mammogram vs. ultrasound - Cancer: Breast Message Board

Rorie · 11-10-2004, 06:10 AM

I would like your advice. My doctor wants me to have a mammogram because I am having pain in my right breast. I am 31 years old. I had just read an article about not having mammograms until you are 40 because of the risk of radiation. I wasn't brave enough to ask my doctor for an ultrasound instead. Now I've read conflicting articles about how mammograms are the best way because they are the most accurate, etc...others say mammograms are risky for younger patients. What do your doctors recommend? Thanks

MX62 · 11-10-2004, 07:29 AM

My doctor wanted me to have mammogram done when I was 26, when I went to have it done they asked if there was a chance that I was pregnant and at the time there was, so they did a ultrasound, I was told that by the technician that at my age a ultrasound is better becasue at a younger age our breasts ae more dense.

momg1101 · 11-10-2004, 12:59 PM

I don't kow if this will help you any... But I am 32 and I had to go in yesterday because of a lump in my breast. The mamogram showed positive yet my ultrasound showed negative.( the ultrasound didn't even pick it up) I was told yesterday a lot of times they want a ultrasound on the younger patients because the breast is more dense and harder for the mamogram to pick up on any problems. Whereas the ultrasound can pick up on the dense tissue. The older you get the less dense the tissue is. As for me...I'm very glad I had the mamogram done since the ultrasound did nothing but cost $ for me.

Rorie · 11-10-2004, 02:25 PM

Thanks so much for your replies. I wouldn't be so nervous about the mammogram except for the fact that last year I had lots of CT scans and x-rays to try to figure out the pain I was having in different parts of my body (which didn't end up showing anything), so I had lots of radiation exposure...I was just hoping an ultrasound might be the better way to go...but then again I hate to ask the doctor for one when he already ordered a mammogram. Thanks again!

laurie864bla · 11-11-2004, 09:55 AM

I just got back from staying with my 34 yr old best friend starting chemo on Monday. Her Dx was made after complaining of a lump that hurt a bit. They did an ultrasound, then a biopsy, then a DX of cancer. About a week later, she had a mamogram to see what it would look like on that, and to compare w/ later. It did not even show up on the mammogram! Get that sonogram. My friend had a very, very aggressive tumor and if it was not for her demanding stuff, she would be dying right now. Thank God she will be ok and it's out now, but chemo is no picnic. Be safe--she had absolutely NO risk factors.