Mammogram "Additional Views" Callback

[BearcatsFan]

Had my very first mammo yesterday. Bright and early this morning they called me back for "additional views" on the right side. The girl who called said, "Don't worry," but then added "You really need to get this done, how soon can you come in?"

Now, of course, I am worried.

Anyone else had to have a second one done immediately? Any input or advice you'd like to offer would be great.

 

[Dee & Greg]

Yes! after my very first one I got the same call the very next morning and was really worried. Come to find out, I have very "dense" tissue and they couldn't see anything at the current angle. They just wanted me in there quiickly so the files were together. They took photos from a different angle and all was fine. My file tells them to shoot from that angle now.
Don't worry!!

 

[DisneyDebbie]

I also got a callback and was really worried. They did find a lump and wanted to really check it out and do a sonogram on it. Mine is still there (4yrs. later) but there is no blood supply so we just keep and eye on it once a year. Some people have very fibrous tissue, so try not to worry too much

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I had a call back once. They were concerned with my right side by my chest wall. They wanted me to come in and do a more in-depth ultrasound on a different piece of equipment.

All was fine.

Don't stress just yet. Sometimes the test has some error or who knows?

 

[Pakey]

I'm sure it's just dense tissue. If they saw "something" they would be scheduling an ultrasound or in my case, a biopsy. It's very very common to have mammogram callbacks.

 

[happygirl]

Sending up good thoughts for you,

 

[Bren's Mom]

I get that call EVERY SINGLE TIME! I'm 41, but have very very cystic breasts and since I was 25 I've been having mammos. My breasts are also very dense. I would try not to worry at all because it is MOST likely that they simply didn't get the pics they needed OR they saw 'something' that is MOST likely to turn out to be nothing at all.

But I know that's easier said than done...so I'll also and say hang in there!

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

This is actually very common for first mammograms. When they do the first one they are establishing a baseline of your tissue to compare over time with future mammograms. They want to be as thorough as possible and get as many clear, detailed images as they can. This makes it much easier in the future to detect any changes. Sometimes in the first mammogram they will detect denser tissue in one area of the breast and want to make sure it's benign as well as get good images of it to keep an eye on for the future. Then as time goes on and you have future mammograms done, they will be better able to assess any changes. There is nothing to worry about when being called back for more images when having your first mammogram done.

 

[Pigeon]

Agreed, it's very common. The urgency is probably because they don't want you to blow it off and figure the sooner you are in, the better.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Thank you all so much for the quick replies and reassurance. Makes me feel better knowing this is pretty common. The tech did say yesterday she was having trouble getting a good view (large breasted), so perhaps that has something to do with it, too.

Just have to remember to BREATHE!

 

[KimR]

I get that call EVERY SINGLE TIME! I'm 41, but have very very cystic breasts and since I was 25 I've been having mammos. My breasts are also very dense. I would try not to worry at all because it is MOST likely that they simply didn't get the pics they needed OR they saw 'something' that is MOST likely to turn out to be nothing at all.

But I know that's easier said than done...so I'll also and say hang in there!

I get a callback almost every time as well. I'm 50 and I've only NOT been called back 3 times since I've started getting them at 40. In my case, sometimes they wanted to take a closer look at a dense area and other times it was tissue that had folded over on itself, creating a shadow. I've read that breasts get less dense as you age and since the last two times I've gone I've not gotten called back, I'm hoping that callbacks will become less frequent for me. I'm a chronic worrier, especially when it comes to health issues, so it is extremely stressful even though I tell myself that it's likely to be nothing.

 

[bdcp]

Yes, I was called back a couple of months ago. Scared the crap out of me. I'm 52 and it was only my second mammo ever. I know, my bad. I had 3 cysts on the left side they wanted more views of and an ultrasound. And watching them do the ultrasound I knew they were just fluid filled cysts as they were dark on the screen which indicates fluid which means benign. I also had some microcalcifcations that hadn't changed in the last 6 years so no issue there either. All they told me when they called was I needed to come in for more views. And then I received a letter stating I needed to come back in and the letter also had the statement that "most cases are benign". The radiologist came in after both the mammo and ultrasound and looked himself and then told me the report would be benign and he'd see me in a year. I had a very long weekend between the first and second. I knew logically that it was probably nothing, but you never know. My mom had breast cancer 6 years ago and she's fine now plus hers was post-menopausal and not genetic so my chances are no more than anyone elses, but it's still stressful.

