Is second opinion on mammogram findings needed?

I am 37 and went for my first mamm as I have an indentation on my left breast with puckering below the indentation and a bulging vein. The mamm showed a "very conspicuous nodule 8mm diam. w/spiculated margins" on my left breast. The follow-up mamm showed "only questionable evidence of persistant nodularity." During the ultrasound the radiologist would find it, only to lose it again, so he reported the ultrasound as being normal. He then told me "it's too soon tell - come back in 6 months." No one ever looked at the exterior "symptoms" and both visits seemed rushed with little explanation. Is a second opinion needed, or is it fine to wait 6 months?

Go for another opinion, you have that right and I would not be satisfied with that answer if a doctor told me that, why wait when your life is on the line.

If it were me, I'd get a second opinion. I'm a guy though. If you are not comfortable waiting 6 months, get a second opinion.

get a 2nd opinion

there is no harm in second opinion. And also finding of mammogram may also depends on menstrual cycle. If you can feel the nodule and its persistent, go for recheck. But repeated radiation is concern. Consider FNAC if its persistant.

The experience seems to have left you questioning the resuts. It is my opinion that you should seek a second opinion. When contacting the second physician, I would explain that you are seeking a second opinion, without telling them the results of the first examination.

If the two opinions are in conflict, I would then go to a third physician. This time bringing records of the first two examinations. The reason for not telling doctor #2 the results is to seek a clearly independent examination and opinion. I would tell doctor #3 of both results as to be able to ascertain possible errors in opinons #1 or #2.

Consider a teaching hospital for opinion #2 or #3.

it seems reasonable to me to consult a surgeon or gynecologist
he could decide about further procedure using his own physical examination and existing findings

There can be several reasons for nodules on the breast that are non malignant, but taking your age into consideration and not knowing your obstertric or gyneacological history I have to say that you need to have a high index of suspicion in regard to any breast abnormalities. Fat necrosis in the breast with blunt trauma can be mistaken for breast carcinoma so can fibrotic change due to hormonal factors, I would therefore suggest that you definitely go for a second opinion to rule out any chance of mistaking the benign for the malignant.

I wouldn't wait. Get a second opinion. Is the "puckering'-odd non-scientific wording there-that phrase was on the report??!! Is the "puckering " visible without a mammogram? At any case, you deserve a complete and unhurried explanation of the report. I just re-read your question and I have the final advice. If, in fact, this puckering is evident to you on your breast-please do not wait! This can be a sign that cancer is present ! I know this from experience when I was diagnosed with breast cancer-don't mean to scare you but you need another opinion right away!!!

When ultrasound is used, in conjunction with mammogram, and the ultrasound tests were inconclusive (couldn't find it again), you might ask about having an MRI of the breast in question. Sometimes breast tissue in younger women (denser) makes the mammogram harder to read. I had a lump that was felt by my Gyn and myself several years ago (1987), had a mammo and ultrasound which both showed nothing. It went away (possible cyst or time of month). However in 94 a lump appeared in the same spot, 4 months after my regular mammogram and it was malignant! The regular earlier mammogram showed nothing, nor was anything felt on self exam.

Better to be safe than sorry. There may be a problem, however that your insurance won't cover additional testing.

Please take a second opinion.


Dr. Mandar Arekar (M.D.- Internal Medicine)

Please always have a second opinion. Not only on the mammo, but also on the treatment plan. Go to a specialized hospital. Do not stay in your regional, local hospital.
Since you are still young, your breast tissue is dense, just like cancer tissue. Always get a biopt done to be sure. Don't be vain or slack, but act upon your worry and take care of yourself. The sooner you get to it, the greater your chance of recovery will be. Take good care of yourself! Will be crossing my fingers for you!

do NOT wait 6 months, don't wait one day! call and get an appointment as soon as possible, and remember that we are the only ones who can fight for our lives and refuse to take a "wait and see" attitude, especially when it could be cancer...with cancer it is early detection that saves lives

My mother had the same thing she found an indentation on her breast I took her to the doc he did an biopsy on her. Week later it was found to be breast cancer. She didn't wait. I wouldn't allow to her.

Don't wait till it's too late. Get an biopsy done. Do not wait for 6 months.Go see your doctor ask him to send u to an specialist. Take care of it now

I believe you should always get a second opinion when there is a serious decision to be made. It will help you feel better if more than one doctor say the same thing. I wish you luck and God's blessings.

