Breast Ultrasound?

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

I've had a lump in my left breast, somewhat below the nipple, for about a year.  When I first found it, I noted that it felt just like a marble, and when I Googled "marble breast lump" I got lots of reassuring hits about how that was overwhelmingly likely to be benign, especially at my age (was 20 at the time), but that if it started hurting or changing, I'd have to go to a doctor. 

Well, in the last two months it's started hurting when poked and aching for the two weeks before my period, and unless I'm imagining it, it's gotten a little bigger.  Anyway, I realized that meant I should see a doctor about it, so I did, after procrastinating for about a month because I'm not comfortable with being undressed in front of strangers.  The nurse who examined me said it was about 1cm in diameter and ordered an ultrasound because she thinks it's a fibroadenoma (which, from what Google tells me, is a benign tumor, but can indicate a predisposition to breast cancer later on, and is usually surgically removed). 

I finally scheduled an appointment after an unpleasant runaround with my insurance (first I could get it done nearby, then I couldn't, had to cancel the appointment, and make an appointment that will be very difficult to get to).  Said appointment is on Monday, and I'm flipping out about it, mostly because it looks like I won't be able to have my partner with me (because he has to be at work).  Have you ever had a breast ultrasound?  How old were you?  Did it hurt or was it uncomfortable?  How long did it take?  What was the outcome?  Please share any details you have about the procedure.  I'm mostly worried about being alone and feeling exposed to a stranger (I can't choose if the technician is male or female either), but also (obviously) about the diagnosis.  Thanks, VP!

Comments

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I had a breast ultrasound at about your age, for a fibroadenoma as well. It is a totally easy procedure. They tend to do a pretty good job of keeping you covered except when you need to be uncovered. Basically its just like a belly ultrasound like you see in the movies - they squirt some jelly on you, and rub a wand across your skin. Its not uncomfortable at all. All you feel is the wand rubbing across your skin, which just feels like any other piece of plastic. Go get your deodorant and run the lid across your boob...it feels the same. ;) It doesn't take very long either - they just take a few pictures and you're done!

One thing I will warn you about is that the ultrasound tech may make comments about what you will have to do next, and you should IGNORE THOSE COMMENTS COMPLETELY! Mine told me I would definitely have to get a biopsy, which just wasn't true. I've heard stories of even more crazy things being said. My boob doctor had heart surgery, and his ultrasound tech told him he'd have to have it redone, that it wasn't healing right. Everything was actually just fine. So remember, the tech is NOT a doctor, and what they say may or may not be true.

I kept my fibroadenoma for three years, keeping an eye on it via ultrasound. I eventually decided to have it removed, because my doctor recommended taking it out before I get pregnant (which is still a few years in advance) and I had a good doctor, insurance, a support network, etc. The surgery was a total piece of cake though. I never took any pain medication, and my scar healed up very nicely. I can email you pictures if you want - I have one taken from when I removed the bandage, and could give you an "after" if you want...Its been about 2 years since my surgery, and the scar is very unnoticeable.

Mine used to kind of ache too, which is the other reason I got it out. Not a lot...just a little bit. They are affected by hormones - hormonal changes make them grow. That might be why it feels different during your period.

Try to stay calm...the diagnosis is almost certainly fibroadenoma, which is truly not a big deal. If you do decide to have surgery, let me know if you want more info...I can try to remember a bit more about my experience, and like I said, share pictures if you want.

Take care!

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your response! I will definitely keep in mind not to take what the technician says too seriously, as that's exactly the sort of thing that would worry me (unnecessarily). I'm trying not to worry about removing it until it's suggested by a doctor, but if it comes up, I will definitely take you up on that offer of more information. Thanks so much!

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you probably shouldn't worry about removal. My doctor was totally fine with leaving it in me for several years, as I mentioned. And I wanted to avoid unnecessary surgery, so I kept it. Eventually I got sick of feeling it when I laid on my belly though! And like I said, I had a doc who I trusted and was going to soon move away from.

Oh, also don't be freaked if you have been/are referred to a breast surgeon. That does NOT mean you have to have surgery...they just do that because the only breast specialists that exist are surgeons.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Oh, one more thing! If you are nervous and uncomfortable, I would recommend wearing a button down flannel shirt. They might let you wear your own shirt during the procedure then, since you can just flop it open the same as a gown would. I find that to be cozier and kind of comforting. :)

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Hey, I just wanted to thank you for all your help! I went in yesterday, and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, although it could have been better. I wasn't allowed to wear my own shirt even though it had a zipper all the way up the front, but at least the tech. didn't pretend to examine the images while she was taking them. Thanks again!

