You Might Need an Ultrasound With That Mammogram

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I am very concerned because they have told me I have dense breasts since starting mammograms in my 50's. Now I just had a digital mammogram and they ask for additional slides of my right breast, as they see something high on my breastbone and can't quite see it well.
Now, they want to do an ultrasound tomorrow afternoon, and I am very concerned. I have read online that dense breasts are more likely to have cancer. I have no history in my family of any kind of cancer. I am very upset and afraid of the results I will get, or have to have a biopsy as the next step.

Carolyn of NE 1:23AM September 09, 2010

I just had a mamogram done and I recieved a call to have a 2nt mamogram an ultra sound done next week. how standard is this. and is it maybe becaused i might of not stood still.

k of CA 7:02PM April 02, 2010

I am very nervous with the procedure. i have had mamograms, but not the ultrasound on my breast. I realize i am lucky to be living in this time of medical procedures , but the end result is what i am dreading.

elizabeth kress of GA 4:32PM February 09, 2010

I just had a mamogram done and I recieved a call to have an ultra sound done next week. I'm alittle concerned because I started Prempro last April. I have mamograms yearly and have never had a problem. Should I be concerned?

Elizabeth of MA 2:49PM January 07, 2010

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.

Jamie Grabin of PA 9:12PM October 23, 2009

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.

Dawn of CT 10:03AM October 18, 2009

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.

T of FL 3:53PM May 20, 2009

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

Paula of NJ 12:09PM May 19, 2009

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.

Mary of IN 1:08PM September 04, 2008

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.

Noelle of NY 9:00PM July 25, 2008