrocystic breast condition is said to primarily affect women age 30 and older. The reason for this is that the condition likely results from a cumulative process of repeated monthly hormonal cycles and the accumulation of fluid, cells, and cellular debris within the breast. The process starts with puberty and continues through menopause. After menopause, fibrocystic breast condition becomes less of a problem.
And what are some of the the treatments? Does it grow, fade away, become painful - eat away at the tissue, etc. etc?
Can you give me the name of several treatments for breast cancer and Fibocystic condition that I can read up on?
sure
Are there any other conditions that this might be? I will look them up also, if you will give me a pertinent word or name or two.
for fibrocystic disease
If you have painful breasts, the following may help:
the only concern that your doctor may have is just your age thats why he would want to rule out any tumors more than fibrocystic disease 1st
So there really is no "treatment" you just learn to manage the symptoms?
if it is fibrocystic
in case of cancer there are variuos treatment depending on benign or malignant
malignant may include radiotherapy
chemo therapy and surgery
i have to also mention that fibrocystic disease is more common between 30-50 yrs of age
so thats why i said that he would want to rule out tumors first
but worst case scenario as i mentioned even if it is tumor and confirmed the success rate for catching it early is very high
Ok, that makes sense - so are there any new treatmentsfor treatment of cancer? seems like I have heard some discussed - that they aren't nearly so devastating now? I don't know but what at my age, I would not choose masectomy over long rounds of Chemo. is that sensible? If it is benign - do they even treat that?
Fibroadenomas and intraductal papillomas which are benign tumor of breast can be removed surgically.
f a benign tumor is large, it may change the breast's size and shape. Depending on the size and number of benign tumors, doctors may recommend that it be removed by surgery.
If the benign tumor is growing into the tissue of the milk ducts, it may cause an abnormal discharge from the nipple. In some cases, this can be treated by surgery to remove the tumor.
Ok, thank you - I have a few words and some new thoughts going, so I will leave you.
you are most welcome
did i answer all your questions today
Thank you very much - you have helped me and I appreciate it - I will make every effort NOT to use these words and embarress myself when I see the physician.
:) best of luck to you
let me know if any future questions
Experience: US Board Certified Physician