u/Dangerous_Pumpkin18

Hi everyone. You might remember that I previously asked for advice on whether I should push for an MRI after the radiologist recommended it when my ultrasound/mammogram came back as birad-3 but was inconclusive for finding the cause of my ongoing symptoms. I did end up scheduling with a breast surgeon oncologist and had my appointment last Monday. My symptoms remain unchanged on my left side. Still have swelling/thickening, tenderness/pain (which I feel in my armpit sometimes), inverting of the nipple & the clear discharge from what seems to a single duct. The doctor explained that while my symptoms could be caused by cysts which were seen in the ultrasound my symptoms do align with those that she’s seen in cancer diagnoses as well. Regardless, she agreed that an MRI is definitely necessary to be sure.

In addition to my left sided symptoms I’ve had since March, I’ve now started having issues with the right side which was included in the mammogram but not the ultrasound. I found a thickened area on the outer right upper quadrant the Wednesday the week prior to my appt that by Sunday seemed to spread above & behind the nipple area. The area feels weirdly numb like when you hit a nerve and lose some skin sensation. The doctor noticed that the area above the nipple seemed to causing slight indenting of the skin in that area.

I’m trying to not think too much into her mentioning that she’s seen my symptoms in cancer patients but I am also sort of glad she said this because it in a way has validated my feeling that something clearly isn’t normal here. Anyway, my MRI is scheduled for 7/16, and my follow up with the doctor is the 27th. Hopefully this means I’ll at least have some explanation as to what is actually going on by the end of the month.

I (35f) got my mammogram & ultrasound yesterday after 2+ months of tenderness, swelling, and strange symptoms of the nipple/areola on the left side only. I’ve had issues on this side previously so this is my 3rd ultrasound & second mammogram in the last 4 or 5 years. I ended up needing additional slides for the mammogram bc they were having a hard time visualizing the area. During the ultrasound the tech first scanned & then called in the doctor to also scan. They went back and forth trying to figure out if what they were seeing behind the dense tissue was lymph nodes or cysts. I’m sure they were just being extra cautious but it seemed to be difficult to tell what was what. Afterward the doctor informed me that although they don’t see anything immediately concerning based on family history, extremely dense tissue (category D), and the ongoing symptoms that it would probably be a good idea to look into an MRI. The following is what my results say.

“Left breast: A focal asymmetry is seen in the upper outer left breast at posterior depth. On CC tomosynthesis this is best seen on slice 49. On MLO tomosynthesis this is best seen on slice 42. Focal asymmetry persists on spot compression imaging measuring approximately 7 x 6 mm and may reflect a partially obscured mass.

Impression:

1. Bilateral mammogram demonstrates extremely dense tissue. On mammogram today there was a small asymmetry seen in the upper outer left breast at posterior depth measuring up to 0.7 cm favored to represent a partially obscured mass in dense tissue. Whole breast ultrasound was performed on the left side. Dense tissue in the upper-outer quadrant most likely accounts for palpable lump. There are scattered benign-appearing cysts and lymph nodes. A six-month follow-up targeted left breast ultrasound is recommended to ensure stability of the probable complicated cysts versus lymph nodes seen at the 4 and 5 o'clock positions, 3 cm from the nipple. See separately dictated ultrasound.
2. Given extremely dense tissue, several breast symptoms and family history, consider further assessment with contrast enhanced breast MRI should clinical symptoms persist or worsen.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT:BI-RADS 3 Probably Benign”

My doctor’s note regarding the results though just says “glad to see everything’s of normal variation” and doesn’t even touch on the MRI suggestion. Am I overreacting to be pushing for the MRI based on the radiologist’s suggestion as opposed to my GYN who ordered the initial imaging? Would you push for the MRI too & to see a specialist?

Apologies in advance, this might be long. I’m 35 and over a month ago I started having tenderness & swelling on the outer side of my left breast. I can’t remember exactly when it started. I brushed it off because I’ve had on and off tenderness for years and have been told before that it was just that I had very dense tissue & any swelling previously was hormonal. It always started with the left & then usually the right would feel the same after a few days. Not this time. On top of the swelling & tenderness I started having changes in my areola/nipple. I noticed the nipple turning inward more and it has been so sensitive, itchy, and flaky. I also feel like the skin has become thicker around the edges. Toward the end of April I was feeling around and noticed the nipple was very painful. I was trying to figure out if I was feeling a tiny lump under the areola/nipple area and that’s when I noticed some mostly clear fluid came out which I’ve never seen happen before. I couldn’t make an appt until after I got back from a trip but I finally went in this week when these issues still hadn’t gone away.

I described my symptoms and my doctor did an exam and compared the difference/changes on the left side to the right. I was expecting the usual “oh it just feels like normal dense tissue” explanation but from what she could feel, the symptoms I described, & my extensive family history of cancers it seemed like she was pretty concerned. She ordered a mammogram & ultrasound to be done asap along with a referral to the breast clinic. She ended up calling the imaging center herself because she wants me seen within the next 7 days and they had initially tried scheduling me out a few weeks. So now I’m trying not to panic until I go in next Tuesday for imaging because something about this just feels different than anything I’ve felt before.