Hello, I have a second mammogram on my left breast this coming Monday after receiving a call back letter stating that there is an "Indeterminate mass on left upper, outer breast". The letter also states that an ultrasound will be performed at the same time IF NEEDED. I have been worried for two weeks waiting to see what happens this Monday. I know that most of these things turn out not to be cancer, but you know how we worry. Anybody have any call backs in their past that they can share their experience with me?? Doc called me and said it may squeeze out of the picture once closer pics are taken from different angles at closer range. I am scared, but trying to stay calm. Thanks in advance!!
Mary
That happens...that happened to my friend, turned out to be nothing.
Now, once I had a scare, went for biopsy at the hospital, they put me to sleep
and turned out to be nothing.
Hi Mary - I know how scary those call backs can be. It happened to me a year ago and on the follow up ultrasound they assured me the mass they saw was a clump of cysts. This year the same thing, went back for the ultrasound and this time it had grown and there was more than one. I was a little concerned since I have had thyroid cancer but the dr said it is "normal". The Dr said it was cysts, not tumors. I just have to hope they know what they are doing.
I wish you all the best and a quick answer!
Mary,
Yes, I know how you feel. I've had 3 breast biopsies and repeat mammograms, aspirates, ultrasounds ect over the years. It is very scary and honestly until you get it over with it is hard not to think about it. Almost two years ago, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and now I dread all diagnostic tests that screen for cancer.
Sending you a big hug.
Anna
Yep. I've had a least a dozen aspiratons and one lumpectomy. All .. nothing. The aspirations drained cysts in the breast tissue that came as a result of me trying natural remedies for menopausal hot flashes. I stopped taking the natural herbs and the cysts stopped. My surgeon called me her 'cyst queen'. They were HUGE.
Yes I had a call back just this past spring. The second series of mammograms was quite arduous for me since they wanted to focus on my left breast only. They actually took 6 scans of my left breast at this visit and I was becoming faint and was in alot of discomfort. After number six, I then told them if the radiologist wanted another scan, he could come into the room and do his own breast cause I was through.
It turned out to be nothing in my case as well. Not all stories end like this, but more go on the positive side than those that go the other way. Please hang on to positive thoughts and we're all routing for you. Let us know either way though how things work out.
Hugs,
Daisy
Hi Mary,
Seem to get this all the time... Have had one biopsy, and several mammograms, sonograms, and plain old xrays as well (have markers implanted in both breasts due to "grows" (none cancerous so far)).
Hang in there Mary, and don't let it bother you too much, okay (I know, easier said than done)?
Sending you a giant soft hug -
Patze
Back in March of this past year I had a small node that was just a tiny little thing on the mammogram, a little clearer on the ultrasound, the following week I was in a surgeon's office getting a biopsy. Everything was fine, all benign, just scary. The biopsy site healed very quickly with suprisingly little pain or bruising. No problems, kust a few panic attacks.
Happen to me too at my last mammogram.
They called me back for a 2nd mammogram. They redid the one breast a few different directions. Then they said they felt is was okay, but just to be completely sure, did the sonogram also.
Every thing came back as being okay. With nothing to worry about.
The hardest part for me was waiting for that 2nd appointment.
Hi Mary,
I am going to be honest with you. I hope to scare you enough to get those tests done and right away. You may have to be a bit assertive to make sure your doc follows up.
Four years ago, just 6 months after being dx with Sjogrens, I was dx with breast cancer. You see my doctor had found a lump two or three years earlier during my annual exam. He had me get an extra mammogram and ultrasound at six month intervals, but then just left it that we'll keep an eye on it. In the meantime, I'm very ill with Sjogrens.
I made a mental note to tell the dr I wanted the breast lump, which was still there, out asap. It had gone on long enough and I didn't trust watch and wait. I also had him do another biopsy on my forehead skin that kept coming back after he took it off. Well, that turned out to be squamous cell skin cancer. I had another mammogram with a bunch of ultrasounds. The test person told me that I should see a surgeon. It so happens that I already had made an appoint by myself before knowing if this was cancer or not. Well, it turned out to be cancer. It did not "look or act like regular cancerous lumps." My lump was soft and moveable, not hard and attached to the wall of the chest.
I had a lumpectomy and 7 weeks of radiation and a far as I know, I'm cancer free. I found out about both of these cancers 4 days apart. Do not just wait and see. Do not trust the fact that is doesn't look or feel like cancer. Get a biopsy. Lucy
Thanks Girls, for all the replies!!!! I will let you all know what I find out on Monday...keep your finger crossed for me please!!! And if you pray...pray for me!!! The waiting is the worst part for sure!!! Again thank you for sharing your experiences with me and I am also sorry you all had to go through this also...........Hugs to you all!!!
