Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 A lump on your sternum? I don't think a mammogram can show you anything about a lump on your sternum. Were they able to get the lump into the mammogram machine? Before doing a CT scan, you can have an ultrasound, an MRI, or a thermogram. All of these use no radiation and can help to determine if the lump has malignant qualities. Or, since you can actually feel the lump, you can ask to have the lump biopsied. Best of luck. ar > > Hi, > > As a long term lurker, I wanted to thank people for their outstanding contributions to the list. I don't have cancer but as someone who deeply distrusts mainstream medicine, I joined the list in case god forbid, I ended up a cancer statistic. I have learned alot of tips for improving my health. > > Anyway, I am concerned about a lump on my sternum. Due to having limited insurance, I saw a nurse practitioner a few months ago, who sent me for a mammogram. Everything was fine. > > Due to concern about it growing slightly, today, she referred me for a CT scan. But I am concerned about the radiation. > > However, is this a case where the benefits outweigh the risks? > > If I go this route, what questions should I ask to make sure the radiation is low as possible? > > Thanks! > > Nan > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Hi AR, That is the exact concern I expressed to the nurse. She claims a mammogram will cover the chest wall area even if the lump specifically isn't put into the machine. It didn't seem logical to me but what the heck do I know? I couldn't get her to write something for anything else. She offered to refer me to a surgeon so maybe that is a better option since I can feel the lump. Nan > > > > Hi, > > > > As a long term lurker, I wanted to thank people for their outstanding contributions to the list. I don't have cancer but as someone who deeply distrusts mainstream medicine, I joined the list in case god forbid, I ended up a cancer statistic. I have learned alot of tips for improving my health. > > > > Anyway, I am concerned about a lump on my sternum. Due to having limited insurance, I saw a nurse practitioner a few months ago, who sent me for a mammogram. Everything was fine. > > > > Due to concern about it growing slightly, today, she referred me for a CT scan. But I am concerned about the radiation. > > > > However, is this a case where the benefits outweigh the risks? > > > > If I go this route, what questions should I ask to make sure the radiation is low as possible? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Nan > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 We know that the ‘problems’ with CT-Scans, X-Rays, and Biopsies are all statistical so obviously not everyone will get the problems associated with them. You do understand that biopsies always have the potential for ‘seeding’ cancer cells. I don’t think anyone can give an accurate figure on the percentage of cases this happens because there are so many factors involved. There are many that believe other measures should be taken before submitting to an invasive procedure that carries this risk. Like everything, this is a personal decision. Depending upon age, a lump at the bottom of the Sternum area can be, as it is with me, simply an age issue and I know many others that develop this problem. I say age because I found it later in life but really do not know when they start forming. Mine feels like a large Strawberry. It must be some kind of calcium deposit. Both my father-in-law and my closest friend have this and both panicked when they finally discovered it. Wouldn’t it be great if all lumps were of this nature? Joe C. From: veb8 Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 2:38 PM Subject: [ ] Re: CT Scan Advice Hi AR, That is the exact concern I expressed to the nurse. She claims a mammogram will cover the chest wall area even if the lump specifically isn't put into the machine. It didn't seem logical to me but what the heck do I know? I couldn't get her to write something for anything else. She offered to refer me to a surgeon so maybe that is a better option since I can feel the lump. Nan > > > > Hi, > > > > As a long term lurker, I wanted to thank people for their outstanding contributions to the list. I don't have cancer but as someone who deeply distrusts mainstream medicine, I joined the list in case god forbid, I ended up a cancer statistic. I have learned alot of tips for improving my health. > > > > Anyway, I am concerned about a lump on my sternum. Due to having limited insurance, I saw a nurse practitioner a few months ago, who sent me for a mammogram. Everything was fine. > > > > Due to concern about it growing slightly, today, she referred me for a CT scan. But I am concerned about the radiation. > > > > However, is this a case where the benefits outweigh the risks? > > > > If I go this route, what questions should I ask to make sure the radiation is low as possible? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Nan > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 I am not at all sure but to the best of my knowledge an ultrasound or thermogram cannot tell if a lump has malignant qualities or not. I am not sure about the MRI On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 1:44 PM, arlynsg <arlynsg@...