breast sonogram - Cancer: Breast Message Board

Anag47 · 03-16-2009, 04:26 PM

Went for a ***** 3weeks ago,today I followed up with a sonogram and another mamo of my rt. breast,the Dr.found a few enlaged lymph nodes,that were also on my ***** 3 weeks ago.now next week he will do a fine needle biopsey.My breast looks fine,It's the lymph nodes near my rt.brest.Has anyone had this? Thank You

NY 1009 · 03-21-2009, 07:16 AM

Anag,
I have the same exact thing going on too. I'm just starting to look through the forums to see if anyone else has had the same experience.

can you feel yours? where exactly on the breast are they situated?
I have multiple ones, but all under 1cm and mine are situated on the far edge of the breast. along the edge of the right breast, but along the ribs kind of.
hard to explain, but mine couldn't be picked up on the yearly mammos' because it would be impossible to get that part of the body onto the ***** plates.

I even specifically told the technician two years ago that I felt them and they couldn't get them to rest on the ***** plate. Someone should've requested an ultra sound then. Now it's two years later and I went for an annual ck up at my gyno and told her my right breast is feeling some changes in it. it's denser and alot more bumpier than it's ever been. I'm on straight estrogen because of a total hysterectomy I had to have four yrs ago.
BOTH of my sisters have had breast cancer and one had to have both breasts removed. the other sister had to go on tamoxifen for years which eventually made her cyst dissapear. she had the pre malignancy type of cancer thing going on. A cyst kept coming back on one of her breasts. they at first watched it, then they biopsied it, and that's when the surgeon sent her to an oncologist. she had horrible sweats from that medication but it saved her life so far.

I got off the subject, sorry....... I'm just trying to give you an outline of my family history, so I dont' want to take any lump lightly that grows on my breast. NO one should.

how large is your lymph node?
I was shocked to see they want to do a fine needle biopsy because I thought that I didnt have to really worry because it's just lymph nodes enlarged and not a mass. but as i'm seeing, you have an excellent doctor who really investigates things.
what date do you have set up for the biopsy of the lymph node?
do you get *****'s every year? have you had a problem before in your past?
Please keep us informed of your progress if you have the time. it would be greatly appreciated to find out how it all went.

I wish you the best outcome of your situation.

sincerely,
Linda

Anag47 · 03-21-2009, 06:26 PM

lintek45
I don't know how large the node is but there are a few enlarged,one much larger.I cannot feel it at all.They showed up on the digital mamo Feb.23.On March 16th went for different views of the breast.I had about 8 different views taken.Then proceeded to another room for the sono.The sonographer went over the same area for a while,asked if I had been sick,I knew she saw something.The radiologist then came in and asked if I had been sick or had a bug bite,I guess to explaine the node.He also did the sono and compared both underarms.It is just my right side of concern.He wants to do a bilateral fine needle biopsyThursday,I wish it was sooner.
I have no lumps anywhere,He said I do have a density in my right,thats why they took so many views,I guess between the density and my node.He is being cautious.
I have no family history of breast cancer.I think you definitly should go for another opinion. Good luck to you to.I will let you know.Iv'e been on every cancer site and it scares me,and I'm not an alarmist.

Sincerly
Annamarie

NY 1009 · 03-22-2009, 08:32 AM

it's good to hear back from you so quickly Annamarie,
I wasn't sure if you'd get my reply.

You don't feel a thing huh?
they really said "bug bite"? what on earth does a bug bite have to do with an enlarged node in your underarm? where would the bug have bitten you?

By the way, I didn't think at all that you're an alarmist. You have every reason in the world to do as much research as you possibly can at this point. especially being they want to do a needle biopsy of the node.
I am very anxious to find out how large the node is since they feel a biopsy is warranted.
I read somewhere yesterday along my research that a node anything above 2cm is cause for a biopsy. But at another site another time, I read anything above 1cm.
So I dont' know now how large they consider it to be a red flag?

I really wish you the best. I'm sure you're shocked at the sudden news.
Did you have former *****'s? and if so, are they going to compare it to last years and the one before that?

the reason I ask is because when I made my apptn with the breast surgeon's office, the secretary told me I must bring the most recent ***** and the one before that, plus the image of the ultra sound with reports.
so I went yesterday to the hospital file dept. to get my copies. they put all 3 on a cd , plus gave me written reports.
I read the 2007 and 2008 reports and compared them.

After I have my *****'s, they send a letter stating the ***** was all clear. they don't send the orgininal letter that is sent from the radiologist to the ordering dr.
so I was surprised when I read one of the *****'s results that said:

"dense breast parenchymal pattern" which limits resolution. patients in this category should adhere to ACR guidelines of regular mammography, breast self palpation and regular clinical breast examination by health professionals.
PLUS they saw ovoid densities projected over the pectoralis muscles which are compatible with lymph nodes"
My doctor said NOTHING to me about the lymph nodes that were seen. the radiologist was not concerned, obviously since they didn't tell me anything about it.

But at the end of the sonogram report, it states that "further assessment of palpable abnormality should be determined on clinical grounds".

WHAT DOES THIS TERMINOLOGY MEAN? specifically " CLINICAL GROUNDS"?
do they think I should definetly get it checked out? or does it mean only if the dr warrants it?

am I being an alarmist?

I'll be thinking of you on Thursday and if you need to talk, just fire away, I'm here for you.
I won't tell you to try and relax, because I know I wouldn't be able to relax.

But I will say, try to think positive and before you know it, Thursday will be here and you'll finally get the results. I wish you the best. What time do you have to go in?

sincerely,
Linda