Mammogram question for you ladies

andtckrtoo

andtckrtoo

Cathlete
I had a call from my radiologist concerning my mammogram on Saturday. She wants to see me for a follow up appointment on my left breast. The appointment is 1/2 an hour - has anyone had anything like this happen? I have to admit that I'm pretty nervous.
 
{{{{{Christine}}}}} I've never had that happen but I'll offer a prayer for you. Keep in mind that this doesn't necessarily mean anything bad--truly it doesn't.
 
Thanks Michele! I realized after I scheduled the appointment that DH will be on a business trip, so I do hope it's not bad news! The person who scheduled the appointment said that it could be anything - even a blurred image by the first technician. I guess we wait and see.
 
I think there's a very good possibility of a blurred image on your first mammogram. Please report back to us as soon as you know what's going on and here's another {{{{{HUG}}}}}
 
I've had to have ultrasounds on my right breast before. I just happen to have two marble size lumps in the breast. They are fibroids. I was more scared not knowing what they are. I believe lumps in breasts are quite common and mammograms help identify changes with any lumps (and new lumps) which is why the follow up mammograms are so important. I hope I've eased your mind somewhat. I hope you just have lumpy boobs-like me.
:+

((((HUGS)))
 
Thanks both Michele and Muffintop! Never thought I'd say that I have lumpy boobs, but it definitely beats the alternative... :p I needed to hear that. This is actually my first follow up mammogram.
 
Christine--I've had this happen three times since the birth of my 2nd child 10 years ago due to my "dense breasts" which is quite amusing, since I hardly think of my wanna-be-an-A-cup-so-bad breasts as dense. (My brain, now that's another story...)

I had to be switched to I think a digital mammogram 2 years ago (I'm 43) since my mammogram reports read something like "clear, we think, but who the hell knows because we can't see much of anything, so don't sue us later..."

I hope that this is all it is for you. I think they should tell you when they call what the reason is so you don't worry!

fingers & toes crossed,
Barb:)
 
Christine:

Almost every time I get a mammogram they need followup pictures or an ultrasound. Usually I wait at the place while a radiologist views the film and they always ask for more. More often then not I also have to get an ultrasound. Once, I even had to get a needle biopsy. Each and every time everything was just fine. I have very dense breasts and they are a bit lumpy too. My dr. tells me not to worry that they just like to be careful. I went for a mammogram last week and I was shocked when the told me no follow up needed. Honestly, it was the very first time. BTW, I'm 42 and I've been getting mammograms since I was 28 years because of my lumpy breasts. Im sure its nothing for you to worry about, just the dr. being careful. Good for you in getting your mammogram, you'd be surprised at how many women don't bother.

Buffy
 
Buffy--
I had to get a biopsy, too, after my 2nd child was born and everything was normal, but it was really scary to wait and wonder.

I'm glad you're ok and thanks for giving details here-- it's reassuring to know that a lot of women get called back and ultimately things are fine. It's a good thing in the big picture to have a doctor who is careful and paying attention!
-Barb
 
It IS good to know - thanks so much Barb and Buffy for sharing! You're right - I'd much rather be safe than sorry. If anything is wrong, I'm healthy, I'm feeling fine, so now is the time to catch it before it really gets me. If nothing is wrong, well, then it's better to be sure.

I KNEW I could count on you ladies to reassure me! {{{HUGS}}} What a great group we have here, I tell ya!!


Edited to add that there is a definite bright side to this - my DH and I have been going back and forth on whether we should go to North Carolina to see my dad and sister for Thanksgiving. He flies a lot for business and does not like to travel when he does not have to. As soon as he heard this, he asked me when I wanted to go, and made online reservations.
 
Christine, like Michele, I'll be sure to include your concern in my prayers. Please let us know the outcome. And enjoy your trip.
 
Christine, For the past year or so I have to get a mammogram every 6 months (I'll be going again on Thursday) so that what is called a calicification can be watched to make sure that nothing changes. I was told that 98% of the things they call women back for is nothing really. In any case, I know how unnerving it can be when you get that phone call to come back in regardless of any reassurances they try to give. I've got you in my thoughts and prayers. Be sure to let us know how it turns out.
 
Elaine - thanks - it's very appreciated! You and your brother remain in my prayers as well. Hope things are well.
 
Christine, this exact thing happened to me, right down to DH being on a business trip. It turned out there just wasn't a really clear picture on one part of my breast. So they redid the mammogram and were prepared to do an ultrasound at the same time. They did the mammo, got a better picture and all was clear! So, the moral of my story is, just wait and see, don't get too worried yet. My understanding is that many mammos are redone for this very reason!
 
While I can't say that I love hearing the scares you ladies have been through, I do love hearing how often these things turn out to be nothing. I'm hoping for the same results - thanks so much for sharing Debbie. And you're right - it's better that they're overly cautious.
 
I think it's only natural to jump to a scary conclusion when you get a recall from any physician, even though the odds are it is nothing. It seems that they never thoroughly explain things and you're left hanging until the next visit. I've had several skin cancer issues and as time goes on I've gotten better at waiting and trying not to worry about the unknown. I play this game where I tell myself I will allow myself to worry the day before the appointment. It's weird because it works. It's like leaving a post-it in your head that says it's ok to move on with your life because you know you can indulge in the worry when the time comes. Might sound strange, but it works for me.
 
Yes, Christine, I have. I had to have follow up this year after my very first mammogram. Scary! they told me they could see calcifications on one breast and wanted to retake the images in 6 months. Apparently calcifications can alter the cells around them which can be the start of cancer, I think that's what they said, so they wanted to check up on this. I went back and it was fine and I will go back again in another 6 months. try not to be scared. It's good to have things checked out, just to be sure. And if, like me, you have dense breasts, it is hard for the radiographers to read the image for problems, so they often do call backs to get clearer images.

Hope this helps,

Clare
 
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