Being called back for another mamagram

[mdsoccermom]

I recently had that. They called me back and I freaked out. They did a 2nd mammogram and an ultrasound. According to the report, there is something there that they believe to be benign. I'm supposed to go back in 6 months.

 

[HeatherFeather]

I am going to throw in my two cents as breasts are my LIFE. I work in a breast care center doing breast ultrasound. We do digital mammo, ultrasound, MRI, BSGI, and BRCA testing. It is very common to be called back after a screening but normally ultrasound only follows a diagnostic mammogram. People with very dense breast tissue routinely get diagnostic vs. screenings as that opens the door for ultrasound. Mammography has difficulty penetrating dense tissue so sometimes things can "hide" within that tissue. Ultrasound has the ability to see better if there is a mass there.

That said, you may be being called back to look at microcalcifications. I am normally not able to see them under u/s unless they are within a visible mass or there is a plethora of them.

I know at our facility if you have ultrasound, you will be told verbally either by me or the radiologist directly what the findings are. We are all about instant gratification. I am guessing they did not tell you anything before you left from your last visit?

Either way, we call a lot of people back for a lot of reasons and MOST of them wind up not having cancers. I hope you are able to relax a little bit. I know how stressful it can be. Please PM me if you have any questions.

 

[lemondog]

I am going to throw in my two cents as breasts are my LIFE. I work in a breast care center doing breast ultrasound. We do digital mammo, ultrasound, MRI, BSGI, and BRCA testing. It is very common to be called back after a screening but normally ultrasound only follows a diagnostic mammogram. People with very dense breast tissue routinely get diagnostic vs. screenings as that opens the door for ultrasound. Mammography has difficulty penetrating dense tissue so sometimes things can "hide" within that tissue. Ultrasound has the ability to see better if there is a mass there.

That said, you may be being called back to look at microcalcifications. I am normally not able to see them under u/s unless they are within a visible mass or there is a plethora of them.

I know at our facility if you have ultrasound, you will be told verbally either by me or the radiologist directly what the findings are. We are all about instant gratification. I am guessing they did not tell you anything before you left from your last visit?

Either way, we call a lot of people back for a lot of reasons and MOST of them wind up not having cancers. I hope you are able to relax a little bit. I know how stressful it can be. Please PM me if you have any questions.

At my clinic if you are just having a yearly screening then you are sent a letter asking to come back if necessary. When you come back you have a diagnostic and you know the results THEN AND THERE...no waiting. You may be asked to come back in 6 months to see if there are any changes...again, that will be diagnostic and you will have your results before you leave. At least that has been my experience.

 

[HeatherFeather]

That is exactly the same as we do...screenings are letters. Anything else and you will know before you leave. I think this is much easier on the patient as they are usually already under quite a bit of stress. That way if they do need a bx then can schedule it (or sometimes we have been known to get h&p, consent them, and do it right then) or if there is no concern then can leave and stop worrying, which is the case most of the time.

At my clinic if you are just having a yearly screening then you are sent a letter asking to come back if necessary. When you come back you have a diagnostic and you know the results THEN AND THERE...no waiting. You may be asked to come back in 6 months to see if there are any changes...again, that will be diagnostic and you will have your results before you leave. At least that has been my experience.

 

[cassie]

So, my appointment is tomorrow at 9am for the diagnostic mammagram. Last week I did have the screening one, and an ultrasound right after. Hopefully everything is all right. Will surely let you all know, and again thanks for all the replies. I sure appreciated them.

 

[Music City Mama]

So, my appointment is tomorrow at 9am for the diagnostic mammagram. Last week I did have the screening one, and an ultrasound right after. Hopefully everything is all right. Will surely let you all know, and again thanks for all the replies. I sure appreciated them.

Will be thinking good thoughts for you! I'm with everyone else that I'm sure it's nothing.

When I had my baseline at 38, I got a call back for a diagnostic image (I have really dense breasts, too) -- they had me wait for the results to see if I would need to have an ultrasound. Everything was ok. Didn't have another mammogram until 40 (last year) -- no call backs on that one. Last month, had my mammogram, got a call back, had the diagnostic, then had an ultrasound. The radiologist reviewed everything with me and felt very confident that it was benign (because of shape, shading, borders, etc.) -- a fibroadenoma -- but because "better safe than sorry", she said she would recommend a breast biopsy. My OB/GYN referred me to a breast surgeon who after reviewing my films and ultrasound images concluded the same thing. He feels that it's a benign fibroadenoma, but I'm still having an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy next week. I'm more scared of the procedure than the results. If it is what they think, then I will have the option to get it removed or monitor it every 6 months.

 

[daisax]

Before every mammogram I've ever had, I've been told that the call back rate is high, and is NOT likely to be anything serious, just an extra precaution in case something isn't clear. Given how common callbacks are, that seems like the kind thing to do!

Being able to get the followup scan immediately is even better, though!

 

[cassie]

Will be thinking good thoughts for you! I'm with everyone else that I'm sure it's nothing.

. My OB/GYN referred me to a breast surgeon who after reviewing my films and ultrasound images concluded the same thing. He feels that it's a benign fibroadenoma, but I'm still having an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy next week. I'm more scared of the procedure than the results. If it is what they think, then I will have the option to get it removed or monitor it every 6 months.

