Called back after mammogram

Hi all! I’ve been a member here and active on some other boards for quite some time now...first time here though. Last week I had my first 40 year old mammogram, my 2nd one ever though. The first was over 6 years ago and I was told it looked good. This time I got a call the next day saying I needed to schedule more testing on my left breast, and am now scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound next week. I know it’s pointless to fret at this point...but I can’t help doing so at least a little bit. I have a medical history that involves issues often ending up worse than expected. The report from the mammogram said I have extremely dense breast tissue with asymmetry in the left breast. This worries me even more because of the risk that the test will be misread and that tumors could go unnoticed. Anyone here have similar circumstances? Is it crazy to want to ask I doctor for genetic tests and/or ultrasound instead of mammogram each year to get better test results?? Thanks for listening...

Hi there. You can always ask about genetic testing. Genetic testing probably won’t be warranted if you have no family history of breast cancer. It is $300 or more dollars and often insurance doesn’t cover it. The diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound should be enough. Dense breast tissue just means that a regular mammogram isn’t getting a clear picture. It doesn’t mean that a mass was seen or that cancer is suspected. The diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound should get a clear image. If you are concerned about something being missed, you could ask for an MRI. Again, your insurance my not pay for this unless your doctor says it is warranted. Be very diligent with self breast exams. If you aren’t sure how to do this thoroughly, ask a doctor to show you. Many masses are first detected by us! We must be our own advocates.