Breast tissue turning to fat?

aprilsquier
aprilsquier Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My doctor sent me to a general surgeon. (my insurance company says that there is no such thing as a "breast surgeon"). My last mamo was in March. Since then I have an indentation that looks like a thumb print on my breast. The doctor told me to come back in a year. He won't do another mamo even though this occurred after that last one. He won't do an ultra sound. He says that it is the result of my breast tissue changing and turning into fat that is causing the dimple. He offered to send me to a plastic surgeon. He is aware that my great grandmother, and grandmother died of breast cancer and that one of my aunts currently has breast cancer. I've been all over the web, and I can't find anything about breast tissue changing to fat to cause a dimple. My insurance company sucks, and it will be a huge ordeal to get another opinion. If It isn't neccessary I would like to avoid all the drama. I'm wondering if I should wait a couple of months and see if it changes? Has anyone heard of or know of anyone who has heard of this?

Thanks,
April

Comments

  • pansylover
    pansylover Member Posts: 80
    #2
    who is your INS? boy are they in the dark ages! sorry they are that way. do you have a free clinic you can go to and have it checked? I had a dimpled boob...go for the hassle..it's worth your life! esp sinceyour family has history of BC...plz plzplz get another opinion!
    Cindie
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    I agree with Cindie....second opinion time, and just threaten your insurance with the insurance board...it's within your rights to a second opinion...
    Breast cancer is more treatable the earlier it is caught...congrats to you for being so vigilant about your exams!
    I have the number of an insurance attorney, if you need it...she works alot with the ACS...
    Hugs, kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #4
    Please do what it takes, but get another opinion. I know this is extremely sexist, but try to see a woman. I have found they are much more in tune with normal and abnormal changes in the breast. Your surgeon's comments don't even make sense. From my radiation oncologist: EVERY MASS NEEDS A DIAGNOSIS.

    Big hugs.

    Lesley
  • chessie
    chessie Member Posts: 40
    #5
    I've never heard of breast tissue 'turning to fat'. Yes, there is fat in our breasts, but it doesn't cause dimpling. 2 1/2 years ago, I noticed my nipple seemed to look a little inverted. I was diagnosed a couple of weeks later with breast ca. The tumor was so large it was pulling down on the skin. (and yet, it never showed up on the mammogram...they said I had dense breast tissue that looked the same all over.)Call your insurance company. Tell them of your concerns. Insist that you need to be seen right away. Don't go to a general surgeon - see a surgical oncologist. Also, I would insist on an ultrasound, if you haven't had one yet. I've learned that if something doesn't feel or look right, it probably isn't. I hope you are able to get a quick resolution to this problem and that your second opinion comes up clear. Let me know how you make out. Best wishes.
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #6
    LesleyH said:

    Please do what it takes, but get another opinion. I know this is extremely sexist, but try to see a woman. I have found they are much more in tune with normal and abnormal changes in the breast. Your surgeon's comments don't even make sense. From my radiation oncologist: EVERY MASS NEEDS A DIAGNOSIS.

    Big hugs.

    Lesley

    My prayers are with you Aprilsquier. Always be vigilant about your health. I applaud you for not sitting back with this issue. Like Lesley, I have encountered many great female doctors. Each were considerate, aggressive with my treatment, and concerned with my overall well being. However, my advice is to seek out the best physician or surgeon for this specific issue, regardless of the gender. God bless you.
    -Michael (leukemia survivor)
  • TereB
    TereB Member Posts: 286 Member
    #7
    Hi April, You are in my prayers. I am new at this but I had a mammogram and an ultrasound last Tuesday. I saw a lady breast surgeon who was very nice, the same day. The ultrasound showed a lump and I will be having a biopsy on Friday.
    Everybody who has responded here is right: get a second opinion, do not put it off. Dimpling is something you do not ignore. I am lucky because my oncologist (different cancer) does not ignore anything I tell him but I have found that many general docs dismiss many things. Mammograms do not always show everything. In my opinion a year is too long to wait to see the doctor again. I do not understand why he offered to send you to a plastic surgeon. And with a family history of breast cancer no symptom should be ignored. Please do not wait.
    Hugs and prayers,
    Tere
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    TereB said:

    Hi April, You are in my prayers. I am new at this but I had a mammogram and an ultrasound last Tuesday. I saw a lady breast surgeon who was very nice, the same day. The ultrasound showed a lump and I will be having a biopsy on Friday.
    Everybody who has responded here is right: get a second opinion, do not put it off. Dimpling is something you do not ignore. I am lucky because my oncologist (different cancer) does not ignore anything I tell him but I have found that many general docs dismiss many things. Mammograms do not always show everything. In my opinion a year is too long to wait to see the doctor again. I do not understand why he offered to send you to a plastic surgeon. And with a family history of breast cancer no symptom should be ignored. Please do not wait.
    Hugs and prayers,
    Tere

    Welcome, Tere!
    And VERY sound advice....
    MY breast cancer was found in an 11-year-old lump. It had been mammo'd each year, but never changed....Invasive Stage II cancer found by a PET scan for my rectal cancer...
    Hugs, kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #9
    You know what I was thinking, April? If it is easier for you to get a referral to a plastic surgeon, why don't you just follow up with that? A plastic surgeon will probably have plenty of experience with breast tissue changes and may be helpful.

    Good luck.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • katcam
    katcam Member Posts: 83
    #10
    absolutely, positively get a second opinion, whatever you have to do. Kathi hit right on the head - bc is so treatable if you catch it early. i was very lucky to have doctors that have not ignored any symtoms that i have or have had in the past. please let us know how you are doing.

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