Mammogram findings

Dercum's Disease
#1

I just got back the results of my mammogram. I found them interesting.

They stated that I had benign-appearing intramammary lymph nodes with
no mammogram or ultrasound evidence of malignancy in either breast.

Findings…Craniocaudal and mediolaeral oblique views of both breast
show near complete fatty replacement with benign-appearing, well
circumscribed nodules deep in the medial aspects of both breasts.
there is no suspicious cluster of microcalcification, area of
architectural distortion, or skin thinkening in either breast.
Bilateral breast ultrasound shows normal fibroglandular tissue and fat
throughout both breasts. The small nodules appear to be intramammary
lymph nodes which are difficult to assess due to their blending in
with surrounding fat.

I find the findings very interesting. What do you think. Some of this
I tried to look up and couldn’t find what it meant.

Love to all!
Christine

#2

Yeah Christine! I thought they would be benign as mine have been full of lumps for so many years. I have never asked for a copy of the report. I am due now so I will ask this time and let you know what it says. I am so happy for you. Now, you can relax and get back to your work helping DD sufferers with the web site. : ) I know yours are painful as mine are very painful. When I first got pregnant my breasts hurt so much I would sit up in bed and have to lay back down from the pain. The second time I was expecting I knew it from my breasts hurting even though I was on the pill. I know you still have to put up with the pain and tenderness but so glad it was not worse. Gentle Hugs, Grandma Sylvia

#3

Hi Christine
If you are having DD lumps in your breasts they show up as normal or fatty tissue on a mammogram because that’s what they are, fat.Of course they are abnormal fat and belive me I know what you are going through. I have several raisen and grape sized lipomas in my breasts which give me those sharp stabs from time to time and the normal reaction is to rub the area that hurts. That’s how you find the lipomas there. My doctor tried to do a needle biobsy but couldn’t withdraw anything since it was just fat. My advice is to leave them because if you start having things removed you will have scars which would make it hard to find cancers later. The only lipomas I have had removed so far are the ones on the back of each knee that were used for diagnosing my DD.
Right now I have a positive attitude and plan to wear a bathing suit in the summer and view the multitude of lipomas on my body as my “badge of courage”. Of course my mood changes frequently and I think about getting liposuction at times but my husband gets very reassuring and says that if I feel like I can wait I probably should wait because there will come a time when surgery will be unavoidable and the less cutting on my body, the better.
Warm baths and gentle message seems to help all areas of painful lipomas, including the breasts. Good luck.

#4

What are you guys talking about…I wear a swimsuit every summer. I even started to go online to avenue.com to buy “pretty” ones. I like the ones that are built like a tight tank dress. I bought a black and white one last summer and laid on the deck. I yelled to everyone in the water that I looked like a killer whale. I decided that I would NEVER buy a black and white one again. I like navy with a white diagonal halter top only empire though. Those seem to work best for us big gals. I dont have to worry about anyone seeing my lumpy thighs since the skirt is so long. Shave your legs and get some sun. LOL A little sun will do you good.

#5

Wow, good for you Imoon. I wish I had your confidence.

Hugs and spoons,
Pamela

#6

Thanks, for the advice lmoon. My husband forced me to get the mammogram since we are all new to the lumps. Mine are quite large in my breasts. Most are larger than a nickle and as big as a couple of inches round. I told my husband that is why my boobs are so big. He didn’t want to believe me, now I have proof. I appreciate all the concern and support that everyone gave me during that time.
Love to all,
Christine

#7

IMoon …good advice. You do seem to handle DD very well and your advice is always usefull. Mine are mostly marble size. My doctor says they are different from my other lumps…fibrocystic breasts…but I am her only patient that she knows of with DD…so I would say she really doesn’t know. Since my hysterectomy they don’t get as painful or swollen. I am glad your husband is so supportive. Chrilstine…maybe the hormone that gives us big breast has something to do with DD? As far as bathing suits…we have a community pool off our deck so I get a lot of company in the summer. I can’t sit out there without wearing a suit as I have to get in the water or be too hot…and I have always gone to PT in the pool only. So, I have to wear bathing suits in front of people. One little trick I have learned…my belly is so big but my legs aren’t. I get the suit big enough for my belly…a dress type one piece…then I wear swim shorts underneath the skirt of the suit but on top of the attached bottom. This covers up where I need it as my fat hangs down. I just discovered this this year so I am not as self conscious that my elephant fat will show. While I’m in the water I can tuck the skirt part into the seperate swim shorts so it doesn’t float up and untuck it when I am getting out of the water. : ) Hugs, Grandma Sylvia

