Call back from mammogram

[Snowflakey]

Oh boy....had my annual mammogram last Wednesday and I got a call yesterday afternoon saying they've detected something "new" in both breasts. I have to go back Thursday for another mammogram and a ultrasound at our breast care center at the hospital.

How can you not worry?

The woman that called me was wonderful and did say 10 percent get called back and 85 - 90% of them turn out to be fine. I'm praying I am one of them.

The right side they see some calcification but on the left they see 2 dense round areas. Oh my.

I've been doing pretty good just reassuring myself that it isn't worth worrying about before I know more.

I'm 45 and this is my 5th mammogram.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[snapppyd]

I don't have words of wisdom, just try not to worry about it too much. I think at your age changes are common. I wish you peace of mind and good results!

 

[marcyinPA]

This happened to me during my last mammogram in October. I had four previous mammograms without any problem at all, and then this one

Luckily, where I go, they read them immediately, and if there is a problem they do an upper level and an ultrasound right away, in the same building. I had to wait 15 minutes, but they were the longest 15 minutes of my life.

I am happy to say that the ultrasound revealed that it was nothing but a cyst. They didn't need to biopsy it or anything. I got the paper that said "no cancer detected" or something to that effect.

I know the worry- I really do- but please try not to! Hang in there!!! I will say a little prayer for you!

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah - the waiting is the worse. Once you know, one way or the other, you can either forget about it or take the next step. You just have to concentrate on other things (I know, easier said than done). Good luck.

Hang in there.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I know how nerve wracking that call can be, but it is somewhat common to be called back for a second mammogram. I think radiologists are very conservative with the readings and if they see anything at all they will have you come in to get a closer look.

I had my first baseline mammogram at 35 and I really freaked out when I recieved that call. I had to go in and get a second mammogram and then an ultrasound. All that I could think of was that I had three kids at home that needed a mom. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing. The next year (and every year since) I have had the same phone call. I have resigned myself to the fact that I must have some lumpy old girls that need an extra squeeze every year

Good luck and try not to get too stressed out over it. THe chances are extremely high that your second mammogram will be OK and you will feel a great sense of relief and thankfulness when it is over!

 

[Debbie19]

Do you drink a lot of caffeine? I had the same thing happen and the tech told me to cut back on the caffeine. Everything was fine and I cut back on caffeine so this year the original questionable reading was fine. I had a separate questionable reading this year which also turned out to be fine.

Debbie

 

[Snowflakey]

Do you drink a lot of caffeine? I had the same thing happen and the tech told me to cut back on the caffeine. Everything was fine and I cut back on caffeine so this year the original questionable reading was fine. I had a separate questionable reading this year which also turned out to be fine.

Debbie

No I really don't. I have one cup of coffee in the morning, water all day and maybe once in a blue moon a soda at night. Usually just milk or water.

 

[Snowflakey]

this happened to me during my last mammogram in october. I had four previous mammograms without any problem at all, and then this one

luckily, where i go, they read them immediately, and if there is a problem they do an upper level and an ultrasound right away, in the same building. I had to wait 15 minutes, but they were the longest 15 minutes of my life.

I am happy to say that the ultrasound revealed that it was nothing but a cyst. They didn't need to biopsy it or anything. I got the paper that said "no cancer detected" or something to that effect.

I know the worry- i really do- but please try not to! Hang in there!!! i will say a little prayer for you!

thank you for that!!!

 

[Handbag Lady]

When I had my first mammogram four years ago, I was told that they want to get a good and clear baseline so that when you have subsequent mammograms, they can tell right away that something has changed.

I'm thinking they are taking this far too seriously! I've had several girlfriends get call backs recently. All were fine, and all of them were due to there just being something different from the baseline shots.

I figure our bodies change over time. Of course there are going to be changes in our breast tissue, too.

Try and relax and think good thoughts. And DON'T foget to pop back in and let us know how you are doing after the second set of pictures are done.

 

[dmdelight]

I 've never had a mammogram, but have been called back after a smear test, and thankfully all was ok.

hope everything goes ok for you,and as pp said, waiting sucks.

 

[acmeyer]

This happened to me with this years mammogram. I didn't even get called back for the 2nd mammogram i went straight in for the ultrasound. Luckily my where two BIG water filled cysts. I chose to have my drained. No wonder my breasts constantly felt like it was two days before my period was about to happen! One of them was half the the length of my breast on the outer side. I felt much better after they drained them.

I agree the waiting is the hardest part. Luckily most of the call backs do turn out to be nothing.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I've gotten called back quite a few times. It is so frustrating. My best advice is to just breathe. I know it sounds silly, but it's likely nothing.

I have cystic breast disease and am now fortunate to bypass the mammogram now and just have an annual ultrasound done. We all agreed that instead of being called back every time (as I have the past 4 years), it just makes more sense.