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Sucky that they didn't let you wear your own shirt! Yay that its over though!

[lickitylilacs.livejournal.com]

I have been considering going to a dr. to get a breast ultrasound recommendation. My right breast is pretty lumpy, there is one lump that seems to never go away with my cycles though and it's been there about a year. It also hurts when I poke at it and gets soooo painful a week or so before my period starts. I have heard that lumps that hurt are not usually something to worry about, especially if there are cyclic changes. If your lump seems to swell and shrink, it may just be a cyst. I have had an abdominal ultrasound before and it is a pretty quick and painless procedure. You will be asked to undress from the waist up and wear one of those paper shirt things. The lights will be dim as the technician reads the monitor and rubs a plastic wand over your breasts(after applying jelly.) Good luck with everything! Deep breaths and you will be fine! Please keep me updated. Are you going to a hospital that specializes in breast ultrasounds?

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice! I'm kinda surprised at how not-bad it was to have a nurse give me a breast exam, after all these years of doing it on my own. She didn't even make me take my shirt off; she just told me to lie down and life up my shirt, and it was over in like 30 seconds.

I wish I could get it done at a specialized place. That was the run-around with my insurance. . . apparently their contract with the breast-only place ran out a week before I was examined, so I couldn't go there. I'm going to a general radiology place, and that's scarier for me. Anyway, I'll keep VP updated on what happens. Thanks again, and good luck with your own lump!

[belleforbass.livejournal.com]

I found a lump and tracked it for about 5 months, I was 16/17 years old.
I had an ultrasound, its was more uncomfortable to me then painful.
Somebody pushing around on your breasts. So not friendly!
I had a drainage, it was benign, and I was so relieved!

Sorry I can't be more helpful I'm about to run out the door. When I get home I'll elaborate more.

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your reply! It's reassuring to know that breast lumps aren't so uncommon in people 20 and under (and that they have pretty much happy endings).

[happi4you.livejournal.com]

I am 22, had my first breast ultrasound when I was 20. (I also had a mammogram when I was 20). To be honest, they are not a big deal at all! In fact, it was kind of cool to watch was was inside my breast and to see what area my doctor was concerned about.

As for being uncomfortable in the room, I've always had a female do the ultrasound, and I'm pretty sure if you have a male, legally you can request a female to be present. Mine techs have never made it uncomfortable for my to expose my breasts--the way I see it is that this is their job and they see hundreds of breasts a week. The ultrasound itself isn't painful, at all.

I, too, was told that the lump (which grew) was potentially fibroadenoma, but needed to have a biospy to make sure. In fact, I went on Thursday to have it done, and while they were doing the ultrasound to locate the lump in question, she told me that my breast looked totally normal, and if I was to have that lump biopsied, I would have to have all the lumps in my breast biopsied. (She's the expert I guess!)

You will be fine! I promise! :)

[happi4you.livejournal.com]

I realized I had tons of errors in that message. Sorry! haha. I was in a hurry! :)

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your experience! The nurse that examined me said that my breasts were too dense for a mammogram, which I found relieving, because they sound awfully uncomfortable, and according to the Internet, they're very rarely informative in women under 30. I wish I could go to a specialized place with a "breast ultrasound tech." rather than a general radiology place so that my technician was more experienced. . . Thanks for the help (and don't worry about the little errors).

[happi4you.livejournal.com]

The first 3 times I got my ultrasound, I didn't go to a specialized place...I went to a general radiology place, but I'm willing to bet that the techs have seen many breasts and are experienced. Especially if you have a specified area in which they are looking in, they won't veer too far away from that spot and will take pictures of only that area. Good luck!

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all your help! It wasn't as bad as I expected (duh!), though it could have been better. They wouldn't let me look at the screen to see what was going on, but at least the tech. was female. Now I just have to wait for the diagnosis. . .

[archangelbeth]

I had a breast ultrasound a while back - low 20s, I suspect it would've been. Maybe mid-20s. (I could -- and now can again -- express green fluid from my breasts. I had a mammogram and an ultrasound.) Basically, you bare the breast, the technician puts some goop on the end of the ultrasound wand, and rubs it back and forth to check for lumps. I didn't find it uncomfortable (though if I'd been having PMS it might've been a little ow because of tender-breast-issues), and only mildly awkward (the doctor was an older guy). Much less uncomfortable than the mammogram! (Which didn't really hurt, but wasn't terribly comfortable.)