My wife waited for another 6 mos only then the doc or the test was confirmed, has grown a little so she had it removed and it was benign.
Every 6 mos. my wife goes back for his mammo.
Though at that time I was skeptical and wanted a second opinion, yet I thought this docs specialized in that field and so they must have the authority to read the test results rightly most of the times.

I would get a second opinion, it won't;t hurt!! Don't let the doctor's rush you out of your appt. be in charge of your office vist always!

Does your gut feeling tell you to get a second opinion? I always believe in listening to your own good sense. You should not make up your mind that it is something bad, the negative feelings affect your health as well, so think positive and get another opinion if that is what your body is telling you to do. God bless.

My mom had breast cancer. She had a lump removed. I would definantly get a second opinion. The sooner you get control of it the better. Don't stop unless you are satisified. It is never to soon, the earlier you catch it the better off you will be for a treatment. Find a doctor who can take the time for a good exam and who is willing to take the time to explain all your questions. Doctors aren't always rite. The doctor told my mom if she had of waited any longer, her treatment would have had to be more exstent and a long process of kemo. If it is cancer, depending on the kind your bump could grow larger in six months. A few years ago, there was an article on a women who had breast cancer, her doc told her she was fine, she persisted, got opinion, after opinion, until she found a doctor who took her ceriously and did futher exams. She had breast cancer. Find a doc who takes you cerious and does an exam inside and out. Good luck. With the right treatment it is totally cureable...

yes, get a second opinion just to be sure

well im suprised you even sat still long enough to ask this question i would have been all up in some other doctors office in the blink of an eye. i lost a friend to breast cancer who was told lets see what it looks like in another 6 mons. GO WOMAN GO...be seen immediately.

get a second opinion 6 month could be life or death

I think something that is so serious should always be evaluated at least twice. Maybe not for the doubt that it is there but maybe for treatment issues and new technologies that other practitioners use.

SECOND OPINION...DONT DISCLOSE THE PROBLEM....OPINIONS ARE AS VARIED AS THE LAST NAME OF THE MED PERSONNEL....THEN DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

Sounds to me that it would be to your advantage to find someone in your area who has a personal recommendation of a doctor who has a lot of personality and can take time explaining there thoughts on your situation. There may not be anything to be concerned about and your doctor needs slow down and put your mind at ease. It is not worth the strain on your body and mind to stress over your unanswered questions.

A second opinion is definitely needed. The ultra sound tech should never have listed it that way....better safe than sorry...I lost an aunt to breast cancer....checked way too late....

Yes I have seen reports on mammography that was examined by one individual who found nothing and then another individual spotted a cancer. For all the pain and procedures involved sometimes mammography misses cancers entirely. There need to be other measures done daily by the individual themselves in order to find anything unusual that could be a cancer. Self examination is a secondary procedure that everyone should become familiar with and that the medical field should start to give more education to everyone.

what does your doctor say? if you feel rushed or like your not
getting the answers yo need you should defiantly get a second opinion .after all this is you health were talking about. better to be safe than sorry. don't wait to long. the sooner things are detected the sooner they can be taken care of.

4 your own piece of mind have another 1 taken a couple yrs ago i had one the dr called metold me 2 see an surgeon instead i went back had another one done it was just scar damage if u r like me i was worried so bad so try not 2 worry its probably nothing good luck

I've had a lot of history with lumps and nodules in my breasts ... I don't think you need another mammogram. I think you need another sonogram. And find someone to do it who can find the nodule and get a good picture of it.

When you're having your sonogram, here are some things to look for that tell you that the lump is just a lump and nothing more. If the lump appears on the screen as a smooth black circle ... that's good. If it shows a white streak or "comet's tail" behind it on the screen ... that's good too. That's how a cyst appears on a sonogram. If it appears cloudy in the middle with no comet's tail behind it, it probably needs further investigation, possibly a biopsy.

As for waiting 6 months ... you should consider whether breast cancer has been an issue in your family or if you have any high-risk factors in your own lifestyle. Don't run screaming into the streets, getting all emotional and panicking over the possibilities. Ask questions, do your research ... and relax.

Also, don't let your doctor rush you ... ever. It's his or her job to put your mind at ease as well as heal your body. Take the time you need to get that done.

Good luck!