NetWellness Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

NetWellness Staff . — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:02:00 EST

Question: Thoracic metastic disease including mediastinal nodes, pleura, bilateral pulmonary nodules and osseous structures.

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only the health professional who ordered the tests should interpret the results. Best wishes.

Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer DCIS

Paula Silverman MD — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:02:00 EST

Question: I was diagnosed with 2 DCIS lumps in my right breast in October 2009. Since then, I have noticed an even larger mass, about the size of a flat golfball deeper in the breast tissue. It can`t be seen with the ultrasound and it is hard when you squeeze the breast, but like the DCIS it can`t be seen and . . .

Answer: I wonder if this is an area of post-operative or radiation change in the breast (assuming you had radiation). In any event, a lump in the breast should be thoroughly checked out and explained by your breast surgeon, even if it can not be appreciated by ultrasound. Perhaps your breast has just change . . .

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Breast Cancer

Calcium Deposits in Breast

Paula Silverman MD — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:02:00 EST

Question:

I am 49 years old and have had calcium deposit in my left breast since I was 35 years old. In 2009, I had a cyst drained and the fluid was tested and found to be benign. I have a mammogram and/or an ultra sound done every six months. My question is - do I need to have a biopsy when there is no ch . . .

Answer: This is confusing. Why do you think you need a biopsy? Sometimes the mammogram, ultrasound or exams are concerning and a biopsy is needed.

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Breast Cancer

Lymphedema & compression

Doreen Agnese MD — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST

Question: 1.5 yrs ago, with my partial mastectomy, I had several lymph nodes removed. Since April,my cervical problems have caused my ulnar nerve to be compressed, pain and pins & needles down my arm. My concern: could this compression of the nerve cause lymphodema, since the lymph system also flows nearb . . .

Answer: The nerve compression should not affect the risk for lymphedema.

Ask an Expert: Doreen Agnese MD, Breast Cancer

Chances of breast cancer

Doreen Agnese MD — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST

Question: I am 42 and just had a mammogram. It was ruled inclonclusive now that we want me to have an ultrsound. What are the chances I have breast cancer?

Answer:

There is probably a low likelihood, but it depends on exactly what was noted and follow-up is very important.

Ask an Expert: Doreen Agnese MD, Breast Cancer

Pain Around the Nipples

NetWellness Staff . — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:01:00 EST

Question: I`m 28 year old. I`m having pain around my nipples after mensuration and my breast has become tender of late. I have thick hair around my nipples and I see an increase in the hair count. I`m unable to sleep properly because of this pain. When I take off my bra I feel a little better. . . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only a health professional performing a thorough clinical exam is able to evaluate your symptoms. However, NetWellness may have some general information available that you can access t . . .

Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Breast Cancer

Atypical cells on MRI

Donna Plecha MD — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST

Question: How does the MRI interpret the presence of atypical cells in the breast? does it show them as cancer cells? or show them as suspicious cells? can it distinguish between atypical changes and already developed cancer cells? Thank you so much

Answer: MRI is a very sensitive exam. It picks up many abnormalities. However it is not always very specific. MRI cannot always distinguish between atypical cells and small areas of cancer. MRI is best at picking up invasive breast cancer yet may miss some cases of early stage low grade breast cancer (Ducta . . .

Ask an Expert: Donna Plecha MD, Breast Cancer

Exercise and spread of invasive ductal cancer

Paula Silverman MD — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:01:00 EST

Question: I had a lumpectomy and 13 lymph nodes removed 3 weeks ago due to invasive ductal carcinoma in right breast. I don`t start radiation for another 3-4 weeks. I was told that radiation will catch "loose" cancer cells that may have remained in my breast after surgery. Now, since surgery I am af . . .

Answer: Exercise will not spread cancer cells and is actually good for you! The confusion stems from how this was described, as "loose" cells. The cells are not actually "loose" but are sometimes in the tissue in the area of the original cancer and the radiation can help prevent recurrences in the breast th . . .

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Breast Cancer

Usage of breast enhancement oils

Doreen Agnese MD — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:00 EST

Question: I have small breasts. I use breast enhancement oil available in the market to increase the size of my breast. Is it safe to use those kind of oils? Anyhow,can it lead to breast cancer by any chance? Shuld I stop using those oils? please suggest

Answer: There is no data to support the efficacy of these oils, but it's doubtful that they cause breast cancer.

Ask an Expert: Doreen Agnese MD, Breast Cancer

Pleomorphic Microcalcifications and BIRADS

Donna Plecha MD — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:11:00 EST

Question: I am 38 years old. I had a routine mammogram, which showed microcalcifications, so it was requested that I get a diagnostic mammogram. My BIRADs is 4B. I was told that I have pleomorphic microcalcifications and that there are 7 to 8 of them. I have sen the maximum amount is 4 or 5. What does it mean . . .

Answer: 4B is a subcategory of category 4. This means that the area to be biopsied is in the grey zone of being not totally suspicious but not benign enough to follow. The pleomorphic comment means that the calcifications do not all look alike and this can raise suspicion. If there are more than five calcif . . .

Ask an Expert: Donna Plecha MD, Breast Cancer