Forum Discussion
Painful mammogram and now recall for suspicious lump
Hi there, I'm not sure where to put this as I haven't as yet been diagnosed, but I'm terribly anxious and feeling very alone. I had a mammogram a week ago and still feeling very painful from it. Tingling in breasts and feeling hot in the chest. After I had it I did a bit more reading up and feel like I should have just done an ultrasound as it was a routine check and I'm 42.
I called BreastScreen QLD to report it and kind of complain, but then they said oh, you are on our list to call back to check a lump. I had noted it before my scan. I had my first mammogram about 3 years ago with no effects, no pain and nothing suspicious.
The next appointment is on Wednesday and I just want to be armed with as much info as possible as I had concerns about the mammogram when I was there but really feel like I was pushed into it when I was there because I didn't have enough info about how painful it might be and the radiation (which I'm wondering whether it has caused the heat).
I keep trying to examine the lump and google all the different types, but it seems to change depending on the position I'm in. It definitely feels hard, but sometimes it feels like it's moveable, sometimes it even feels larger than just a few hours before, and I can't really tell the shape.
I've been reading up on different options they might take at the appointment, which is ultrasound, which I'm fine with, fine needle aspiration or core biopsy. They also said diagnostic mammogram which I definitely DO NOT want to do.
I appreciate that there hasn't even been a diagnosis yet, and maybe this isn't the most appropriate forum, but I'm super anxious and just need to speak to people who understand. Can anyone share their experiences on the different diagnoses methods? Which is the safest option without radiation or drugs?
Thank you in advance.
I called BreastScreen QLD to report it and kind of complain, but then they said oh, you are on our list to call back to check a lump. I had noted it before my scan. I had my first mammogram about 3 years ago with no effects, no pain and nothing suspicious.
The next appointment is on Wednesday and I just want to be armed with as much info as possible as I had concerns about the mammogram when I was there but really feel like I was pushed into it when I was there because I didn't have enough info about how painful it might be and the radiation (which I'm wondering whether it has caused the heat).
I keep trying to examine the lump and google all the different types, but it seems to change depending on the position I'm in. It definitely feels hard, but sometimes it feels like it's moveable, sometimes it even feels larger than just a few hours before, and I can't really tell the shape.
I've been reading up on different options they might take at the appointment, which is ultrasound, which I'm fine with, fine needle aspiration or core biopsy. They also said diagnostic mammogram which I definitely DO NOT want to do.
I appreciate that there hasn't even been a diagnosis yet, and maybe this isn't the most appropriate forum, but I'm super anxious and just need to speak to people who understand. Can anyone share their experiences on the different diagnoses methods? Which is the safest option without radiation or drugs?
Thank you in advance.
39 Replies
- Great news, so pleased for you. To repeat what's akready been said, in the nicest possible way, I hope you never need to cone back here.
Get out there and make the most of life every day :) - So pleased that you had good news. The fewer of us, the better (in the nicest possible way).
- Excellent news!
Now in the nicest possible way, I hope this forum never sees you again! K xox ;) Hi All, just an update on this. I had the follow up appointment and the work up mammogram of the calcification.
The radiologist still couldn’t give a diagnosis based on these as they still looked like a cluster on the 2D film so requested a 3D mammogram, which I did. Six films all up that day.
The 3D showed it wasn’t a cluster at all so the radiologist was satisfied it wasn’t DCIS and didn’t require biopsy under another mammogram.
They did a core biopsy of the lump under ultrasound and were kind enough to rush through the results in one day just cause I was so anxious and very relieved to report back the next day it was benign.
These mammograms weren’t nearly as painful as the first one so possibly just depends on the radiographer on the day.
Thank you all for your support. In the scheme of things it was such a petty question so I really appreciate the time you took to answer. I was so very anxious about just a diagnosis so I can’t even imagine how I would have been if the outcome was different. I have so much admiration for you all, getting through this AND supporting people you’ve never met.
Thanks again xx
- Perhaps when you have the next mammogram you could say before they start about the pain you had afterwards? When I have my follow up ones they always say let us know if the compression gets too much. Just as I am about to say enough, the machine usually just lets go. I have only a small breast left and I have to contort in to all sorts of positions for them to get a pinch going.
- Hey @SundaysChild,
A week is not going to be an issue. At least then you can sort out the possible pregnancy. You need to not worry so much about the mammogram radiation. It's a tiny amount. Much less than a normal old xray which nobody would think twice about going to have a dozen of if needed.
Mammo's and u/s are sometimes not super fantastic at determining what is calcification and what is something else. This is from experience and a ridiculously hard to find tumour that looked like a few sparkly little stars in the background once it was found. There will be a reason for doing the biopsy by mammogram I would imagine. My first core biopsy under u/s missed it and came back as normal. Perhaps they think there is a better chance of getting the right spot that way vs the u/s.
Whichever way you look at it you won't rest until you know for sure what it is. You could always get a second opinion if that would make you feel better. There are plenty of imaging companies around, you will probably have to pay though.
xoxoxoxo - @SundaysChild
It sounds like a no brainer.
Peace of mind is a blessing
Please give ihe extra tests due consideration
The medical team has your health and well-being as a priority
Take care - A tiny amount of radiation vs catching cancer really early? I don't mean to be harsh, but please please please think this over very very carefully. K xox
Thanks for your thoughts @arpie - they said the ultrasound wouldn't pick up the calcifications because of how small they are and where they were located. The ultrasounds they did didn't appear to pick up anything sinister - it's the calcifications they are concerned about.arpie said:It's Good that you've had your meeting @SundaysChild - even tho it appears to have raised more questions than answers.
A week's wait is neither 'here nor there' - it is highly unlikely to cause any concern with your ongoing diagnosis or treatment.
When it boils down to it - it is your body - & your choice. Do what is right for you. Get your pregnancy test done (all the best with that!) .... then take things from there.
To get accurately diagnosed, you usually need to have at least one biopsy and ultrasounds (the biopsy is often under an ultrasound) & (sometimes) more mammograms and possibly other scans. Did they explain why they can't do the biopsy under ultrasound (rather than Mammogram), knowing that you weren't too fussed with your previous mammogram?
All the best xx
I just read about the concerns in having more than one mammogram every two years unnecessarily and this would be four in less than 2 weeks.
I feel like I'm going around in circles. Everyone I speak to seems to think it's a no-brainer and I should have it for peace of mind. xx- It's Good that you've had your meeting @SundaysChild - even tho it appears to have raised more questions than answers.
A week's wait is neither 'here nor there' - it is highly unlikely to cause any concern with your ongoing diagnosis or treatment.
When it boils down to it - it is your body - & your choice. Do what is right for you. Get your pregnancy test done (all the best with that!) .... then take things from there.
To get accurately diagnosed, you usually need to have at least one biopsy and ultrasounds (the biopsy is often under an ultrasound) & (sometimes) more mammograms and possibly other scans. Did they explain why they can't do the biopsy under ultrasound (rather than Mammogram), knowing that you weren't too fussed with your previous mammogram?
All the best xx
