Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 3/7/2010

Question
I JUST TURNED 58,I HAD A ABNORMAL MAMMOGRAM LAST SEPT,FOLLOWED BY A ULTRASOUND.THE DR,THAT READ THE ULTRASOUND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A LYMPH NODE.I ALSO HAVE DENSE BREASTS.I AM DUE TO HAVE ANOTHER MAMMOGRAM NEXT MONTH,SO THEY CAN COMPARE.MY QUESTION IS,WHATS MY CHANCE OF DEVELOPING CANCER? THERE IS NO FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER, THAT I KNOW OF.ITS ON MY RIGHT BREAST, AND I JUST NOTICED 2 SMALL KNOTS ON MY LEFT WRIST.COULD THIS BE CONNECTED TO MY BREAST,OR JUST MAYBE A CYST? THEY NOTICED THIS LYMPH NODE ON THE SAME BREAST A FEW YEARS AGO,ON A ULTRASOUND,AND WERENT CONCERNED..JUDI

Answer
From what you have told me your risk seems to be the average for women at your age. Since your breasts according to you are dense I do suggest that your future mammographies always are complemented with BOTH ultrasound breast scans AND MRI breast scans. This advice includes your next mammogram next month! Any lesion seen - like this node seen on ultrasound - can also (and probably also should) be checked by an ultrasound guided needle biopsy. In what way was your mammogram abnormal? You can copy your report of it here. Your wrist knots are probably unrelated to your breast problems but in order to be sure let your doctor check them.


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