Let me give you one other perspective. If, and it's a BIG IF, it turns out to be "something" you will get through it! Yes, it will be hard and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But I've seen 6 women, who did not know how strong they were until pressed by cancer (4 breast cancer, 1 non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and 1 melanoma). In each case they have done better than the doctors thought they would and 3 are now at the magic "5" -- 5 years cancer free!

Not knowing makes everything hard and makes you imagine the worst. You have to stop imagining the worst and think about the best!

As my cousin put it (who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer abut 3 years ago), when she thought of the worst, she imagined dying and leaving her kids behind. When she told her oncologist, he assured her that the worst thing would be throwing up and losing her hair from chemo. In her opinion the best part of having cancer was finding out how strong she was, how wonderful and strong her children truly were, and how many people -- neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family -- truly loved and admired her.

I will add you to my prayers -- but you need to think the best right now! I'm sure you can and will handle anything that is thrown at you.

Karen

 

[penn19]

Thinking good thoughts for you. I had my mammo done last Wednesday also and I am your age. I haven't heard anything yet. I almost didn't make the appointment until after the holidays because if it was something bad I didn't want to know around Christmas.

I have had the 2nd call back also and it has always been nothing. Good thoughts!

 

[Pakey]

I've had advanced stage breast cancer for 6 years now. Maybe 7 years. I have lost track of time.

It's very common to have call backs and ultrasounds. If they thought it was anything more at this time, they would have scheduled a biopsy. Even a biopsy has a good chance of coming back benign. My ultrasound and biopsy were done on the same day.

I hate to say anything further because I don't want you to think that I think there will be more. Odds are so far in your favor that there will be nothing. But I do want to say that living with cancer in today's world is not a death sentence. I try not to worry until I have something definite and specific that I'm facing and I deal with just that one thing at that time. But living with cancer hasn't turned out to be nearly as awful as I thought way back when I was told the results. I have traveled the world, I still work a demanding career, I enjoy my family, etc. All while battling cancer.

P.S. I got my results on Christmas Eve. It's the wrong time of year to have the additional stress. Try not to let it get to you or ruin your holidays.

Good luck OP.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I hope all goes well and that it's just a false alarm.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I got a call back from my very first one a few months ago. I was scared to death so I came here for advice and they were right! It turned out to be nothing, thankfully.

It's very hard not to worry about it, I know that for a fact, but try not to stress. I am sure they are just being very cautious and that's a good thing.

Sending prayers your way.

 

[traces7]

This happened to me too, just last week!!! I had my mammogram on Friday last week, they called me that afternoon and want to do another mammogram and possibly an ultrasound right after. I'm a little nervous too!! Glad to see that it's common, but still can't help worrying!

I'm 47 and this is my 4th or 5th mammogram, but first call back. I don't go back til Jan. 2 though, kind of a bummer to have to wait that long. But I'm trying not to worry about it and think good thoughts.

I have smaller breasts, so I think they had a harder time doing the mammogram in the first place, and maybe that makes it harder to read also. I have also in the past had very lumpy breasts before my period, not so much lately though. My mom and aunt had to have biopsies done, but turned out not to be cancer, hope I don't have to go through that! UGGHH! It is a little scary though! Best wishes to you OP, hope it all turns out well!

 

[JusbKoz]

Hi, I can help out some. The lady you talked to on the phone is right and so is everyone else here that previously mention it is not uncommon to be called back in for additional test. If she said that the areas are round then that lessens the chance of anything more serious. Cyst are round and cyst don't turn into cancer. Most of these areas get " smooshed" out with a mammo called spot compression. If it doesn't then usually on to an ultrasound( some are done the same day) if the ultrasound shows up something that isn't cystic then it is up to you and your doc to follow it or biopsy it. Each facility, doc, and person is different so this senerio is different for everyone. Hope this helps and let us know what happens and if you have anymore questions I may can help

 

[dreamin_disney]

I will keep you in my prayers.

I recently had my mammogram done. I got a letter to make an appt for more pictures and ultra sound. So 2 weeks later i had my appt. Then I got a call back for a biopsy. I've been told I have calcification so they wanted to biopsy it. I just had it done so now i have to wait 3-4 days for results.

When i had to go back for more scans and ultra sound I htought that would be it but getting a call back for biopsy really stressed me out. If result are cancer I rather wait to be notified until after christmas but i know i have to schedule my appt, secretly inside I hope i get a letter or call saying no need to make an appt all is fine.

Good luck to everyone and I will keep ya;ll in my prayers

 

[westjones]

Two years ago this happened to me, and even after the second one with the ultrasound they still saw something and had me come back for a biopsy. It turned out to be nothing, and all was fine. I was really nervous the whole time though, so I know it is hard not to worry. But I also had a friend who had this happen and she too is fine. This year's test was fine, no problem. Try not to worry too much.