Ladies - Mammogram question?

[minkydog]

EVery year I have my mammogram and every year we go through the same drill--come back for more xrays. Here, try our nice ultrasound machine Women with dense breasts often need more studies so the radiologist can be absolutley sure of what he is looking at. It may not mean anything. Mine were always clear, just a little aggravating that's all. Hope it all turns out well for you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The doctor who ordered these tests in the first place should be able to give you some information on why they are looking further. In many cases, it's probably your primary care doc, but he or she may not even be aware that more tests were ordered. I'd give your doc's office a call early tomorrow (to give them time to investigate) and ask them to have the doctor call you later in the day as you need to get some answers. It's too scary to have to go through this in the dark. I agree with my other sistas here, please stop over and say hello on the GAGWTA thread, it was created with situations like these in mind.

 

[snappy]

Hope you have some answers soon.

I agree (personal experience) that waiting for results is agony. However, I would rather err on the side of caution. The risk of a false positive is not one you want to take. Try to focus on the fact that they are being thorough. I would certainly contact your doc who ordered the mammo to begin with. He/she needs to be in the loop and can be a good advocate for you, get the results timely, etc.

If the additional views are diagnostic (magnified), my experience was that the radiologist read them right away. For the ultrasound, I would insist on speaking to the radiologist.

Thanks for weighing in, Hogfan. It is good to get the info on calcifications from an expert. How irregular they appear, and how they are "clustered" is important. However, even when they appear suspicious, I think the percentage is only 20% that they are actually malignant upon being biopsied.

The point of mammos is early detection. Many survivors diagnosed by mammos have early breast cancer that is highly treatable.

Have a nice anniversary, and wish your DH a happy 40th for me.

 

[Christine]

I can't believe I just saw this thread.

Yes, this has happened to me. On my 40th birthday year, I had a mammogram. I had the same experience as you--they had me come back for more pictures and sonograms. I was lucky in that the radiologist was very open with me on what he saw. He told me he saw a solid cyst, most likely a fibroademona and the ONLY way to rule out malignancy was a biopsy. I had this done and it was exactly that, a benign fibroademona.

Fast forward one year later. I go back for my next yearly mammo. The radiologist FREAKS out. Says I have cystic masses in BOTH of my breasts and they needed to be removed. She even called my surgeon. My surgeon was not so nervous. He ended up looking at the pictures and felt that one "mass" was an unresolved hematoma from my first surgery and that the second "mass" was fibrocystic breast tissue.

Had to have surgery again. The surgeon was 99% correct. I did have an unresolved hematoma, I did had some fibrocystic breast tissue, but they also found another small fibroadenoma. Had all that removed.

I now get to go back in June for another mammogram. I am thrilled.

 

[scrappinmom]

Well, here's the update. Had the second u/s today. There is definetely a mass of some sort 1 1/2 centimeters in diameter. I am having a core biopsy on Monday afternoon. If you're the praying kind...please say an extra one for me...& Tink, I sure could use some pixie dust today

 

[snappy]

I will be thinking of you on Monday, scrappinmom. If you have questions about the procedure, ask over on the BC Survivor thread. Lots of us have had them. Are you having the stereotactic core biopsy?

 

[The Duchess]

Hang in there. I've had ultrasound twice, once it was a lymph node in weird place and once it was a cyst. Think positive.

 

[Christine]

Well, here's the update. Had the second u/s today. There is definetely a mass of some sort 1 1/2 centimeters in diameter. I am having a core biopsy on Monday afternoon. If you're the praying kind...please say an extra one for me...& Tink, I sure could use some pixie dust today

Chris,

Have they discussed any of the features of the mass with you? Is is solid, does it have smooth edges, is it round, oval, etc?

 

[mum4jenn]

I am SO glad I came here tonight. I was just about to post the SAME EXACT thing!!!

