Mammogram Call-back

[DisneyfeverTN]

Have you ever been called back for more tests on a mammogram? This just happened to my sister and a coworker recently. After the call-back tests, they were both told they were fine. It sure scared them though.

It just happened to me yesterday. I will be making an appointment today. I wonder how common this is.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have my mammogram done at a small radiology office and before I leave, the radiologist reviews the film, he often orders another view and then he calls me into the viewing room where he has last years film with the current ones. He goes over the entire thing with me so when I leave, I know that I am fine. This takes only an additional 10 minutes out of his day but it is so reassuring to me. I have referred several of my friends to his office and they love him. I also have a friend who is a radiologist and she loves him too.

 

[Cantw8]

Yep, happened to me also. It was scary but better to be safe than sorry, yes?

 

[tekmom]

I got called back after my first one. They said my ta ta's were dense and they needed to do a breast sonogram for a better look. Why didn't they just do that anyway?

 

[Pugrpooh]

They did an ultrasound on me one time after the mammogram. Just on one side though. I have dense breast tissue, and apparently they wanted to make sure there was nothing there.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I have my mammogram done at a small radiology office and before I leave, the radiologist reviews the film, he often orders another view and then he calls me into the viewing room where he has last years film with the current ones. He goes over the entire thing with me so when I leave, I know that I am fine. This takes only an additional 10 minutes out of his day but it is so reassuring to me. I have referred several of my friends to his office and they love him. I also have a friend who is a radiologist and she loves him too.

Wow, I wish I lived where you do! That would be awesome!

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow, I wish I lived where you do! That would be awesome!

You could actually call a few smaller radiologist offices and ask if you can meet with the radiologist to review the findings before you leave. He just happens to do it without the patients having to ask but I will bet there are other docs out there that may be happy to take the time. It's a big time saver for them too because if there is a view they want, you don't have to go back in.

 

[crz4mm2]

Yep. "Flunked" my very first one Then had to have additional views, then an US.... next year went for an US right after the mammo. Every year since I just have the additional views. I have dense breast tissue and three small deep cysts.

Very common to have a call back. that yours is just that.

 

[Cinderellafifi]

It just happened to my ex-mother-in-law two weeks ago. She was very frightened as my mother just passed from breast cancer. It turned out to be nothing. I thought that was pretty unfair of her physician's office; they should have just told her that what they needed to discuss was nothing of concern.

Good luck to you. No worries until necessary, okay?

 

[CarolA]

Have you ever been called back for more tests on a mammogram? This just happened to my sister and a coworker recently. After the call-back tests, they were both told they were fine. It sure scared them though.

It just happened to me yesterday. I will be making an appointment today. I wonder how common this is.

I get called back almost every time. And then we do the ultrasound and drain the cysts... send the "junke" off to the lab. So far so good.. LOL!

 

[Christine]

I have gotten call backs. Mine are always due to fibroadenomas---solid cysts. I have had them all removed and they are benign. But, yes, it is a scary process.

 

[HOGFAN]

just be careful with these small radiologists' office. Due to very small reimbursement rates, small offices have to do a TON of mammos to stay afloat. The guy I worked for had to look at them sooo fast I know for a fact he missed some cancers. I work at a large hospital where we dont give results right away for screenings, BUT our doctors look at them when things are quiet and they can take all the time in the world if they need it.

Just be careful.

 

[DawnCt1]

just be careful with these small radiologists' office. Due to very small reimbursement rates, small offices have to do a TON of mammos to stay afloat. The guy I worked for had to look at them sooo fast I know for a fact he missed some cancers. I work at a large hospital where we dont give results right away for screenings, BUT our doctors look at them when things are quiet and they can take all the time in the world if they need it.

Just be careful.

That same thing happens in large radiology departments too. My friend who is a radiologist has worked for some very large, hospital based departments and it comes down to "how many can you read in a day". It doesn't matter if its CT scans, or mammos. She is very deliberate and has stayed long after it was time to go home to be sure she didn't miss something. That isn't always the case however with everyone. The radiologist I go to is a friend of my friend and he limits himself to X number of mammos per day so he can spend time with patients. With regard to mammos, the bad news is, while its an important tool, 15 to 20% of breast cancers do not visualize on mammos. Self examination is the most important tool available. My mom's breast cancer did not show on mammography but she had a large 3 cm tumor when it was biopsied.

