My mammogram

[Reeseru]

I am remission,and I take imbruvica, and my mammogram is Abnormal, please thank you 🙏, feedback, please

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

I'm sorry that you have had no replies, but perhaps you'll find more knowledgeable people that could help you in the HU Breast Cancer communities?

healthunlocked.com/search/c...

I would think that the only sentence needing clarification, is regarding the implications of "focal asymmetry in the left breast", but I'm neither a doctor or a radiologist.

Neil

[SofiaDeo]

Focal asymmetry is the most common reason for a "repeat" mammogram request. It means they need to double check an area, to verify it's not a problem.

mdanderson.org/cancerwise/5...

90% of the time, these various abnormalities aren't a big deal. You just need to verify. Some doctors may ask for repeat tests on a CLL patient sooner than/more often than the "average" patient, since we are known to be a higher risk group than others. So instead of asking for a repeat in 6 months, they may want one sooner. It doesn't mean *they think something is going on*, more like *they want to verify nothing is going on*.

Does your facility do digital imaging? Or 3D? Sometimes those are easier; the technician can rotate the plates around, instead of us having to hold our arms in difficult positions. I find them much easier to do than non digital, plus, they use less radiation.

[opal11uk]

in 2008 I had a routine Mammogram and that showed calcification so they did a lumpectomy and found cancer within it so I had to have further surgery, non radical, to remove all within that area leaving clear margins, free of cancer, followed by Radiotherapy, and although it was a trying time I was so very pleased that it had been detected and removed so good luck, get it sorted and then move on x

[TLSAtlanta]

Hi- I know its very nerve wracking to have abnormal mammograms at baseline and then when you have a dx of CLL that really compounds it because you naturally worry that its the dreaded secondary cancer and that it will be exacerbated by the CLL. I went through this myself with multiple abnormal mammograms- having dense breasts and calcifications makes the imagining more difficult and I believe my doctors were more vigilant because of the CLL and ordered lots of follow up imaging and needle biopsies. Thankfully none were cancer- which is the case in the majority of the abnormal mammogram results. So hopefully that is some reassurance. Also my CLL specialist assured me that even if I did end up with breast cancer my assumption that it would naturally be 'worse' because of the CLL was not supported by the evidence. I know its not possible to not worry in this situation but try to stay positive and trust that statistics are still heavily in your favor- less than 2% of focal asymmetries are malignant. Plus over 90% of breast cancer is able to be effectively treated.

[J1015]

I have had several abnormal mammograms that led to two biopsies but always benign. Don’t panic.

[ChristyAnne_UK]

Add me to the list..

I was dx in 2001. Quadrantectomy, not enough margin, so more surgery followed. Then chemo and radiotherapy.

Then my mother had it. (Her sister was the first of us.) Then a tumour showed up in 2008 in my other breast. Radical bilateral mastectomies followed.

Genetic testing for my mother and I did not show the BRCA 1/2 genes, but the geneticist suspected something else in our DNA, given the close cluster of instances in my family.

CLL dx came in 2014.

So.. even if it's not the best of news, and it's not much fun, and I hate being disfigured, my message is YOU CAN SURVIVE!

P.S. Mum & Aunt survived, too.

Wishing you the best of outcomes. x

[plutogame]

Of course this is scary. My first abnormal mammogram was due to scattered calcification. This was prior to having CLL. I ended up having a biopsy even though the oncologist said there was only a 9% chance of it being cancer. My decision back then was because my husband and my mother were more concerned than I was. It was benign. A decade or more went by before I was diagnosed with CLL and then another 3years before an abnormal mammogram with scattered calcification (different breast). After consulting with my PCP and hematologist/oncologist I decided to not have another biopsy and have more frequent mammograms instead. No changes for over 3 years. I hope you have as good an outcome as I have had so far.

[Reeseru in reply to plutogame]

Thank you all so much! My PCP and I decided to wait until next year,since I have Cll ,My PCp said my report says " benign scattered calcifications,She said nothing to worry about,and I am in remission for CLL, so I will just Trust God! Again,thank you all! 🙏☺️❤️