BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: MY LESSON LEARNED

I recently had a bit of a health scare.  A few weeks ago, I went in for a routine physical.  During the physical, the doctor preformed a breast exam in which she felt a small lump in my right breast. When she told me, I was obviously scared and confused.  I had my first mammogram at age 39 which was normal and I did monthly breast exams, so how could I have missed this lump?  The doctor recommended that I have an ultrasound so that I could find out if it was cancerous or not. Well, I immediately called my OB/GYN's office and they had me come in for an appointment.  My OB/GYN felt the lump and told me that he believed that is was a cyst and not to worry.  But, he suggested that I have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound because I have fibrocystic breasts.  

When I was 18 years old, I was told that I have fibrocystic breasts. Basically, that means that my breasts are naturally lumpy and bumpy, which make them more difficult to feel potentially harmful abnormalities.  As such, a standard mammogram which uses film may not pick up on a cancerous or benign lump.  Now, don't get me wrong, film mammograms are an effective screening device. But, studies have shown that film mammograms may miss between 10% and 20% of breast cancers.  A diagnostic mammogram is viewed as being superior to the traditional film mammogram because the technician can see the image right away on  a computer screen and they tend to be higher in contrast making them easier to read.  And if the diagnostic mammogram is inconclusive, an ultrasound can be used as a follow up to detect any abnormalities. 

A couple weeks after I saw my OB/GYN, I had a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.  The technician running my mammogram said that my breasts were so dense that she could not see anything.  She said they were all muscle ( I guess my grueling 2 hour a day works outs have paid off somewhat).   So, a few minutes later, I had an ultrasound.  The ultrasound technician immediately told me that the lump appeared to be a cyst.

I later met with the doctor, who explained to me that the abnormality is a cyst that will likely go away on its own and that it does not increase my chances of getting breast cancer.  She said that the cyst is likely due to hormonal changes.  But, the doctor also advised me that because I have fibrocystic breasts, a typical mammogram may not the best yearly screening course for me and that I will need to have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound every year.  

I wanted to share my story so that other women who may have fibrocystic breasts will be aware of what I learned.  You have to be very diligent in doing your monthly self breast exams because with fibrocystic breasts, the breast tissue tends to be lumpy, making it difficult to catch any abnormalities, as in my case.  And, if you have fibrocystic breasts, talk to your physician about the differences between a standard mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram.  

According to the American Cancer Society in 2013:

• About 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 64,640 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
• About 39,620 women will die from breast cancer

These numbers are staggering.  Please be diligent about your monthly self breast exams and if you are at the age where screening is recommended, please get screened.