Breastfeeding and Mammograms

[sugarpop]

OK so now I am starting to panic...I guess because the reality is setting in.

I am suppose to get an ultrasound of one of my breasts...b/c I found a small lump. Now I get a call that the ultrasound won't be effective in determining what it is so they want me to have a mammogram too. Ah but wait they don't do the mammogram on breast feeding woman....

I am waiting to hear back, I have been really calm thus far but now I am panicking...thoughts experience comfort harsh reality...give me what you have.


How will this affect breast feeding and should I have posted this elsewhere?

[mkksmom]

All I have is (((hugs))) and support, but no info. I wish I knew. Have you checked Kellymom?

[mambera]

Don't panic, most lumps in younger women are benign! Are you sure it isn't a plugged duct or something? Did you have a pro examine your breast?

A mammogram isn't the gold standard for diagnosis either; it's just a screening tool, and not such a great one. I think they can't read it correctly if you are bf'ing (or have dense breasts). Anyway I would not wean for a mammo.

If they really want to know what is there they'll need a biopsy anyway, and you shouldn't have to wean for that.

[ChinaDoll]

can they do an ultrasound first? I have actually had a mammogram done while nursing - it can be done but was painful and worthless because it was too difficult to read (which I tried to explain ahead of time but they insisted ... )

Anyway, they were able to do an ultrasound and rule out problems requiring a biopsy. Perhaps you can suggest that?

[flavorfull1]

I found a lump a couple of weeks postpartum and had to have an ultrasound guided core needle biopsy which in the end, was just milk/blood/breast tissue in a cyst. I had to have the biopsy after they decided, from an ultrasound, that the lump was suspicious. From all of the stuff I read: a mammogram would NOT be helpful in diagnosing anything in a breastfeeding mom. Ultrasound was the best thing and if it looked suspicious then a biopsy was needed. My advice would be to make sure that it is not a galactocele. they can do a fine needle aspiration for this after looking on the ultrasound to confirm (which is much less invasive than a biopsy). It is definitely ok to assert that you need someone that understands lactating breasts and to ask for them to take their time and start with less invasive procedures. If you do end up having to go down the biopsy road, it is not the end of the world and you can definitely breastfeed! I was told I could not breastfeed for 48hours after the biopsy and after my research I learned that it was totally ok to feed my DS as soon as I was comfortable to. Use lidocaine instead of other numbing meds because it has a shorter half life- like an hour. I pumped on that breast within 4 hours and then breast fed on that side within 8 hours. It was painful but really not too bad. Within a day I was just bruised and mildly tender. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions, need support, or want to hear my experience. Hugs mama, it can be scary but remember to take one thing at a time and be encouraged to advocate for care from someone who knows lactating breasts!

[sugarpop]

Thank you all so much!

flavorfull1 ~ Thank you for sharing your story, you made me feel not so alone and terrified. I am going for an ultrasound friday and then have an appointment with a "breast surgeon". The surgeon is just because they are a breast tissue specialist...hopefully just a second set of eyes to tell me it is all ok!

[flavorfull1]

keep us posted!

[sugarpop]

SO I just returned from the U/S and they did a mammogram. I just have to say to all those that are as freaked out by them as I was...not painful! I was shocked. I didn't like the idea of having an xray...but at this point whatever!

So now I have to have a biopsy, so an appointment with a breast surgeon is scheduled for the 20th at 8am. Just hoping it is nothing...but I am nervous

[cristeen]

Just wanted to say that during BFing, lumps in breasts are not unusual/abnormal.

I also wanted to say that mammograms are not all they're cracked up to be. If you can find someplace local that does breast thermography, it has been shown to be more effective and less dangerous than mammograms. If you google "mammogram alternatives" you'll find lots of articles about it.

[flavorfull1]

Sorry you have to get the biopsy, let me know if you have any questions!

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

SO I just returned from the U/S and they did a mammogram. I just have to say to all those that are as freaked out by them as I was...not painful! I was shocked. I didn't like the idea of having an xray...but at this point whatever!

So now I have to have a biopsy, so an appointment with a breast surgeon is scheduled for the 20th at 8am. Just hoping it is nothing...but I am nervous

I had my first one a couple of weeks ago. For 99% of it, it didn't hurt a bit. I only had a little trouble with my left breast but I am having pain in that side anyway.

[LittleLegos]

Sophia,

So sorry you're going through a scare like this.

Do you know what kind of biopsy you'll have? I've had both fine needle and core needle. Both times the radiologist worked with me to angle the needle so I wouldn't have a wound where my dd would be nursing. Biopsies were ultrasound guided. My dd was a toddler when I had testing, but was still nursing strong!

Ice packs were helpful after the biopsy. They wanted to bind my breasts (common procedure after biopsy) and I declined. I didn't want a plugged duct on top of things!

Feel free to pm if you would like more detailed info. I don't always ck back w/ a newborn!

Amy

[sugarpop]

SO, I had an appointment with the breast surgeon they did a fine needle aspiration. Not to painful and from that they were able to determine it was benign! Don't know what it is but we can find that out later if it matters at all. For now I will continue to nurse and hope it disappears when I stop nursing!

Glad that is over!

[flavorfull1]

wohoo!

[Jazzmin]

I haven't read all the posts, so sorry if this is redundant. I found a lump too and had an ultrasound done first- turned out to be nothing. I was told that doing a mammogram on a lactating woman is like looking though a frosted window on a snowy day, so they would not preform one on me. I suppose if the lump had been suspicious they may have done a higher level ultrasound and/or a needle biopsy.

Good luck and I hope it turns out to be nothing.

ETA: Just read the posts, I am glad everything turned out well.