#8

Hi Christine,

I guess those of us who also have lipedema are more self conscious about our legs. Mine look like they have half a basketball hanging off either side of the thighs, and huge swellings inside and under the knees. Not to mention they are so disproportionately large. I haven’t even worn shorts since childhood.

Hugs and spoons,
Pamela

#9

I found lumps in my breast a couple of years before I was diagnosised with DD, the tech who ultra sounded me after the mammagram, said they were “just lipomas” and then he scanned one of the large ones on my arm and it look exactly like the ones in my breast. I never saw the report. If I can remember I will request a copy of the report and see what terminology was used. I know now it is DD but at the time I had no clue. I have several in my breast. My boobs aren’t large so I am very aware of the lumps.
I always wanted to rearrange my fat so I could have bigger boobs and smaller belly. If I did that now I wouldn’t be able to stand up straight!! hahahah.

Love and Hugz,
Brennie

#10

I’ve had lumpy boobs all my life but like you Brennie I now know it is DD related. When I was just a teenager a doctor told me that it was hard to check me for breast cancer because my tissue is lumpy (he didn’t use the word lumpy, haha, I can’t remember the term he used – some kind of thick tissue term)

I wish I could move some of my tummy fat up to my breast area also… when my husband comes home from work I always hug and kiss him – lately we fool around and play Sumu wrestlers. Our tummies hit first when we go to hug each other!

#11

Pammie,
I know what you mean. That is why I like the long dress ones. Anyways…with all the problems that I have had, I am tired of caring what other people say. What little quality of life that I do have, I want to enjoy. That I guess is why I have that mentality. People unfortunately stare, in my case, with or without more clothes on. If I have them on, I sweat so bad people wonder why I am wearing them and visa versa. I just decided, to heck with what other people say. I am NEVER going to be small again ( I am 310lbs. now) oh well.

#12

I just ordered a swim dress that is loose all the way down. I also ordered a pair of bike shorts to wear under it. I am going to San Diego to see Dr H at Christmas break, as you know, and I hope to get a chance to swim while I’m out there. Another member is going too, and we plan to have some fun too.

Hugs and spoons,
Pamela

#13

Good for you Pam…I still waddle in the water when it is warm enough. I use the swim shorts instead of the bike shorts as they aren’t as tight but the bike shorts will work. I don’t know why I never thought of that until this last summer. I was always having to alter the leg holes a lot. Now I can just wear the shorts over the swim skirt part of my one-piece and not have to worry about my fat hanging out the leg hole! The two piece look just terrible on me! A word about boobs. Something happened to mine this last year or two and the air was let out of them. Who needs a breast reduction…just wait and nature will do it for you. Now I pretty much only have skin and lipomas hanging there. : ) But the fat isn’t missing it just migrated to my big belly! Belly Hugs, Grandma Sylvia

#14

Too funny, Sylvia! My breats are still too big for comfort, but I’ll just take your advice and wait, lol. The suit I ordered is a two piece swim dress, but I figure the bike shorts will take care of any overflow…

Hugs,
Pamela

#15

You all are crackin me up! I can so relate!

#16

Kathieh…It is better to laugh than to cry. I hate those mirrors they have in dressing rooms…so I don’t go in there anymore and I keep the lighting low in my bedroom when I try stuff on! Pam, if the bike shorts don’t work…don’t despair…just order a one-piece and swim shorts and put the swim shorts on over the one-piece. I tell you it’s brilliant…as my European friends would say. : ) Hugs, Grandma Sylvia

#17

We all have such a good sense of humor!! You are so right GSylvia, better to laugh than to cry!!

Hugs,
Brennie