 

[HOGFAN]

true. cancers get missed in any size facility.

the SOB I worked for read 'way' more than he could possibly safely read.
He cared more about the 'bottom line" than the patients. One day the building caught on fire. Management came in THREE times to tell us to get out. He refused to let us leave or let the patients leave in case they got outside and wouldnt come back in after the ALL CLEAR.

He also asked me to forge the quality control. I hope someday to testify against this jerk. He is still in business.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

the SOB I worked for read 'way' more than he could possibly safely read.
He cared more about the 'bottom line" than the patients. One day the building caught on fire. Management came in THREE times to tell us to get out. He refused to let us leave or let the patients leave in case they got outside and wouldnt come back in after the ALL CLEAR.

He also asked me to forge the quality control. I hope someday to testify against this jerk. He is still in business.

Wow, what a terrible person! It is even worse that he is still in business.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I have had the post-mammogram "Could you wait out in the hall please, while I consult with the head radiologist?" Then had to go in for a needle biopsy. I was pregnant at the time, and scared out of my mind. As soon as the doctor pushed the needle into the lump, it disappeared from the monitor! There were several other lumps, and he just poked them one by one, pop-pop-pop! Fortunately for me, they were just fluid-filled cysts and nothing to worry about, at least so far.

My mom, however, has been diagnosed with her 2nd occurrence of breast cancer and had her breast removed.

There is so much research going on right now as far as how to detect breast cancer, and how to treat it once it occurs. And a family friend used to work for a company that developed software to 'read' mammogram films. I think I read that the software flags a lot more mammograms as suspicious (and detects cancer earlier), so they have a radiologist read the ones that are flagged for follow-up to make sure.

 

[LindaG4458]

Just had a mammogram Friday at a center that just built a new facility and had the latest and greatest equipment with digital xrays. After the third picture the technician told me that this equipment sees lots more than the old machines and not to be too worried if I get a callback. So I am totally expecting to hear from them this week, but don't expect it to be anything serious.

Had a callback once before because there was not enough compression when the films were made and stuff looked suspicious. One more xray and everything was clear. No problem.

ETA: Oh, the reason that they went with the digital pictures is that, after the hurricanes and flooding in Vero Beach two years ago, most of their xrays were wet and damaged. It cost them LOTS of money to send them to someplace that could dry them out and restore most of them.

 

[TJ's Mom]

It is common to get called back for more pictures. Also, don't freak out if after the pictures they want to do an ultrasound. This is pretty common and used to rule out cancer. Even if they do both of these and want to do a biopsy, there is still a good chance it is nothing. Be glad they are calling you back! Better safe than sorry.

I was diagnosed at the age of 32 - too young to have mammagrams. If your breasts are really dense, a digital mammagram or a MRI are good.

 

[monsterkitty]

I had my first mammogram a few months ago and I have to go back for another one in January so that they can compare the two.

My MIL passed away last year from breast cancer so I freaked when I got the letter. I called my HMO and explained that I was very stressed about the results and why. The HMO called my doctor and he called me to discuss the results. I have two identicle spots on each breast in the same place. He said they want to have more films to have so that they can compare my future mammograms. My HMO is going ahead and ordering US for my next appointment just to put me at ease. How many HMOs do that?

So, I understand your fears.

Good luck and

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I would like to thank everyone that responded. I went for the mammogram last Wednesday (my second one ever) and received a letter in the mail on Saturday. The letter was a form letter with the additional views checked and the ultrasound checked. They never tried to call me. So, of course I am trying not to freak out.

When my sister went through the same thing last month, I told her that it would probably be nothing, and it was. It is just harder when it happens to you! I know it is probably nothing and that most times everything is fine. I will just be glad to get it over with and know for sure. It sure gives me a lot of respect and compassion for the women (or their families) who have experienced breast cancer first hand. God Bless you all! And I think all of you survivors are super-women!