You Might Need an Ultrasound With That Mammogram

you are responsible for the quality of your mmmogram

As a Mammography technologist, I complete about 2,500 mammograms yearly. Unfortunately, many mammograms are compromised because patients have an expectation that the exam must be ouchless. In business, the customer is always right but in this case the customer untimately pays the price when she disallows adequate compression of the breast tissue.

A mammographer is a college educated professional who knows how to position you based on your body habitus. She will place your breast on the detector plate and adjust by lifting and smoothing the breast tissue before compressing to ensure a technically appropriate image. If you decide to limit compression your mammogram can not differentiate the layers of breast tissue enough for the radiologist to distinguish normal and abnormal findings. Consequently, you may be called back for additional views that are more uncomfortable than the original screening process.

You need to take responsibility for the outcome of your exam. No medical tests are 100% reliable but when you allow us to focus on the outcome rather than the 30 seconds of discomfort you may endure, accuracy increases. I know that with each mammogram performed in our facility, the goal is to produce an exam that may save your life.

Dense breast and an ultra sound

I went for a mammo on a Thursday and got a call from a radiologist that next morning about an ultra sound for dense breast that my doctor ordered. Should I be concerned if I had a mammo every six months for calcium deposits and a recent letter from the mammo place saying that eveything is fine? Breast cancer unfortuneately took my mother life years ago so the me being high risk is there.

mammo & U/S also ?!?

I am in that unlucky few that have highly dense breasts. So last week, I had my first ever mammogram. Because of my density issue, my doctore recommended an u/s be performed. As I was getting it done, I did notice the technicians pauses (maybe too much so) and saw ehere she took photos of two smaller dark areas on the right breast. In fact she spent more time on the right breast than she did with the left, although she did find yet another small dark spot on the left side of the left breast.

While I know I should just sit and wait for the results...I am on the computer looking up safe images...trying to recollect what I saw and the notes she wrote. Breast Cancer is not in my family, yet cancer is. I have had two members this year alone who died of cancer.

I need some relief. Im terrified of the unknown...and of the wait.

Dense Breast

I too have been told in the last two years to have a redo of my mammogram. Last year they said I was ok This year they are telling me I have dense breast. I was to have an Ultrasound but they were busy abnd said they will compare my last year xrays. My doctor called and said the report said I have dense breast and to have another mamogram in six months. I am now concerned because my left nipple is inverted and I have to tickle it to come out. I have a bad feeling about this. What is your thought. Thanks I had to vent

my mom's mamorgram came back normal

My Mom's mamogram came back normal.The test was done just recently. She now felt a small lump under her arm. At one time she had calification build up was tested and fine.

What do you think this could be??? Maybe a repeat. She is going back to her doctor getting a ultrasound/mri to be sure.

Please send me your input. Very worried.

MAmmo and ultrasound

I had a baseline mammo and they found a litle "spot". I had more views and they could only see it on the side view. Then I had a sonogram and it showed NOTHING. Thought it was over, but now they want me to go to a breast surgeon and are suggesting an MRI??

Now I am really stressed.

Dense Breasts

I only wish this information had come out sooner.

I have dense breasts and had been sent for spot compressions after my annual mammogram in 2 prior years which were read as negative. I was diagnosed at age 50 with stage 4 lobular cancer (mets to bone and lung) 9 months after my previous mammogram. It showed up very clearly on an MRI as did another lump not seen on the mamogram.

Unfortunately lobular cancer is also very difficult to see on a mammogram.

I am a nurse at a large teaching hospital and in retrospect should have demanded further imaging.I now tell everyone I know that has dense breasts to pursue additional testing.

Dense Breast Tissue

In Ct, we worked this legislative session to ensure that all women, when they receive their standand mammography report ,are informed of their breast density and the awarness that in CT insurance companies pay for ultrasounds for women with dense tissue (a bill that we enacted in 2005 and 2006). The bill passed two commitees and the senate but was never called for a vote in the House. We received support from Cancer Society, Susan Komen, and many doctors. The society of Radiologists in the state were opposed to the bill although did work with us to come up with language that they supported although they wanted to wait another year until the ACRIN study was completed. We will be introducing this bill again next session.

I have been advocating about informing women of this best-kept secret of dense breast tissue since my stage 3c diagnosis of breast cancer in 2004 after having yearly mammograms with "no significant findings."

I have produced an Are You Dense brochure to inform women on how to read their "real" mammography report and not to rely on their "Happy Gram".

Those of us with dense breast tissue have double jeopardy - can't find it with a mammogram and are at a 4 to 6x greater risk of getting breast cancer.

There are too many women in this country who believe that receiving a Happy Gram with no signficant findings mean that they are cancer free - let's get the word out that mammograms have limitations and start informing women of their breast density as a part of the mammography report.

Mammograms and Ultrasound

If you have dense breasts, it's also best to find a radiologist with much experience in reading both mammograms and ultrasound. A cancer center is more likely to have this type of radiologist. Ask your doctor for a referral for a "diagnostic" mammo and ultrasound; your insurance company may be more favorable than for "screening" tests. Ask the radiology practice who has the most experience and ask to schedule your appointment so one of those persons is the one who does your ultrasound. My radiologist saw something on the mammogram, said there was a wrinkle on the ultrasound, and got a biopsy, finding a cancer with measurable size at the lower limits of detection. She was experienced enough to get my surgeon to send me for an MRI which found a second lesion, making me ineligible for lumpectomy, but allowing me to have only a single surgery. The cancer was caught early enough, and was of the stage/growth type, that allowed me to avoid chemo- and radiation therapy. (Wouldn't be the case for everyone.) The most important aspect I think is that when research shows an elevated frequency of negative biopsies as a result of ultrasound, the answer should be "so what?" The chance of finding a cancer earlier is worth it. Early detection may not always save your life but many times it does.