Hi! I am new to this site and I have a question for whoever can respond to it. I had a benign tumour removed this year and a 1 mm along the margin they found DCIS after sending it away to be analyzed. On the mamogram that I took in February none of this showed up except for the tumour that was removed. My surgeon had me undergo another mamogram just a couple of weeks ago on a new machine at the hospital (different than the first one that I had done in Feb.) hoping that something would show up this time especially knowing that the biopsy showed DCIS. Again nothing showed in the x-rays. I am puzzled as to why some cancers would show and others do not. Can someone try to explain this to me? I am scared for my left breast as I am about to have a mastectomy on my right one. Thanks for any response.

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What I understood that dense breast is the cause of not showing up cancer happend to me I had 5 years in a row a mammogram and nothing showed up. Till the nurse notites a thickening in my right breast at 12 oclock. believe me I was in chock. even my JP didnt find it I hope this helps

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> What I understood that dense breast is the cause of not showing up cancer happend to me I had 5 years in a row a mammogram and nothing showed up. Till the nurse notites a thickening in my right breast at 12 oclock. believe me I was in chock. even my JP didnt find it I hope this helps

So sorry to hear about your situation. Just wondering though, my breast are only a size 34 B... does it make a difference on your size when it comes to having dense breast tissue when it comes to taking a mamogram? I thought because I was so small that I didn't have dense breast, am I wrong? Just wondering if size had anything to do with it or not? Thank you for your response.

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I don't think size has much to do with density. It is your tissue itself and as we age it usually gets less dense. Keep asking and followup on your concerns.

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It also depends on the location of the cancer itself. I had one of 4 tumours that didn't show up on mammogram and the other 3 were seen, but noted to be of no concern...all turned out to be malignant. It would be good to hear a medical reason why this happens.

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The following is a response from Dr. Robert Buckman, medical oncologist, Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr. Buckman writes: We don't why it happens, but a small proportion (probably less than one in ten) of breast cancers simply don't show up on the mammogram x-ray. We know what it's not simply because the breast tissue is dense in the younger woman, it just happens that a few cancers are just 'invisible' as it were on mammography. That's why the breasts should be checked at the regular examination by your family doctor. At the moment, unfortunately, the mammogram is not a perfect test - perhaps one day, it will be.

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THat's interesting to know, but also a scary thought. How would we be able to detect cancer in my left breast through regular screening I'm wondering, especially since it didn't show up in my right breast. Would I have to undergo lumpectomies in my left breast as well to find any cancer that might be lingering in there, or is there other test I could possibly have that would be more accurate to spot any cancer that's not showing up on a regular mamogram? This makes me feel very uneasy and worried to say the least especially knowing that the only way it was detected in my right one was through a lumpectomy to remove a tumor that was benign. How can I and the doctors keep a close watch one the other one if this is the case? -Lori-

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I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer - never showed up on mammograms either. Ultra sound showed l tumour in each breast and MRI picked up one more in each breast. Two different kinds of cancer - invasive lobular in the right and tubular in the left. Scared silly - will find out this tuesday what the operation will entail. Eleanor

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> I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer - never showed up on mammograms either. Ultra sound showed l tumour in each breast and MRI picked up one more in each breast. Two different kinds of cancer - invasive lobular in the right and tubular in the left. Scared silly - will find out this tuesday what the operation will entail. Eleanor

Hi Eleanor... so sorry to hear about your situation. It is scarry isn't it to found this out. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let me know how things go for you on tuesday. You said that it didn't show up on a mamogram, but it sounds like it showed up on other tests, or did they find it while doing a lumptectomy the way they found mine? (just curious about knowing)

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hi jessiejo -- well I saw my surgeon today and the tumour in the left breast is 3 times larger than the ultra sound showed - MRI showed it to be larger with another l.4 cm one. Also another in the right breast. Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday the 24th for a double mastectomy. sentinel lymph node dissection on the right side and axillary node dissection on the left. needless to say I am scared. Both my sons will be here with my husband for support and I have good and loving friends to help me through but I could always use a new friend. Thanks for being kind enough to answer my note and I will keep you in my thoughts as well. Hopefully they will get everything and I will be pruning my roses next summer! I have to have some chemo as well but just how much will be determined after the operation. Keep in touch and I will write again when I am able. Eleanor

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