Mary
I saw something on the news and I cannot recall the place,, but there was a tech doing mammorgrams,,, and she was actually doing the readong and sending out reports to the women that there scans were clear,, I guess the place found out and contacted the people and I think 3 of them actually had breast cancer,,, she had done over a 1000 scans
Quote from: navydad on September 11, 2010, 10:47:47 AM
I saw something on the news and I cannot recall the place,, but there was a tech doing mammorgrams,,, and she was actually doing the readong and sending out reports to the women that there scans were clear,, I guess the place found out and contacted the people and I think 3 of them actually had breast cancer,,, she had done over a 1000 scans
I read this as well. I was horrified and shocked that someone could do that. I hope that this woman is punished.
Liz
I think I heard about it as well, in Macon Georgia I believe; I feel for those poor ladies and what they must be feeling. Wow, it still makes me wonder what the heck was she thinking? That's the problem, she didn't.
Patze
I also got called back a couple years ago for a needle biopsy on my left one.
I decided before hand if there was a problem to take the whole breast out.
Thankfully mine was just fine but I have a "marker" in there so they know it was checked next time they do mammograms. It is a good ideas to double check and the biopsy was easy.
But durn my marker doesn't even set off airport security - where is the fun in that? ;)
I'm with ya Pisces, what fun is having markers that don't set off anything? Dang! ;)
Patze
I had that happen several years ago - scared the #$it out of me - - -turns out all it was that when the tech did the mammogram, she creased my breast so there was a crease in the picture - -they took a new pic and all was fine - - good luck.
Voiceteacher
I had a call back at last year's routine mammogram. I have small, dense breasts and the first time technician frankly didn't seem to know what she was doing so I wasn't entirely surprised about the call back. They did another mammogram and ultrasound and everything turned out OK. Aside from the fact that this was only two months after my Sjogren's dx, I wasn't overly concerned since I don't have any family history of breast cancer, plus I work for an oncology group and know about treament options, etc.
I had a call back once, but it turned out to be nothing.
I had one this past year. I had a mammogram and they found 2 lumps in my right breast. They weren't sure if they were enlarged lymph nodes or not, did an ultrasound and signed me up to re-check me in a few months. Follow-up showed them reduced in size and very likely lymph nodes.
I wonder about the lymph nodes though, now with possible Sjogren's...
Anywhoo... I wish you well and I know how scary it can be. I hope you get answers quickly.
-Y
Thanks for the replies!! I really feel like it is going to turn out to be a lymph node or something. I too have small dense breasts and my left breast has been giving me problems for years...just lumpiness. Lumpy breasts runs in my family fibroid type stuff in all the girls.
My niece, who is 37, just had a double mastectomy down to the muscle because she has had problems since she was like 24 and her breasts were so painful and lumpy and she was tired of all the mammograms and biopsies. Her Grandma on her Mom's side of the family died from breast cancer and this increased her chances of getting cancer.
My niece has a 7 year old daughter and made the decision to have both breasts removed so that there would be no chance of her leaving her daughter early. She truly is a brave woman and I feel that if she can do what she did, I can handle whatever comes my way.
She is in the process of having her skin expanded so that permanent implants can be implanted. The nipple on her left breast can't be rebuilt so she will just have an aereola on her left one. She has been a real trooper let me tell you!!!!
Just thought I would share that inspirational story and thank all of you for your support because it is very scary. I will find out tomorrow after second mammogram and will let you all know what happens.
Take care............Mary
Sleeeeepy, I also have very dense tissue, so do not be alarmed if they drag you over to ultrasoud. Sometimes the density makes it hard for them to see clearly on the mamogram and if they're not clear or even see a shadow they may put you on the ultrasound for a clearer look. So don't panic if they do that or if they bring in the radiologist to look at it, they're just being extra careful. They will be extra careful with those of with AI issues because they want make absolutely sure that we haven't got any bigger fish to fry. Take care and best of luck to you. Jenn
Puccini, you are exactly right!!!!!!!! I just got back and they did the mammogram with many different angles and because my breasts are dense like yours, they did drag me over to ultrasound. The ultrasound found a BENIGN FLUID FILLED CYST!!!!!!!!
They showed me all the pictures and everything and the ultrasound tech gave me a happiness hug!!!!
Thanks to all of you ladies on here that have helped me stay calm...I consider all of you my sisters and I don't know what I would do without all of you!!! I love you all!!!
Sincerely.............Mary
Wonderful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They found a benign cyst on mine, but felt they had to cut it out to be extra sure. It was nothing, but I got a marker too. Extremely happy for you, Have a great day!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Jenn
Jennifer, thank you so much!!! Today is a happy day for sure!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks again.......Mary
Congratulations on your good news!
That is very good news Jenn, congrats!!!!!!
Patze
Yup, gotten the ominous call (and once an ominous letter). I have "lumpy" breasts, and so they will often have to do a second round. Luckily, the ultrasound is not that bad, and much better than getting the biopsy.
Hope all goes well.
BTW, even though I have gone through it a bunch of times, I always get anxious. Just one of those classic things. The rational mind says "Don't worry". The emotional one says "Yikes, what's going on?" I'm trying to learn to laugh at that, but can't deny the emotion is real.
Ok I'm just catching up! Glad to hear the good news. One less thing to worry about.