I had a mammogram about a month ago and I got a letter saying additional views were needed. When I saw my Dr about a week later I asked him about it and he said something having to do with a lymph node. So yesterday I went in for the second mammogram. This one really hurt a bunch. Anyway I guess several women were also in there for the same type thing and most were called back in later for more pictures and then were allowed to leave. They told me they needed the radiologist to have a look so I waited for a while more. Then...with me instead of announcing in front of all the ladies that they needed more pictures (like they had done all afternoon) the nurse wiggled her finger for me to step out in the hallway so they could discuss what they were going to do next!!!! I was scared to DEATH!!! I was told they needed to do an ultrasound. That scared me too. I did not know this whole thing was going to take as long as it did so I called my dh to let him know I was still at the hospital and that they were going to do an ultrasound.

Anyway..while I was waiting in the room I just totally lost it!! I had just gotten news that a friend I have known for about 30 years found out she has a rare type of colon cancer (she is my age...44-45) and I was already very upset about that and I was a wreck then.

So the lady that does the ultrasound is doing her thing and she asks me if I had ever felt this "place". I did not even know what she was talking about. Then she has trouble finding the "spot" so she calls the radiologist and then she comes in and does the ultrasound also.

In the end they decided I should come back in 6 months and then they can compare the mammograms. I still do not really know what is going on!!! I have an appointment on this Monday with my GP and my GYN on Friday so I hope between the two I can find out some answers. It is scary but I have never been through this before so I don't even know what to ask.

It is the fear of the unknown. And in the meantime I had an EGD last week also and they found a couple of white spots in the esophogus that they are doing a biopsy on so I have THAT to worry about too!!!

 

[scrappinmom]

Chris,

Have they discussed any of the features of the mass with you? Is is solid, does it have smooth edges, is it round, oval, etc?

All my doctor said is that is was not a solid mass, and wasn't "well organized" if that makes sense? She didn't indicate any shape. They didn't seem to think it was fluid type I don't think. I guess there's really nothing I can do until Monday. I have a friend watching my kids and my dh is coming with me. On one hand I'm glad I scheduled my baseline right away after my birthday amd glad theyre really looking at it, but on the other...can ANYTHING in my life just be "normal" I'm going to try to be as normal as I can this weekend....We've got soccer games and ice show practice, our 17th wedding anniversary and my dh's 40th bday. So I know I have a lot to be happy about this weekend....whatever this ends us being, I know it's been caught early, I know I'm strong and I know it'll be ok.

Thanks you guys

 

[scrappinmom]

In the end they decided I should come back in 6 months and then they can compare the mammograms. QUOTE]

I'm sure your obgyn will explain more to you...it sounds like a GOOD report though. I was hoping they'd send me on my merry way after the u/s today. Try not to worry...being sent away is a good thing. Make sure you come back in 6 months and tell us how your follow up goes!

 

[mssocks]

All the tests, retests, whispers between techs can all be really scary. I went for my first mammo while in full medical phobia. They saw a "mass" ( everything is a mass ). So then I had the ultrasound. Again had to drugged so I wouldn't run screaming from the people in the little white coats. My doc was so gentle and understanding. He explained that they found nothing on the ultrasound so I could choose to wait 6 months if I liked. I did. I allowed him to do an exam ( BIG step in phobia recovery ) and he said he felt it was nothing. Two more mammos - it was still there. Third one, it changed size. The hospital called me to schedule an appointment. I freaked out and called the doc because I had no idea anything was going on! They should have let him talk to me first, but they jumped the gun. By now the phobia was pretty controlled as I found out that there are quite a few very nice doctors who act like PEOPLE! Another ultrasound - and major hurdle, I wore a gown and was on a table with paper. More points for me! Another closer mammo this time ( still the same group of tests ). Now when the doc called and said I could wait 6 months you could tell he didn't want me to. So off to the surgeon. I picked someone I knew from working in the ER as a volunteer. Such a dear! He knew of my phobia and slipped very slowly and quietly into the exam room. Once he knew I was ok, he did an exam. I told him about another lump that you could feel ( no one could find the mammo one ). He aspirated it right there, very easy, a little numbing, never felt a thing. He was GOOD. Then had short procedure surgery for the "mammo lump". Turns out to be two lymph nodes that were "reactive". All was well - I went through all the steps. Now there is a little cyst there the doc can feel but the mammo can't see. Having been through that bit, I won't worry again until the surgeon actually says it's an issue. Good luck - I can't tell you not to worry but try to have moments of peace and calm.