Oh, good luck to you Mama. I've never heard of that procedure, but my thoughts are with you. Hope for the best, and keep us informed.

 

[KNJWDW]

I recently had that. They called me back and I freaked out. They did a 2nd mammogram and an ultrasound. According to the report, there is something there that they believe to be benign. I'm supposed to go back in 6 months.

The same thing recently happened to me. The doctor said he is 98% sure it is benign, but it still makes me nervous.

 

[IDoDis]

I've had 4 routine mammograms in my life and out of those 4 I was called back on two of them. The first time I was a bit freaked out. They took more scans and I waited. The person doing the scans sent the pictures via computer to the doctor who was in another room. I could hear them discussing the pictures over the phone. Then the person in the room hung up and said the doc wants an ultrasound. So I got even more nervous. Did the ultrasound and waited a bit more before the doc came in the room, sat down next to me and said everything was fine. Whew was I nervous!

The 2nd call back happened a couple of months ago. I got the letter in the mail, and thought, "Meh. Here we go again!" But I wasn't nervous at all this time. They took so many scans the year before that even if I did have something at this point, it would have been caught very early on. Luckily as I suspected, it was nothing again. They just needed more pictures to be sure. Now when I go back next year I'm just going to tell them to take lots of scans so that I don't have to come back again!

Try not to worry. Chances are everything is just fine.

 

[Owlpost23]

Sending best wishes to those who are worried.I had my yearly yesterday,and in the info about finding out the results,I wrote,"call",and our number.I forgot to put "to leave message".I get home,and there is a message saying "call at your earliest convenience".Well,of course that 's a little scary,and then I realized I didn't specify.I called this morning,and everything was fine.Make sure to specify.

 

[sasywtch]

My OB/GYN referred me to a breast surgeon who after reviewing my films and ultrasound images concluded the same thing. He feels that it's a benign fibroadenoma, but I'm still having an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy next week. I'm more scared of the procedure than the results. If it is what they think, then I will have the option to get it removed or monitor it every 6 months.[/QUOTE]

Just to help you with your nerves, in 1996 I had the ultrasound guided biopsy and in 2002 I had the pre-op needle placing through ultrasound and both times, it did not hurt. I don't remember if they rubbed on a numbing agent since they used the sterile gunk all over but they must have done something to numb it. Also, the surgery is not bad if you elect to go that route. I didn't have a choice as the surgeon was gung ho on removing, didn't give me options and I didn't read up on it. They now have the awake surgery where you lay flat and they work on you from underneathe through a hole in the bed.That's the route I'd take if I have to do it again.

 

[Music City Mama]

Just to help you with your nerves, in 1996 I had the ultrasound guided biopsy and in 2002 I had the pre-op needle placing through ultrasound and both times, it did not hurt. I don't remember if they rubbed on a numbing agent since they used the sterile gunk all over but they must have done something to numb it. Also, the surgery is not bad if you elect to go that route. I didn't have a choice as the surgeon was gung ho on removing, didn't give me options and I didn't read up on it. They now have the awake surgery where you lay flat and they work on you from underneathe through a hole in the bed.That's the route I'd take if I have to do it again.

Thanks for your feedback. I do know that they will give me lidocaine for numbing (and I'm taking a "relaxing pill" before I arrive), but I think the thought of it just freaks me out. Since it's on the outer area vs. near the chest wall, I'm hoping that makes a difference with the pain being less, too. I've read that when they take samples it makes a horrible clicking sound (like a staple gun) and so that's part of the reason I'm taking a sedative, too. Just anxious about the procedure.

OP, did you have your appointment this morning? How did it go?

 

[cassie]

.

OP, did you have your appointment this morning? How did it go?

Yes I did, and everything is fine They may call me back in 6 months to re-check the right breast. Just glad that's over, and good luck to you Mama.

 

[Music City Mama]

Yes I did, and everything is fine They may call me back in 6 months to re-check the right breast. Just glad that's over, and good luck to you Mama.

Glad to hear it! Such a relief!

 

[tabby1881]

Great news! I'm very happy for you.

 

[TinkerbelleAbbysMom]

Thanks for your feedback. I do know that they will give me lidocaine for numbing (and I'm taking a "relaxing pill" before I arrive), but I think the thought of it just freaks me out. Since it's on the outer area vs. near the chest wall, I'm hoping that makes a difference with the pain being less, too. I've read that when they take samples it makes a horrible clicking sound (like a staple gun) and so that's part of the reason I'm taking a sedative, too. Just anxious about the procedure.

OP, did you have your appointment this morning? How did it go?

I live in Murfreesboro and have been through all of the above. I did the needle biopsy when I was 21. I then had one place removed along with my gallbladder in 2004. Then two more removed in 2009. Hopefully Mama you are with the group here in Nashville that specializes in breast issues (they are at Baptist). Please feel free to PM me if you need support or have questions. I would be happy to help in any way!

 

[TinkerbelleAbbysMom]

Yes I did, and everything is fine They may call me back in 6 months to re-check the right breast. Just glad that's over, and good luck to you Mama.

Thats wonderful!!!