 

[crashbb]

Due to family history, I started mammograms at 25. My call back rate is well over 50% (getting better as I age). I know it is easy to say not to worry (but no so easy to actually not worry), but it is very, very likely not anything at all.

Good luck.

 

[StephMK]

That happened to me this past spring. I had my first mammo, got a call back, then a referral for a biopsy due to a cluster of microcalcs. The second view didn't bother me because I knew I probably had dense tissue but the biopsy & waiting for the results was a horribly long period of anxiety and worry! The biopsy was not that painful at all, just uncomfortable. The biopsy came back as ok and I just have to get rechecked after 6 mo.

Good luck & hope you get good news quickly!!

 

[mnrose]

YES! Just last week as a matter of fact! I had to go back for more films on my right breast, and then (if necessary) an immediate ultrasound. Of course, it WAS necessary to have the ultrasound, and that showed that what they saw was just a cyst of no concern. Phew! I was so grateful that I could go back right away, and then get the ultrasound immediately too. Sure, I worried until it was done, but it was nothing.

95% of women called back for more films end up with NOTHING of consequence. The odds are in your favor for sure.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Get this. I called the central scheduling department to get the additional views. They told me they have no open appointments until after we return from WDW. Basically, they have nothing until the end of September. I called a couple other places to see if they could get me in, but they all referred me back to the original imaging center to make sure everything is done on the same equipment. ??

I called the scheduling department back and indeed, nothing available until late September, but they will call if anything opens up sooner. Sooo I'm thinking (hoping) if this really was something to worry about, they'd try harder to get me in, right? That's what I'm gonna go with.

 

[DebbieB]

Get this. I called the central scheduling department to get the additional views. They told me they have no open appointments until after we return from WDW. Basically, they have nothing until the end of September. I called a couple other places to see if they could get me in, but they all referred me back to the original imaging center to make sure everything is done on the same equipment. ??

I called the scheduling department back and indeed, nothing available until late September, but they will call if anything opens up sooner. Sooo I'm thinking (hoping) if this really was something to worry about, they'd try harder to get me in, right? That's what I'm gonna go with.

Did you have a referring doctor? I've had callbacks for dense tissue or cysts and sometimes my doctor will call me to be sure I am following up. But there was never any urgency. I would think if it was possibly serious the doctor would push to get it sooner.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Did you have a referring doctor? I've had callbacks for dense tissue or cysts and sometimes my doctor will call me to be sure I am following up. But there was never any urgency. I would think if it was possibly serious the doctor would push to get it sooner.

Yes, my referring doctor was my GYN. There is a history of breast cancer in my family (not first-degree relative, though ... a second cousin), so he just wanted to do it to get the baseline images. I'll be 40 in January, so this first one was going to come soon anyhow.

 

[gwynne]

Get this. I called the central scheduling department to get the additional views. They told me they have no open appointments until after we return from WDW. Basically, they have nothing until the end of September. I called a couple other places to see if they could get me in, but they all referred me back to the original imaging center to make sure everything is done on the same equipment. ??

I called the scheduling department back and indeed, nothing available until late September, but they will call if anything opens up sooner. Sooo I'm thinking (hoping) if this really was something to worry about, they'd try harder to get me in, right? That's what I'm gonna go with.

Can you check with your referring doctor's office? Ask the dr. or nurse if it's normal or usual (for that hospital/facility) to phone a patient, ask them to return for more views, but then only offer an appointment a month later.

They will want to use the same equipment, same place if possible, by the way. That is typical.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Can you check with your referring doctor's office? Ask the dr. or nurse if it's normal or usual (for that hospital/facility) to phone a patient, ask them to return for more views, but then only offer an appointment a month later.

Good thought. I will call them now.