It took... I dunno, maybe 10 minutes, max?

They found nothing, either one, so I was pronounced "normally abnormal." (When I nursed my kid, there was no green. It came back after she was weaned.)

I hope that helps!

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm surprised that green fluid can be normal! (-; I feel a little better about going in for something as simple and common as a little lump. Thanks for sharing your story!

[archangelbeth]

*grin* It's at least in the bell curve of... "Dude, that's weird, but it doesn't seem to be harmful, so..."

The doctor did get me an appointment with an endocrinologist for it again, last time I was in (appointment is in a few days) -- I think more because she wants to know what the heck's causing it (since it's lasted so long, and came back after I weaned my kid), than because she's actually worried. *grin*

I'm glad that my story helped! O:D

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

I want to thank you again for your response! I went in yesterday, and (surprise!) it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I still have to wait for the diagnosis, but at least the ultrasound is over.

[archangelbeth]

Yay that it wasn't as bad as expected! Crossing my fingers for good results for you, too.

[lipstickgirl-2.livejournal.com]

I had one last year. Completely painless, minimal exposure. They make it as un embarassing as they can under the circumstances. In the medical profession its just another boob. To you its much more I know.

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reassurance!

[rachelish.livejournal.com]

I had a breast ultrasound at 23. Mine led to a biopsy, then surgery to remove the lump, so the ultrasound was the easiest part. It didn't hurt. I think that it took around an hour? But I'm not sure because it's been a few years. I went in and they gave me a gown that opened in the front, so that they could just pull back one side. They use some lube and then use the ultrasound to look around and take some pictures. A technician did all that, then a doctor came in to discuss what they found. They decided they wanted to do a biopsy to find out more about it. That happened about a week later. It came back benign, but months later was getting bigger and hurting me, so my doctor said it would be best to have it removed. But really, the ultrasound was cake.

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your story! Not having to wait for a diagnosis sounds really nice, especially if you're a worrier (well, I sure am). I hope my ultrasound goes as well as yours did!

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

I think it would be better if I had a doctor I already knew and trusted doing this. The only way I got myself into the office for the breast exam in the first place was that I trust the nurses at my school's clinic (but not enough to ever get a gynecological exam, ever. . . yeah, I'm a wimp). Unfortunately, I'm going to a big radiology place across town, so that's the scary part, for me. Thanks for your input!

[thisandthat.livejournal.com]

I haven't had a breast ultrasound per say, but I've had two pelvic ultrasounds since January. Let me tell you, I would much rather have my breast looked at! For the pelvic ultrasound you have to endure the "vaginal transducer" which basically looks like a some kind of weird sex toy attached to the machine that they stick into the vagina and poke around at your uterus and ovaries. That said, it didn't hurt, wasn't uncomfortable (surprisingly!), and the part where they scanned my lower abdomen was so easy. Hopefully when they scan your breast they will have the warm jelly stuff! That makes it a little better. The first ultrasound I had on my stomach they didn't have the warmer turned on that holds the jelly. :(

Also, if you are particularly nervous that day, maybe bring some kind of music player with headphones you can listen to while they scan? Or in the waiting room to calm your nerves? I would suggest reading during it, but I think you will probably have to have your arm positioned in a certain way. Also as far as the exposure, when I've had the pelvic ultrasounds done, they only expose me the bare minimum to see where they need to position the wand thing, then they cover me up with the gown or some kind of sheet.

Good luck. :)

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Wow, a pelvic ultrasound sounds really awkward! A music-player is a really good idea, except that my iPod decided to end our four-year relationship last week by getting itself crushed to death (along with the headphones, no clue how it happened). I can still bring a book, just in case it's possible. Thanks for the suggestions!

[weoverlap.livejournal.com]

I just had one done a week ago. Basically they had me put on this gown that opened in the front and wait in a new waiting room. I was called in and the lady has you roll over a bit onto your side and she does her thing. It is less embarassing because you are not face to face with her or anything. It didn't hurt, the only part that bothered me a bit was when she went over my nipple! Anyways, I was pretty freaked out and as she was doing it, she told me what she saw so it was pretty helpful. I went alone too, and I know, it is kind of overwhelming. Good luck.

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I missed your reply until now, after the appointment. /-: I wish they'd told me what was going on as they looked, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Thanks for your message.