Being called back after your mammogram???

[JESW]

Has anyone had that happen? I went this morning for my annual mammogram - have been going for at least 5 years and I am 48 and have had no issues. The hospital is using the digital screening for their tests now. This afternoon I got a call to come back in on monday to re-check my left side. Of course I am a nervous wreck!! Can anyone give me any positive stories so I can stop freaking out????

Jill

 

[Jeafl]

YES! TWICE no less. It is a horrible feeling, isn't it?

The good news is, although they found lumps both times on my breast, neither time was it cancerous. When they called me back they told me there could be many reasons. There could be a shadow, or a cyst, or a dozen other things. DO NOT panic (easy for me to say, I know). Try not to worry unless they tell you there is something to worry about.

Good luck, and pm me if you want more info, or just support.

 

[suzimar57]

even worse is when you're there getting the mammogram, and they won't let you leave - for almost 4 hours - of continual re-taking of tests - that's happened to me twice!!!! (nothing found, just a tiny cyst-like spot that they're "keeping an eye on"....)

yep - getting called back is just like that - the stress level goes way up.

 

[Kitty 34]

My youngest sister and one of my good friends always get called back. They say it's because they are smaller and thus get "dense" readings.

Hopefully yours is nothing to fret about but until you get the all clear you'll be nervous.......they always are!

 

[lemondog]

I got called back after my baseline at age 35. I was a wreck, but it was just a "dense area" they were watching. Went back after 6 months and dense area was gone, leading them to believe it was a cyst that went away, or a lymph node. Will go back again in 6 months, then can resume my every year schedule. (Mine were also digital, btw).

The times I went, EVERY SINGLE WOMAN I encountered in the waiting room was there on a callback, leading me to believe this is very common. Good luck!

 

[asta]

I was also called back for more screenings and it scared me to death. I really think that the new machines they use are just so much more sensitive that they pick up more things that have to be investigated. In my case it was a very small, deep spot that I could never see but I took their word for it. Before it was over, they tried to aspirate it (meaning that it would have been a cyst) and when that didn't work I had stereotopic surgery to remove tissue for a biopsy. In the end it was nothing but I was terrified. I know what you are feeling and will keep you in my prayers. Just try not to assume the worst and know that even if it is anything they are able to find things early enough that your options for treatment are great. After this is over you will truly value and understand the need for annual mammograms.

 

[clh2]

I have heard that the switch to digital technology is having a huge impact on the number of people being recalled for more pics.

Of course, I do not remember why that is.

I can't try an internet search right now...DH wants some dinner.

 

[marlasmom]

Just today I went for my callback and sonogram. Radiologist was there. He didn't even speak to me. Tech said "he said you are fine. No need for sonogram. See you in one year." I was convinced I had cancer.

 

[clh2]

Here is the article that I read that I referred to in my previous post.

NY Times Article

 

[Buckalew11]

Everyone I know lately has had a call back since we are using digital! Hope you are a-ok!!

 

[Christine]

I've been called back a few times. Yep, I had lumps and thank God they were benign.

I seem to be the opposite of everyone--ever since I've gone digital, I've never had a call back.

 

[powellrj]

I was called back this year too. I had to have the sonogram and then was sent to a cancer doctor for a biopsy. It was negative, but I do have to go back every 6 months now.

Its a horrible feeling and I have to say, the people at the women's center were less than helpful. The doctor my ob/gyn sent me to was wonderful and I will be returning to his center for all of my mammograms now, even if its 1 1/2 hour away, its worth the drive.

 

[mum4jenn]

Those folks can scare you to death!!!!

The last time I had a mammogram they did the scan and then put me in a holding room ...I waited and waited....and then said they needed to talk to me privately. I was scared to death!! They had several people look at the results and then they decided to do a sonogram. Again I was scared out of my mind. While doing the sonogram the person doing it asked me a couple of times..."You never felt that?" I said Felt what?Then another person comes in to watch the procedure and again they ask me "You never felt this?" Finally they leave me in the room and come back in to tell me the floor supervisor would be in to take a look. I was a wreck by then. The supervisor comes in and takes a look around with the machine and then says "Everything is fine. You can get dressed now"

I got a card in the mail a couple of days later saying everything was fine.

They absolutely scared the fool out of me. I mentioned this to my Dr when I saw him and he called to find out what the deal was that day and they told him also that everything was ok but before he hung up he let them really have an earful about them scaring me that way.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

yep, twice! First time they scared the you know what out of me. I had to have a sterotactic needle biopsy done too.. turned out to be nothing....absolutly nothing... thank God. I honeslty think it was because I forgot & had antiperserant on and it showed thru on the mamo. 2nd call back was due to a skin fold... thier error in the way they positioned me I understand they need to call you back, but the fright they instill in you is unreal I was pretty mad at them the second time around.....

 

[delilah]

I get called back all the time. It seems that my breasts are just large enough that they can't quite get my whole breast on the standard size film. They call me back, and bring out this humungous film. I guess they only have two sizes of film cassettes for their mammograms. It is embarrassing, and I never think to tell the tech that she should just use the larger film, since, really, I don't look like I'm that big.

The last time I was really nervous, because I am a doctor, and I was getting reports back for my patients before the radiology department even called me back for my second round of picture taking. It is not so worrisome when the tech realizes right away that she needs the larger film, but, anxiety provoking if she doesn't. I thought that I had lost enough weight that surely I wouldn't need the "big mama" size last time.

 

[PaulaSue]

I had that happen 2 years ago this summer at the age of 35. I have a tumor and a cyst that they watch every 6 months.....

 

[LorieR]

This happened to me in February. I had a repeat mammogram and then a sonogram....I was sure I had cancer as I have had it twice before.. The tech told me everything was okay and I received a letter telling me that but that I needed to have a repeat mammogram in six months. My primary doctor got a three-page report that said the same thing! I have some calcifications that need to be monitored.....

ETA: I am 55!

 

[aprilgail2]

I started geting mamographys at around 26 (I was adopted and had no family medical background at that point so it was suggested that I start before people that know their background-yet another pain in the butt thing about being adopted and having no medical background but thats another whole thread LOL!!) so I have been getting them for about 20 years now, I have been called back 8 or 9 times in those 20 years, all have turned out to be nothing....

 

[QueenPutt]

I was called back for a second mammogram today. I am 49. I had always had clear mammograms before. Scared me to death because my mom and my best friend both had breast cancer.
It was okay though.
It's those darn new digital machines!

 

[joodi]

I recently went in for my annual mammogram and received a call saying there was some calcification on my right breast that they wanted me to come back in for a diagnostic mammogram and perhaps an ultrasound. I'm really feeling cranky about this.

Almost every year I get the same results on my mammogram, there is calcification and I have to go back in for an ultrasound, etc. It's always fine. I asked why I needed to come back in for a diagnostic mammogram and they said it's more in depth than the screening. I asked why they didn't do this the first time as I always have to return for further testing. This last time I had the mammogram done, it really hurt and I was bruised from it. They really clamped down on my rib cage.

I am upset that they don't do a diagnostic mammogram on me each year, so I don't have to go through this twice. I am tempted to just wait til next year and insist that the do a diagnostic one then. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it is really exhausting to take a whole afternoon up and go through all the pain in such a short period of time, when there is very little chance that there is any problem.

Should I try another breast center, or is this typical?