Breast screens are so important

I am so sorry that you have had to join us Angie.

My story is similar to Ronnie's.  I found a lump next to my nipple in February 2014 and my GP sent me for ultrasound.  Ultrasound showed two lumps and the report stated 'benign cyst'.  I asked the GP if I could have it checked again in a couple months and he said if it would give me peace of mind then yes.  So I went again in 6 months.  Second ultrasound check up still indicated benign cyst, GP even called it a "beautiful round cycst and said cancer doesn't look that pretty and round" but what my GP failed to tell me was the report recommended I could either come back in 6 mths again or have an FNA (I didn't know what FNA meant at the time) If I had known FNA was fine needle aspiration and I knew the radiologyst had suggested it, I would have opted for that instead of just coming back again in 6 mths but wasn't given the opion.  GP just skimped through report saying "still pretty much the same beautiful round lump, we can follow up in 6 months again " (NO MENTION OF THE FNA I COULD HAVE).  So again I waited 6 months and January 2015 (12 months after I initially found a lump in my breast) when I went for my ultrasound all hell broke loose as my 'benign cysts' of the past 12 months had doubled in size and was so completely irregular and different looking that they immediately asked for FNA.  FNA next day, and was told the following day that I had 3 malignant tumours (invasive ductal carcinoma). Was sent for a mammogram and low and behold, Mammogram didn't show the tumours clear enough because of my dense breast tissue.  My surgeon said "Good thing you did ultrasound, because that showed your tumours better and we would not have seen it on mammogram"!

Had a mastectomy and 2 nodes involved so had a auxilliary lymph clearance one week later.  I am upset that campaigns and advertisements prompt us to screen ourselves and always go on about early detection, but how much earlier should i have found it?  I found it 12 months earlier when it was small and had not spread anywhere yet but they still let me fall through the cracks!

I will forever wonder if my cysts were really just benign and turned into cancer those last couple of months?  or does the fact that I have now tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation means I had cancer from the get go? 

Anyway, I am a strong advocate now for ultrasounds!  If anyone suspect they have a lump or irregularity, ask your GP for an ultrasound! and read the report yourself, don't just trust the GP to skimp through a report.

I hope your treatment goes well.  My heart goes out to you

hugs

Rene