Scared, and worried by mammogram

[comet3]

Hi - this is my first time to use mumsnet so apologies if this isn't in the right place.

I have just discovered that I am pregnant for the first time (I'm at about 8-9 weeks). My main worry is that I had a breast lump checked out about 6 weeks ago - mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies etc. The lump is apparently a benign fibroadenoma, though large enough that they scheduled me in for surgery. The problem is that I now realise I must have been about 2-3 weeks pregnant at the time, and I am worried about the effect that the radiation might have had on the baby.

My GP doesn't seem unduly concerned but couldn't completely reassure me, and when I called the breast clinic they just delayed the surgery and said that the radiation issue should be ok. BUt I can't help fretting about it anyway. (they did both breasts - ie two xrays on each - and since i didn't know i was pregnant didn't give me a lead apron). I really worry that this might have caused some damage or harm that won't show up on scans, and am very frightened of going through the next 7 months worrying about this. Does anyone have any similar experience or insight into this?

This pregnancy is completely unexpected and unplanned, and though I am trying to get used to the idea (and my husband is being great)I am finding the whole thing very unnerving (actually, terrifying) even without this extra worry. Any advice would be really welcome. Thankyou.

have no experiance sorry but hopefully someone will be along soon. i know dental x rays and ones for emergancys are ok though so try not to worry

Hi, The radiation from mammograms isn't very high- you'd probably get more doing a long haul flight and back going on holiday- which so many people do when pregnant. The radiographers will have some record of the dose, or likely dose you will have recieved but you would need an appropriate person to explain it fully.
The type of x-ray that is slightly more likely to be significant would be of your abdomen of pelvis, so that the pregnancy would have recieved a direct dose- i.e. the x-rays actually aimed and focussed at pregnancy. However, as doses in this country are kept so low, even this is very unlikely to cause harm.
With any radiation risk, the most likely effect in early pregnancy,(though with higher doses than are used for things like mammos!) would be miscarriage, as far as I can recall.
It is a while since I was involved in x-rays, and I do know doses have dropped since I was involved. I know its hard not to worry, but the benefit of finding out what is going on with your boobs is huge (ruling out scary cancer to worry about!) and the risks are as tiny as they could possibly be.
Your dr won't know enough about radiation to reassure you properly, so for appropriate info about YOUR case, you need to ring where you had the mammograms, and ask for someone to speak to you/ring you back to reassure you. That could be a radiographer or a radiologist (dr who would have overseen your investigations) or other professional. If you aren't happy with a verbal response. Hang on, just remembered PALS- assuming you went NHS they're the people who can help you get the info to reassure you. Your hospital switchboard should be able to put you through.
Hope you are a little reassured, and hope you get the peace of mind you need!
mumofk

Thank you so so much mumofk - I can't tell you how helpful that is and I will definitely take your advice...and do my best to stop worrying about everything ...

Hello Mom,

Just curious how your pregnancy went and how your baby is? I had a mammogram yesterday and still waiting to find out if I’m pregnant. So feeling a little nervous about it all and wondering how it went for you? Thank you!!

@User2828 this post is from 14 years ago so you're unlikely to get a response from the OP. There are no documented cases of radiation dose from a diagnostic test causing miscarriage, and a tiny theoretical increased risk of childhood cancer if the fetus is exposed directly to radiation e.g. from an abdominal x ray or CT scan.

Presumably from your post you are in very early pregnancy in which case your embryo is a collection of microscopic cells that would be too small to even absorb radiation, let alone the fact that your mammogram will have been focused on a completely different body part!

Long story short, you've nothing to worry about. X