Abnormal mammogram and freaking out

[KimR]

I got a call from my gyno office yesterday that they found a nodule on my mammogram. They said it only showed up on one of the views, not the other and that it could very well be nothing but a shadow. Still, I am abviously beside myself with worry - what if they actually know more but don't want to worry me? My mother just passed away from cancer 2 months ago and now this. I've looked at the stats of false positives and though it is very reassuring for my age group, I cannot stop worrying.

I have to go in for a follow up mammogram and possibly ultrasound on Tuesday. I know that's not really a long time, but I'm so stressed that the past few hours have seemed like months. I'm not telling my DH because it serves no purpose to worry him until I know; furthermore, my own anxiety will only feed off his. Has anyone else had experience with this? I do have a call into my gyno to answer some questions, but I figure in the meantime posting here and reading the replies with give me something else to do besides pace frantically around the house...I just can't seem to keep still.

 

[piglet too]

No words of advice, just sending you my thoughts and prayers.

Please share this with your husband, you should not have to worry alone. With my recent cancer scare, my husband helped me get throguh my darkest hours. Without him there to hold me and comfort me when I cried in fear, I don't know how I could have done it. I know he was very scared too, and I know seeing how worried I was just added to that. Yet he was my rock and would have never wanted to be anything less than that. I am sure your husband will be the same way. Yes he may be scared, but I am sure he would want to be your rock for these next few days until you know for sure what is going on.

I will keep you in my thoughts, and I hope the time flies and you get great news from your tests on Tuesday.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I was terrified about 3 years ago they found a lump in my breast during an exam. This was right around the time my grandmother was being treated for breast cancer so I freaked out.

When I went back in for an ultrasound , there was nothing there and still is not, thankfully. I think with anything that appears abnormal on a mammogram they will double check to be safe.

Wishing you the best.

Sheri

 

[snoopy]

I just went through this and thankfully it was a false positive. I can't even begin to imagine not having my husband to lean on throughout those scary couple of days while waiting to retest.

-- I'll be praying for you. Keep us updated.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. I don't have personal experience but I do have a few friends that had the same thing happen and it turned out to be nothing. Obviously you know the best way to handle this with regards to your DH but are you sure not telling him is the best for either of you? If you're sure is there someone else that you can confide in that could lend real emotional support in addition to the cyber support you'll get here? Sending PD that it turns out to be nothing.

 

[dizagain]

Just walked in the door from my yearly exam...

I'm so sorry you have this stress. Please consider sharing this with your husband...I'm sure he would want to be there for you. Sending thoughts and prayers your way!

 

[Tigger&Tink]

SEEMS this happens a lot..happen to me AND my sister last year,,they took an ultra sound,,,(AND I would ask them to do that instead of just more pictures---BETTER safe ,since you have to go back anyway).......I will keep you in my prayers,,,and PLEASE come back when they find it was NOTHING and let us know ok!!
And just my 2 cents,,but maybe you should share this with your hubby (you know whats best there) but he may feel upset that you didn't......good luck with your test...


Tink

 

[Rajah]

 

[snels]

KimR,
I know what you are going through. Try not to worry about it too much. If there is a problem, you will deal with it.
I will be praying for you.
Sandy

 

[liznboys]

I'm very sorry you're dealing with this, I can imagine it must be very scary. I hope everything turns out ok, it probably will. Hang in there!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I agree you should not bear this burden alone...share it with your husband. Most likely it is nothing, but he is there to support you (and you to support him!) in times like this.

I myself am dealing with something similar (not breast related, the other thing ) and the first thing I did was call DH. All the doctors have told me (they want a re-check in October) that it is nothing to worry about. But of course I will worry! However, it is easier to have my DH there for support.

 

[jjskribs]

I had my yearly mammogram two weeks ago and the film showed a "suspicious area." Fortunately for me the facility that I use has a doctor there and an ultrasound so the ultrasound was done immediately. It turned out to be fine. I like getting my results immediately which is why I use this particular place.

Good luck to you..... most likely it will be nothing to worry about.

 

[KimR]

Thanks for the replies. I guess it's just me, but telling my DH would actually make it harder for me because then I've got to deal not only with my own anxiety but his as well. And I'd like to be able to try to put it completely out of my mind, which I wouldn't be able to do if I told him - 'IT" would always be there...I don't know, I can't explain it, but it's just easier for me this way. It will make it easier for me to pretend everything is normal if he doensn't know.

The gyno's office called back and reassured me somewhat and my Dr. is also going to prescribe me something for anxiety. Before anyone jumps all over me for this, I do not habitually pop pills everytime I get stressed...in fact, I've never taken any anti-anxiety meds before, but I'm hoping this might help me stay sane through the next few days. I usuallly handle the normal stress of daily life well, but this has thrown me for a loop.

 

[snoopy]

Kim......

Nothing wrong with taking something for anxiety, or keeping the info to yourself for your own sanity. You do what you need to do. We'll be here for you.

 

[DebbieB]

I've been there too, I got a call back on my mammo three years ago. It turned out to be a cluster of cysts, they confirmed by ultrasound. Then 2 years ago I got called back for cysts and calcium deposits, again they did an ultrasound and it was OK. So last year I wanted a diagnostic mammogram so that they would read it right there and do any additional tests immediately. The doctor gave me a script for it but the mammo place gave me a hard time because I had no current symptoms, they thought I should just have a screening mammogram which is read later and is cheaper. They said insurance may not pay the additional cost of a diagnostic. Everything was fine, I didn't need additional tests. Insurance did pay for it.

Hope everything turns out OK!

 

[msmouse]

this does happen quite often. It did happen to me. I was called back in for a sonogram. Everything was fine. I am sure yours will be too. I know all about worrying! God knows I am the poster child. We will be thinking about you and think about how great you are going to feel when you are given the all clear! Prayers on the way.

 

[square pond]

Kimr, I am an x-ray tech and have to tell you that call backs for addtional views are extremely common. And 9 out of ten times the results are negative. Sometimes it's just a matter of taking what we call a spot compression view to flatten out the particular area of concern. A lot of times it makes the area disappear. Also sometimes they ultasound the area and determine it is just a fluid filled cyst. Even if the small chance arises that they decide to biopsy it is still more common than not the biopsy comes back negative. I am sending pixie dust your way. Take Care Lisa

 

[mrsmom]

I was another one who had to go back and have another xray , It was negative thank goodness. So don't get too stressed.
Kim

 

[Amy]

Kim, ask if you can have a breast sonogram done instead of another x-ray-type mammogram. Esp. if you're younger - my oncologist says that younger women have denser breasts and a sonogram is much better and more accurate than a regular mammogram. The fact that they could only see it on one of the views is good - if it is something serious, they probably caught it early.

And please reconsider telling your DH. Wouldn't it ease your anxiety to have someone to talk to, someone to support you, someone to help you get your mind off the waiting? JMO.

{{hugs}} - I know the waiting can be the worst part. I'll be praying for you.

 

[Yardbird]

I've been there too. I've actually had three breast biopsies, several years apart. Each time, a mammogram revealed nodules, and they did the biopsies to be safe. All three were benign. Thank you, God. Seems these "nodules" are called fibroadenomas. Many women have them, and they are nothing to be alarmed about. My Mom has had the same experiences.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.