Discussions

 I just had a mommo done on wednesday.No reason other then I had a hytorectomy at age 30 so I have one done every three years. Three years ago, all looked just fine. Well I got a call at work yesterday saying they want to see me again for further testing. That they found "mass area's of density in my right breast" I have done some looking and not quite sure what "mass density" means. On the mayo clinic website they make it sound very bad for me. I dont go back for more testing until DEC 3rd. That is a long long time for so much confusion. I am so scared, my husband tels me not to worry, My mom tells me try not to fret. but I just cant shake the feeling that this is bad, very bad. I know many of you have already gone through this, Some with good outcomes and some with not so good outcomes. So please anyone who can give me info as to what the "mass density" might mean please fill me in. I really need to hear it staight, not sugar coated.

Thanks so much

Dodi

 My husband is explaining to me that Mass density is the solidness of a mass (with mass being an area of tissue that has different level of firmness of tissue).  We are far from being experts from this.  It is best to call your doctor and express your concern to see if they can explain to you what exactly it is.  Much better to do this than to speculate on your own as to what it is.  That is what the doctor is for to answer your questions.

I myself was diagnosis with breast cancer on Oct 27th.  I am 32 years old with 4 young kids.  On the day they discovered the cancer they did the ultrasound, mammagram and biospy.  I was then sent to the breast surgeon the next day and my surgeon scheduled my surgery for the next week.  Until that day of the surgery I was a bit nervous because I did not know exactly what type of cancer.  After they got it out (they also took out all lymph nodes on the side because my surgeon did feel some swollen lymph nodes) they tested everything and there was no cancer in the lymph nodes, and the tumor was all non-invasive cancer.  It also was 11x7 cm (hugh tumor).  My doctor was a bit amaze that the tumor did not have any invasive cancer in it.  She said it is almost unheard of for that to happen.  I praise God for stopping the cancer.  I will not have to go through Chemo or radiation, but may have to take hormone therapy pills.  I did lose my mother May 14th, 2006 to breast cancer, she was 50 years old.

So good results can happen.  I would recommend calling your doctor and voicing your concern.  They may be able to calm your nerves better than others.  But I do understand how nerve recking it can be.  Family do try to help calm you but it doesn't always work.  Have faith and praying to God helped calm my nerves during my ordeal.

I will be praying for you!

 Thank you for your info. when I talked the the breast cancer coordinator, she basicly told me what I explained in the  first post and said that we would discuss more about it on the 3rd.I know I have so much to be greatful for, I have three beautiful girls, been married for forever (14yrs) I have lived a pretty good life, but My hardest part right now, is the fact that I have already had a hystorectomy, if thay have to take my breast, what is left of my woman hood? How is my husband going to feel about me? I know that sounds so petty, but I cannot help it. It is the same feelings I had when they did the hystorectomy, how do I get past that? How do I get over the fear of not only possiably losing my breast, but what about my personal womanhood? I am sorry i am babbling I am just lost right now, scared, confussed, worried....  I am so sorry to hear what you have been going trough yourself,  I thank you for your support and I too will be praying for you and all the others here.

 I totally understand what you are saying.  When I first found out that it was breast cancer I had already decided that I will have a masectomy done.  Because when my mom was 1st diagnosis back in 1994 they just did a lumpectomy and I feel that maybe, just maybe if they would have done a masectomy then she would have not had a reoccurrence.  But in my case my doctor said because of the size of the tumor a masectomy was the only option.

So, I was okay with it at that time.  Now, a little over two weeks since my surgery I am feeling a little sad (but still very happy that the tumor is out of my body!!) because my left breast is gone.  My husband has been a great support to me (we have been married 8 years now) and it does not bother him one bit.  He has told me it is my choice if I want to have reconstructive surgery or not.  Next year I will have to have the right side removed because my doctor is recommending that it should be.  And she said they can do the reconstructive surgery then.

I know it feels like you may feel like you are losing your womanhood.  I look at it as what is inside of us counts.  You will go through some greiving process but it is just natural to go through it.  Just realize that people love you for who you are and not because you have breast or not.  I am pretty sure your husband is going to be wonderful toward you (you should talk to him about your fears) especially since you've been married for so long.  You do not have to apologize for babbling.  This is a time that everything is scary, confusing and the only way you can make things seem understandable is to talk it out.

Try praying and talking to God every day and ask for him to give you strength and peace to get through this (and reading the bible).  It totally helped me and also talking to other Christians for spiritual advice to get through this hard time.  It helped me so much!

Since you have children, it is important to try to remain strong in front of them.  I know when I told my oldest child that I have cancer she started crying very hard.  She still remembers her Nana (my mother) when she died.  I had to tell her we do not know what is going to happen and we must have faith and trust in God to do what is right for us.  I also told her I may have to have Chemo and mommy's hair might fall off.  Well, my one sister was there and said if I need help shaving my head she can help me.  My daughter said "No Mommy, I don't want you to shave your head!!"  My sister and I both laughed and I told my daughter that if mommy's hair is falling out then it is best to shave it.  But, you and I can go shopping for pretty scarves for mommy's head.

Thankfully I will not have to go through all of that because No Chemo.  But I thought that it was important to be straight forward with her in telling the truth.

Most likely I will be having reconstructive surgery done.  I do look at a the positive toward reconstruction.  I will have some nice perky boobs!!!  I was so drained and flat from my four kids that if I did not wear a push up bra or underwire bra you could not tell that I have boobs. 

So, keep me posted, try to relax and have a wonderful holiday and we will be talking again soon!!

 Oh, another thing that I did forget to mention, it is okay to cry [:'(]!  I was told to go to a room where my children isn't, shut the door and have a pity party for myself.  The important thing is to not let the pity party run your life.  Get it out of you system and get back to life because our children do need us.  I hope this is all helping you.

Dodi,  Dense is the type of tissue the breast is made of, some women myself included have a heavy thick breast,  they call this dense.  Tumors tend to grow in these dense areas because the dense tissue holds estrogen which is what commonly (not always) feeds tumors to grow so when they see an area that is dense and a mass is present they want to further the testing. 

I had calcifications in my breast for 2 years, went back everytime for more testing, so it could simply be calcifications, but get all the testing done, try not to assume anything until you have further testing done.  My mammo this year showed the mass was larger and so a biopsy was done, yes I had a tumor BUT it was caught early (because of the mammo and all the testing) so I did not have to go thru chemo, but radiation only. 

My advice is get all the testing now, if they recommend a biopsy, then do it, it is the way to know for sure what is in there and how to deal with it.  I have known women who have done the biopsy and it has been fluid only, they drain it and all is done.  So try not to assume the worst yet,  be sure you are comfortable with your surgeon (most important) and go from there. 

Keep us informed and sending a hug your way,

~ Jen