Mammogram call

[Just Jan]

I had my annual mammogram Wednesday morning. My hospital has had digital mamms for two years now (this is my second digital mamm).
The Women's Care Center called the house yesterday afternoon. My daughter took the phone number to call back on Monday as they were closing at 3pm. You get a note in the mail one week after procedure saying it was ok or the tech will call within the week if any changes. So now I have to wait all weekend to see what the issue is. I haven't had problems in the past, but 16 years ago (at age 28) I under went radiation for Hodgkin's Disease. I have had my mammograms every year faithfully for at least 8 or 9 years and never had a problem.

I work in a dr office and we always book second looks etc...but you know...
I don't feel crazed, but I do wish it were Monday already.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had that happen. In my case they saw "dense tissue" which they could not see through (which is normal). They just wanted to do an ultrasound to verify. Turned out to be a cluster of cysts.

 

[Just Jan]

I'm not panicked, but I just want to know what they saw.

About 10 years ago my mom had to be followed as she had clacifications. She is fine and nothing became of it.

I know in my head that not everyone who gets a call back has cancer.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

Does it strike anyone else as odd how many of these calls are made on Friday afternoon?

 

[powellrj]

This is the 2nd year I have gotten the dreaded call. It was cysts again, but it sure is scary waiting to find out. I did feel better when I read some place that 90% of call backs are fine and aren't cancer, so just keep thinking good thoughts.

 

[crz4mm2]

Hugs to you.
I wish offices would not call just prior to the weekend....
I made a decision NOT to do that when I started practicing. I don't call anyone with any "bad" news (not saying yours is, but even going back for another look is scary!) when nothing can be done "right away". Better to just wait until you can get the "rest" of the testing done.

You already know that it is probably nothing. I just had my first digital mammo in dec (having had mammos for 8 years or so) and had to go back for additional views and an ultrasound. It was a density in my breast too and turned out to be two cysts (I had that in the other breast my very FIRST mammo....).

I wasn't really concerned when I found out as I had it happen before, but I still worried just a bit. I had the great advantage of the results coming to my office and I called right away to set up the additional views, they could get me in that day! SO I didn't have to fuss too long.

Prayers sent that your breasts are just dense

 

[Just Jan]

Does it strike anyone else as odd how many of these calls are made on Friday afternoon?

I was a bit miffed. My daughter said they called at 2:50 and said they were closing at 3 I could call Monday at 9am

 

[EdiePA]

One of the PAs that I work with gave me a hint to avoid the "dreaded phonecall". And yes, why are they always on a day that you can't get ahold of the center and have to wait?

Anyway, have your physician request a "diagnostic" mammogram when they write your order. That way, you get the extra views and a radiologist is there to read it right away. No call backs and you have your results in hand.

Worth a try,
Edie

 

[mkingdomlvr]

I was a bit miffed. My daughter said they called at 2:50 and said they were closing at 3 I could call Monday at 9am

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a similar story from family and friends. Do these people wait until Friday afternoon to start making these calls?

To those in the medical industry: Have a heart. Make those test result calls early in the day so that people don't have to spend an entire weekend stressing.

 

[DebbieB]

One of the PAs that I work with gave me a hint to avoid the "dreaded phonecall". And yes, why are they always on a day that you can't get ahold of the center and have to wait?

Anyway, have your physician request a "diagnostic" mammogram when they write your order. That way, you get the extra views and a radiologist is there to read it right away. No call backs and you have your results in hand.

Worth a try,
Edie

I tried that one time and the mammogram center made a big deal out of it because there was no diagnostic reason. They charge more (because it takes the time of the radiologist on site) and some insurance companies want to see a reason for the more expensive test. So make sure a reason is listed.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Does it strike anyone else as odd how many of these calls are made on Friday afternoon?

I feel like if they are going to make a call make it on a Monday if Friday late afternoon is the best they can do.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

I feel like if they are going to make a call make it on a Monday if Friday late afternoon is the best they can do.

