a bit of a scare

[rinaina]

Had my yearly diagnostic mammo and all was fine. Followed up with my first yearly appt with breast surgeon, (was seeing her more often until this year). She was a bit concerned about an area on other breast and asked if I could stick around for an ultra sound. You of all people know how I was feeling in that moment. Thank goodness all was okay but she wants me to come back in 6 months instead of waiting the year. So much for sigh of relief at reaching 5 years NED. Back to feeling not so safe again. In addition to this, I am facing yet the possibility of another surgery for yet another tumor in my other parotid gland due to my Sjogren's Syndrome, (had the other done in 2004). It was a grueling surgery taking 5 hours vs the 2 surgeon predicted. I have had 6 surgeries since 2002 and enough is enough. With that said, it shouldn't get any worse right?

[KDR]

Rina
Your doctor is probably just being cautious. I try not to worry about anything "medical" anymore unless I'm given a reason to. Relax and breathe. I'd be thankful for having such a vigilant doctor, too!
Karen

[Jackie07]

Glad the ultrasound turned out OK. You must have the so-called 'dense' tissue. I'd give your doctor credit for being cautious...

Take care and take it easy.

[caya]

Hi Rina,

Do you know if you have dense breast tissue? Can you get a breast MRI? Don't want to alarm you, but a mammogram and ultrasound missed my 1.7 cm. tumour, only because I had a breast reduction was it found by my plastic surgeon, 3 months later. Then before my mastectomy I had a breast MRI and another 1 cm. tumour was discovered.
After my mastectomy I had a breast MRI once/year and a digital mammo once/year, alternating every 6 months. At my last check up with my oncologist he had my latest breast MRI report which determined my remaining breast was no longer dense, so I only have to have the mammo now.
Please push for a breast MRI if you have dense breast tissue.

all the best
caya

[rinaina]

Thanks Caya, I thought of that as well. I do have dense tissue in my breasts. I will definitely ask for an MRI at next visit in 5 months. Do you think it can wait until then?

[caya]

You know what Rina - why wait? It's probably nothing, but why not get it over with - why should you have to worry about this for 5 more months? I'm way more aggressive and demanding now since BC - we've been through enough, and you certainly have been through alot with all your extra surgeries.

I'd start the ball rolling, I know down in the States you gals sometimes have to fight with insurance companies for certain tests... Women with dense breasts are 4 - 6 x more likely to have BC. You get the breast MRI, then you'll know. There can be false positives, but I'd take that over the false negatives I got with just the mammo and ultrasound.

Keep us posted.

all the best
caya

[Joanna J]

Rina,I agree w/KDR.......Try not to worry,everything may just turn out wonderful. Joanna J