Estradiol cream and focal asymmetry
I just had my annual screening mammogram and need to go back for more imaging. Focal asymmetry BiRads 0. The best I can tell, the radiologist saw a new area of density in the left breast compared to three previous films.
A few months ago, I changed from Premarin vaginal cream to Estradiol cream. The dose on the estradiol is twice what the Premarin dose was. Premarin was 0.5 gm twice a week and estradiol is 1 gram twice a week. I'm wondering if the change could have anything to do with this new area of density. I realize it could also be just the way my breast was squashed in the machine—I've had that happen before. Or, it could be a malignancy… I'm terrified and grasping at straws here.
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Hi @jan293, I’m sorry you are worried about your recall mammogram. Topical vaginal cream is not considered a risk factor for breast cancer since most of the estrogen stays in the vaginal tissue. Breast cancer grows slowly so even if it were a factor a couple of months would not make a difference. There are many reasons for a BIRADS 0 mammogram including how the breast is positioned. Hopefully the repeat mammogram will show nothing out of the ordinary.
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Hi, from drugs.com which advises users to discuss the risks with your doctor if you have concerns. It's said to contain estradiol & estrone etc. If you use in moderation you probably need not worry.
"You should not use Premarin if you have: undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease, a bleeding disorder, if you will have major surgery, or if you have ever had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina."
"Use of Premarin may increase your risk of cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovaries. Talk with your doctor about this risk."
https://www.drugs.com/pro/premarin-cream.html
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Thank you both. I'm hoping it will turn out to be nothing. But I'm still frightened.
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Well, I had the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The lesion didn't "iron out" on the follow up mammogrm but was not visible on the ultrasound. They scheduled me for another mammogram in 6 months. So, I'm wondering how the asymmetry could be there on mammography but not on ultrasound. I'm still frightened.
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Different imaging methods “see” or pick up different things. That is why different methods can be used to investigate concerns. It is very possible for one type of imaging to pick up something that another does not.
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It's good that you have a repeat mammogram in 6 months. Keeping a close eye on the area will ensure that anything that might be brewing is caught right away.
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How bd is the treatment if something is caught early? I am thinking if they do find something there, it will be early stage since it's not even visible on ultrasound as yet.
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Although bc caught early is a good thing, it’s not “how bad” treatment is, but the uncertainty of cancer cells traveling around (not only through the lymphatic system but the blood stream). So while as a generalization, you are somewhat correct, ease of treatment is not the focus as bc has a sizeable recurrence risk (yes, the pink patrol does try to bury that a bit) . The focus is on preventing recurrence.
I was stage IV de novo with not a symptom in the world and no missed mammos. This is not to scare you but to help you understand how much more complicated bc is than what most understand. Again, regarding early stage bc as something easy to deal with (and it will be for some) is tricky because bc is tricky. It is always your body and your choice but even early stage bc comes with risks that I wouldn’t recommend trivializing or characterizing as easy.0