> wrote: > > > A lump on your sternum? I don't think a mammogram can show you anything > about a lump on your sternum. Were they able to get the lump into the > mammogram machine? > > Before doing a CT scan, you can have an ultrasound, an MRI, or a > thermogram. All of these use no radiation and can help to determine if the > lump has malignant qualities. > > Or, since you can actually feel the lump, you can ask to have the lump > biopsied. > > Best of luck. > > ar > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > As a long term lurker, I wanted to thank people for their outstanding > contributions to the list. I don't have cancer but as someone who deeply > distrusts mainstream medicine, I joined the list in case god forbid, I ended > up a cancer statistic. I have learned alot of tips for improving my health. > > > > Anyway, I am concerned about a lump on my sternum. Due to having limited > insurance, I saw a nurse practitioner a few months ago, who sent me for a > mammogram. Everything was fine. > > > > Due to concern about it growing slightly, today, she referred me for a CT > scan. But I am concerned about the radiation. > > > > However, is this a case where the benefits outweigh the risks? > > > > If I go this route, what questions should I ask to make sure the > radiation is low as possible? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Nan > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Many Alternative Practitioners recommend Thermograms rather than Mammograms but Mammograms are for breast examinations not Sternums.. Joe C. From: nili gitig Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 5:07 PM Subject: Re: [ ] Re: CT Scan Advice I am not at all sure but to the best of my knowledge an ultrasound or thermogram cannot tell if a lump has malignant qualities or not. I am not sure about the MRI On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 1:44 PM, arlynsg <mailto:arlynsg%40123mail.org> wrote: > > > A lump on your sternum? I don't think a mammogram can show you anything > about a lump on your sternum. Were they able to get the lump into the > mammogram machine? > > Before doing a CT scan, you can have an ultrasound, an MRI, or a > thermogram. All of these use no radiation and can help to determine if the > lump has malignant qualities. > > Or, since you can actually feel the lump, you can ask to have the lump > biopsied. > > Best of luck. > > ar > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > As a long term lurker, I wanted to thank people for their outstanding > contributions to the list. I don't have cancer but as someone who deeply > distrusts mainstream medicine, I joined the list in case god forbid, I ended > up a cancer statistic. I have learned alot of tips for improving my health. > > > > Anyway, I am concerned about a lump on my sternum. Due to having limited > insurance, I saw a nurse practitioner a few months ago, who sent me for a > mammogram. Everything was fine. > > > > Due to concern about it growing slightly, today, she referred me for a CT > scan. But I am concerned about the radiation. > > > > However, is this a case where the benefits outweigh the risks? > > > > If I go this route, what questions should I ask to make sure the > radiation is low as possible? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Nan > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 A thermogram would be able to tell you what is going on in that area. If there is reason for concern. e > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > As a long term lurker, I wanted to thank people for their outstanding > > contributions to the list. I don't have cancer but as someone who deeply > > distrusts mainstream medicine, I joined the list in case god forbid, I ended > > up a cancer statistic. I have learned alot of tips for improving my health. > > > > > > Anyway, I am concerned about a lump on my sternum. Due to having limited > > insurance, I saw a nurse practitioner a few months ago, who sent me for a > > mammogram. Everything was fine. > > > > > > Due to concern about it growing slightly, today, she referred me for a CT > > scan. But I am concerned about the radiation. > > > > > > However, is this a case where the benefits outweigh the risks? > > > > > > If I go this route, what questions should I ask to make sure the > > radiation is low as possible? > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > Nan > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 An ultrasound can show if a lump is fluid filled. It can also determine if something has malignant qualities by showing certain characteristics. A thermogram will show if an area has inflammation. It will also show you if a blood supply is being set up to feed a malignant tumor. ar > > I am not at all sure but to the best of my knowledge an ultrasound or > thermogram cannot tell if a lump has malignant qualities or not. I am not > sure about the MRI > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 Thank you all so much for responding and being patient with me. I am dealing with brain fog due to adverse effects from meds that I used to be on. So if I sound fuzzy on posts, that is the reason. As an FYI, I wasn't clear on the sternum lump. It is very close to my left breast. To sum up what everybody has said. I definitely agree it is a personal decision and no one can guarantee anything. I also do realize that biopsies can cause seeding issues. It also sounds like I need to look at ultrasound and a thermogram. I will keep everyone posted as to what happens. Thanks again. Nan - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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