Me too-don't make the call if there is no reasonable way a person can call back and get information that same day. Don't call 10 minutes before you close the office!

 

[Just Jan]

I feel like if they are going to make a call make it on a Monday if Friday late afternoon is the best they can do.

I agree!

 

[Christine]

One of the PAs that I work with gave me a hint to avoid the "dreaded phonecall". And yes, why are they always on a day that you can't get ahold of the center and have to wait?

Anyway, have your physician request a "diagnostic" mammogram when they write your order. That way, you get the extra views and a radiologist is there to read it right away. No call backs and you have your results in hand.

Worth a try,
Edie

I see a surgeon each year due to having mutiple benign cysts a few years ago. The first year after my surgeries, they wrote me up for diagnostic mammos (which are nice) but the more 'normal' I became, they won't do it. My surgeon (who is a breast surgeon) refuses to order them because he says it is an unnecessary expense to the health insurance and he could get in trouble for just arbitrarily ordering them. You'd think he wouldn't have any problem with me???

On the other hand, my mom (who had a cyst like 20 years ago), gets a diagnostic one every year.

 

[arminnie]

The last two places I have gone to (Calif. and Ark.) give you the results before you leave. Everyone sees the radiologist in person. Great idea.

 

[Just Jan]

The last two places I have gone to (Calif. and Ark.) give you the results before you leave. Everyone sees the radiologist in person. Great idea.

That's great!

 

[dlrhine]

I had my first Mammogram (baseline) on Thurs at the age of 35 because my Mom has Ovarian Cancer and that and Breast Cancer ar linked. What was to be a routine baseline ended with about 8 pictures and a 20 minute ultrasound and now a biopsy on Tues. at 2:30 because they see a lump on my left breast. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers. I know it could be nothing but I still worry. My office had a Dr. there to read them right away and they do that for everyone no waiting. It is nice.

 

[powellrj]

One of the PAs that I work with gave me a hint to avoid the "dreaded phonecall". And yes, why are they always on a day that you can't get ahold of the center and have to wait?

Anyway, have your physician request a "diagnostic" mammogram when they write your order. That way, you get the extra views and a radiologist is there to read it right away. No call backs and you have your results in hand.

Worth a try,
Edie

My doctor tried that and the hospital made a HUGE deal out of it and it took 2 days worth of phone calls and faxes before they would even give me an appointment. It had to say screening on the order not diagnostic before they would schedule me.

 

[Bluestars]

The last two places I have gone to (Calif. and Ark.) give you the results before you leave. Everyone sees the radiologist in person. Great idea.

That's the type of place I would like to find. When I went in for my first mammogram at age 42 everything was fine. I went two years later and got a note in the mail to schedule an appt for more pictures. The soonest I could get in was a week later.

I was in the office for over two hours while they took picture and picture. They would take some, then the radiologist would look at them in another room, then they would take more. It seemed to last forever. Then they told me they wanted to do an ultrasound. Finally, they told me I was fine.

The week I spent waiting for the appt was tormenting. I know I shouldn't have been worried, but I was so scared. My thoughts kept going to worst case scenario, but in the end everything was fine. The problem now is I am scared to go back. I know I need to, but the thought of going through that again is just not good.

I would love to find a place that would let me know right away.

OP, I know how you feel about the waiting. It is so hard.

 

[Bluestars]

I had my first Mammogram (baseline) on Thurs at the age of 35 because my Mom has Ovarian Cancer and that and Breast Cancer ar linked. What was to be a routine baseline ended with about 8 pictures and a 20 minute ultrasound and now a biopsy on Tues. at 2:30 because they see a lump on my left breast. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers. I know it could be nothing but I still worry. My office had a Dr. there to read them right away and they do that for everyone no waiting. It is nice.

I'll send good thoughts your way. Everything I have heard and read tells me the majority of cases are not cancer. I have known three people who have had a biopsy on a lump in their breast and all three have been fine. This time next week it will all be in the past.