An old-aged widow pensioner friend just received the depressing "big C" news in her right breast. She's been undergoing breast mamagrams for over 20 years,doing them about every 12 - 14 monts. Her doctor GP asked for an ultrasound after her recent mamogram when my friend told her about the right breast nipple inverting about 2 months ago. After the ultrasound she was referred to a specialist surgeon. He mentioned that mamograms are only "large lump detectors" but not the smaller clusters,especially in,behind or near nipples. he wanted an MRI done,which she did yesterday. She's off to the surgeon appointment now. She has a couple of options. Cut out what is there and undergo 5 weeks of radiotherapy. Or do the full masectomy. This is a devastating decision to make eh. I think she's seriously considering the full route masectomy. A friend of hers did this and reckons it reduces the worry about recurrence. Beastscreens are a government free provision,but the MRI cost $450.
I post this information for the ladies doing breastscreens. Keep in mind that new research surfaces every day. The specialist surgeon said "inverted nipples" are a clue. The GP didn't know that. My friend had excessive period bleeding 50 years ago and was put on hormone replacement(HRT? I think). HRT can be another clue and can cause the big C to develop!! The other important point to note is that a mamogram may NOT pick anything up,especially around/near/behind nipples. An ultrasound has about an 85% success at picking out smaller nodules etc. The MRI is strongly recommended.
Yesterday my friend was in a specialist radiology centre for nearly 3 hours. First,another painful mamogram. Then another ultrasound which hurt as well - the guy pushing down so hard.(Nurses are gentler because they know what it's like!). Then came the MRI for over half an hour or so. On your tummy,arms outstretched,breasts positioned down two round openings for the xray machine, no movement allowed. Hell to play if you cramped up eh.
Moral of story ladies - think about an MRI if you have any doubts whatsoever and consider deferring/suspending HRT for a while if you're on it, naturally after first speaking with your doctor. All the best of health to you all.
A very timely warning. I would be going for the full masectomy too. Better to be safe than sorry. I go for a mammogram and ultrsound every year at the Echuca Hosp as about 5 years ago, maybe more, the travelling mobile breast screen unit found something suss. Turned out to be cysts, was put into a 6 monthly mammogram/ultrasound regime for a few years. Now its once a year. Never taken HRT but have heard it causes a greater risk, My sister was on it for many years before her doc said she had been on it far too long.
