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Sunday, September 13, 2009 worried mom asks

Q: found lump in breast, ultrasound showed nothing, but lump is still there and bigger

I am a 26 year old woman and found a lump in my breast over a year ago while pregnant with my second child.  The doctor dissmised it at the time saying it could just be milk ducts clogged from being pregnant.  I since have given birth and breast fed my child for a year.  Since the lump could still be felt, I had an ultrasound done while still breastfeeding my baby.  Nothing was found (after asking my age, the ultrasound technician did the procedure in less than 2 minutes and only checked a very small section of my breast, which seemed lower than were the lump is actually felt...  my breast were also full of milk that day so hard to feel).

I have since stopped breastfeeding and the lump is now bigger then ever and very hard to the touch.  Should I see my obgyn again?  Or should I go see someone else?  If so, what type of doctor?  Another obgyn, or my family doctor, or someone else completely?  I am planning on becoming pregnant soon so should this be done asap?  Or should I just let it go since the ultrasound did not show anything?

My great-grandmother is the only one in my family who has had breast cancer.

Thanks for your input.

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Answers (1)
9/13/09 7:22pm

Since this lump has been there a long time and getting bigger, I think you should go back and ask for more testing.  It could be a cyst or a fibroadenoma.  In fact, those are more likely than a cancerous lump.  But you need to know for sure.  Your doctor may take the lump more seriously now that it is still there after breast feeding, and your current doctor should have notes about the size and position from the original exam, so I'd suggest starting with the ob-gyn you have been seeing.  If you are not satisfied with the steps taken to properly diagnose this lump, then ask for a referral to a breast specialist (usually a surgeon).

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