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Weird questions asked at Mammogram

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Posted 7/7/2014 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I had a mammogram on June 24th and it showed abnormalities. The Dr who looked at my mammogram results asked me if I had a port under my left arm or if I had swallowed a nickel or ever had any gold treatments. He could've sworn I had a port. The answer to all of these questions were no. I'm scheduled to go in July 22 to have surgery to remove the mass and have it biopsied. I am just wondering if anyone else has ever had weird questions like that asked at their mammograms? They did do an ultrasound and it looked like a long thin black line under my arm. On a side note, I had totally forgotten that I had a norplant in 1992 and when the Dr removed it in 1997, he couldn't find one of the rods so he left it in there and said it wouldn't hurt anything. That was in my upper left arm. I'm now wondering if there's a possible chance that maybe that rod has migrated to under my arm and that might be what they are seeing on my mammogram? I did call them today and let them know about it but have not heard back from them yet. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.
Posted 7/7/2014 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
That likely is what happened. The implants are just beneath the skin, so no structures to really keep them from migrating to other parts of the body. Even so, it's better to have it out, then you know for sure what it is.
Posted 7/8/2014 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
Not much I can help in this regard, but I'm glad that you're getting this taken care of now rather than later.

I'd be asking the doctor specifically "what makes you think I have had those" done and ask for specifics. I'm guessing that given the diagnostics, the only thing left to do is to actually remove them and see what they are.

Did they do an ultrasound of the regions?

I've never had an implant of that variety so I'm genuinely unfamiliar if they can migrate or not. But since other devices can find their way to migrate, I suppose it's possible. It might be improbable, but possible. At least you're getting it checked out now.

Artificial things migrate in our bodies all the time as they're foreign material and our bodies aren't keen on having foreign objects in our body. Some bodies accept them more readily than others.

It could be something totally unrelated. Did they ultrasound the original area of that implant to see if it was still in its original place or if they could identify that it had moved?








M.
Posted 7/8/2014 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the replies. I have been worried to the point of making myself sick over this. I'm scheduled to have surgery on July 22nd. The Dr is going to remove and biopsy whatever it is. The Dr who asked all the questions ordered an ultrasound and by what I could see on the ultrasound, it looked like a long thin black line near my left armpit. I talked to the nurse yesterday and she said it very well could be the norplant rod in there, but am still gonna have the surgery and have whatever it is removed and biopsied. I just wanted to make the surgery Dr aware that he may find a little plastic or metal rod in there. I didn't ask the mammogram Dr why he asked those questions. This is only my 2nd mammogram ever and I had totally forgotten about my norplant until a week after my mammogram. They have not done any other ultrasounds of any other areas. I will let you know what I find out.
Posted 7/8/2014 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Again, please forgive my ignorance on the subject, but when you had the Norplant implanted, where on your body is it inserted?





M.
Posted 7/8/2014 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
It's ok. The norplant is a form of birth control which isn't even offered in the United States anymore because of it being hard to remove plus a few other issues. I had the norplant put in my upper left arm in 1992 and taken out in 1997. The Dr couldn't find the 6th rod so left it in my arm. I should have had him look for it and get it out but I was young and didn't think about what might happen when left in. The area in question on my mammogram is under my left arm near my armpit. I'm hoping that's all it is and nothing more serious.
Posted 7/8/2014 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Well it sounds like a feasible possibility.

Foreign bodies in our system can certainly migrate. Come to think of it, so can organic bits, but yeah,...I can see this as being possible.

Please let us know how you make out with this.

I know the folly of youth,...we don't give "tomorrow" or "later" a second thought,....









M.
Posted 7/9/2014 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
I will definitely let you know what I find out but it won't be until after my surgery and biopsy on the 22nd. Thanks for the response. Wasn't sure if something like that could migrate or not, but with the questions asked at the mammogram I'm hoping that maybe he seen a foreign object instead of a mass.
Posted 7/9/2014 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I don't *know* what that mass is, any more than you do. But I'd like to give you something to think about.

In my experience, when I've had something migrate (such as bone chips), scar tissue forms around whatever has migrated and thickens, creating a fibrous protective layer between that which has migrated, and the natural tissue.

It's all part of our body's natural defense mechanisms.

Just saying, that *could* be one possible explanation. Hang tight!










M.
Posted 7/9/2014 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I am hanging in there. Trying to think positive thoughts :) It's the not knowing that drives me crazy, but I'll know here in a couple weeks and go from there. Thank you for your posts. You've helped me feel better while waiting :)
Posted 7/24/2014 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Had my surgery Tuesday and went in for results today. Good news! It's not cancer. It also wasn't my norplant. It ended up being a benign enlarged lymph node. Just wanted to let everyone know. Thanks so much for the replies :)
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