 

[minnie56]

It's soooo easy to say don't worry but pleeeeze, medicine is NOT an exact science! Until and IF ,they tell you to be concerned, please try to think positive?

Enjoy your weekend and take baby steps from here...
Many prayers and good thoughts heading your way!

 

[Christine]

In the end they decided I should come back in 6 months and then they can compare the mammograms. I still do not really know what is going on!!! I have an appointment on this Monday with my GP and my GYN on Friday so I hope between the two I can find out some answers. It is scary but I have never been through this before so I don't even know what to ask.

When you go to your doctor visits, they will have the report (at least whoever ordered all this will). On the report, the radiologist will be very explicit on the features that were found during the sonogram. Have your doctor read that to you. That will tell you if it was liquid, solid, a mixture, it's shape, etc.

I will tell you that "most" radiologist err on the side of caution and if it even looks the tiniest bit suspicious, they would NOT be waiting 6 months to look at it again.

 

[snappy]

Christine is right, they do err on the side of caution.

Ask for copies of the mammos/ultrasound after the doc explains it. I also asked and received copies of the mammo report. It helped me to know if where I was on the BiRad scale from 1 to 5 (Both my sister and I received a 4, suspicious). She had the surgical biopsy, benign, I had the core needle, cancer.

 

[mum4jenn]

Thanks y'all. That makes me feel a lot better. This had me really scared and I was afraid to wait 6 months. Of course I will still see what the doctor has to say ans especially my gyn. I think the news about my friend made everything a whole lot scarier to me.

 

[scrappinmom]

This had me really scared and I was afraid to wait 6 months..

I agreee...I think the waiting is awful! It's kinda like saying..."ok this might be a bomb, but lets wait & see if it goes off to know if it really is" I know it's more complicated than that...but it's just frustrating. I'm trying to have a "normal" weekend and I just can't..& i only have to wait a week for my biopsy results (after Monday that it)...I hop eyour obgyn has some concrete answers for you.

 

[MerryPoppins]

The waiting is the worst part.

So much of the time it's "Something doesn't look good, so we want to see you again. We have an opening in a week, can you come in then?" It's almost like they don't realize that their words stike fear in our hearts. I'd almost rather face bad news than be in limbo. If I know what the plan is I can gather myself to fight. But not knowing is hell.

Realize that much of the time the worry is for nothing. They do try to err on the side of caution. Which is good. So you have a good chance that they'll say you are fine in the end. And all the worry in the world isn't going to change the results.

Having said that, I'm a worrier too. I don't like to feel that things are out of my control. You can't just tell yourself not to be afraid. Just realize, down deep, that this too shall pass. Breathe deeply and look at the stars, the clouds in the sky, the ocean, the mountains and know that the God that created this majestic world can get you through this. Being afraid is okay. Who wouldn't be? Just don't let it eat you up. We're here if you need to talk.

 

[Christine]

mum4jenn,

I think what I was trying to get across in my earlier post (and maybe I didn't do it so well) was that if they told you to wait 6 months, they are probably not very concerned. This is usually a pretty good sign. All of mine, thankfully, were benign, but I was never given the "6 month" wait time. Mine were like "this needs to get checked NOW."

 

[mum4jenn]

Thank you so much for the touching replies!! You guys are making me get all teary eyed again!!

Originally I was not even going to say anything at all about this until I found out everything but I really needed to get it out of my system. I felt a little strange writing about my concerns when there have been so many that have gone through breast cancer for certain (survivors and those that did not). I did not want to seem so petty.

You guys are the BEST!!!! It is a good thing y'all don't charge for therapy sessions!!!!