Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 1/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: dear doctor, im 32 yr old with 2 yr old child. no family h/o cancer.
6 mnths ago i got a painfull swelling [small]in rt.axilla.treated by surgeon with antibiotic.he said its simply a sweat gland inflamation because of razer and deodorant.recently i got this problem again. treated by another surgeon with antibiotic.
i was scared. so i did a mammogram and u/s. which shows. multiple benign hypoechoic well defined solid masses .1 in lt breast and 2 small in rt breast.findings consistent with multiple fibroadenoma. nothing suspicious.i took 2nd opinion with another radiologist.she also said its benign. repeat another u/s after 6 months.{you already replied me untill this }.
now 3 days ago i was doing breast exam. i felt some small lumps {movable}in 1 place of upper  quadrant part of rt. breast. breast looks normal.im not sure these were there before or not. because recently only i started concerned about breast problems.should i make an urgent u/s or not? can you pls. advice? im scared again.

ANSWER: Well we already know that you have fibroadenomas from your earlier mammograms. Probably what you have felt are some of those. No alarm is probably necessary. But ask your dr. for complementary ultrasound AND MRI breast scans. If these confirm the mammography findings and nothing suspect is seen, you do not need to worry! But you probably should have your breasts checked once per year at least. If any suspect or unclear lesion is seen it SHOULD be checked with at least a needle biopsy! That is all! Good luck!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi doctor, now i  feel the same mass in rt axilla. its very small now.and it is in the skin fold area,there i see a black spot similar to hair follicle. i know in few days it will become little more big and i will have pain .then i will have to take again antibiotic. last time the radiologist told me she didnt see any lymph node there.only soft tissue. doctor,what it could be?before i consulted 2 surgeon. they said its not related to breast.now should i see again a surgeon? its difficult to get an appoint ment here. thats why im bothering you .
and i still feel some small lumps [in one place
]in upper part of rt breast.these are movable. i think these are new.i consulted the physician and he checked it. he told me nothing to worry. even the breast specialist {in my hospital where i work} told me nothing to worry {he didnt see it}.no need for biopsy or anything.i dont know why they dont want to do biopsy.
my life is in a miserable stage since i did the mammo and u/s. pls help me again. thank you.

Answer
With fibroadenomas in your breasts these findings are normal! Do a combined mammography-ultrasound scan-MRI scan check up (combined with needle biopsies if and whenever needed) of your breasts once per year in order to have everything checked. If nothing pathological is found you do not need to worry and in between you do not need to do anything! Good luck!