Mammogram call-back

[Catrin]

I went for my annual screening Friday morning, and I've a follow up screening Wed morning

I KNOW that chances are things are fine, and I've had cysts in that breast before. The fact that my mom just died of cancer in September doesn't help though, and her first (of 3) cancers was breast cancer. Trying very hard not to stress but am not having too much luck with that. At least I will get the results before leaving the office Wednesday morning, and my scan/ultrasound/whichever is at 7am.

I don't want to call my sister and tell her, for obvious reasons. She is also preparing to get married in 4 weeks, so, I came here instead

[ny biker]

I got called back last fall. It does happen fairly often and does not always mean the results are bad. I told a friend who said she had also been through it, years ago. In my case, they just didn't get a clear enough picture. (Part of me thinks they just wanted to scare me into paying extra for the 3D mammogram in the future, since I declined to do that for the initial exam.)

My approach to this kind of thing is to make a plan for what my next step would be in case of the worst-case scenario, and then hope for the best.

Good luck.

[OakLeaf]

Hang in there Catrin. Hope everything comes back clear.

+1 on planning out the next steps, although from personal experience I can tell you that it's very difficult to damp the emotions down enough to comprehend the medical journal articles at times like this. Do the best you can, it's all anyone can do.

I'll be thinking of you.

[Catrin]

Well, you KNOW my mind has already gone there...but at least it won't be too long until I find out if there is really anything to be concerned about. In the end, there isn't enough information yet, but that doesn't shut down the emotions. Thankfully I've a kick-butt group training session tomorrow, AND I meet with my new Kettlebell training coach at noon on Wed. so regardless of the news, there will be some stress relief. I am better at dealing with actual emergencies and crisis than I am thinking about all of the what-if stuff - but I suspect many of us are like that.

[Crankin]

I will be thinking of you Catrin.
For what it's worth, I've been called back twice, not including the experience with the needle biopsy when I was 34 years old!
No history at all in my family, so my mind was going wild, too.

[Catrin]

I will be thinking of you Catrin.
For what it's worth, I've been called back twice, not including the experience with the needle biopsy when I was 34 years old!
No history at all in my family, so my mind was going wild, too.

Yikes Crankin, I hope that was the end of your being called back! Since it is the same side, I am hopeful it is just the return of the cyst. I will know in about 36 hours.

[ny biker]

Hang in there Catrin. Hope everything comes back clear.

+1 on planning out the next steps, although from personal experience I can tell you that it's very difficult to damp the emotions down enough to comprehend the medical journal articles at times like this. Do the best you can, it's all anyone can do.

I'll be thinking of you.

I focus on just one next step, and keep it simple. Like "call cousin who is a nurse and ask her what I should do now" or "make appointment with Dr. GYN-who-I-trust-more-than-any-other-doctor to ask him what I should do next." Back when I lived 1000 miles from my family and had a lump removed from my shoulder blade, my planned next step was "buy a plane ticket and go home." More than anything, it's something to focus my thoughts on.

(When the biopsy on the shoulder blade lump came back negative, my actual next step turned out to be "buy donuts for everyone at work.")

[azfiddle]

Catrin,

I had the same experience last year. It turned out to be fine- not a problem, but I totally understand how nervous you might feel. Most likely it will be not be a problem - and there is nothing now you can do to change what it is so try to stay calm and take things just one step at a time. I'll be thinking of you and hope it's all fine.

SHaron

[Helene2013]

Same here 3 years ago. Was going in for mammo prior to breast reduction. Do normal mammo, get a call that I have to go back for a close-up mammo in one breast as there was a part that was too dense for them to see well. Did that, stressed but not too much (hubby was a nutcase though) as I am not the typ to stress until there is a real reason for it. Called me back to say still not good results and I have to go through an ultrasound this time. ouch. So went and the doctor was able to show me right away that it was just normal fluid pockets like we have and he even did the other breast to show me. Whew.... breath in/breath out! Now that I am at 50YO I got a letter for the government to get free-scanned. Just need to make appointment. I'm in no hurry. wonder why. hihi

So hang in there! Chances are it is just that...nothing to worry about. But don't we all stress as soon as a doc says he wants to see us back, or more testing needs to be done. Heuh.

[brigada]

Oh god, they are really taking their time. This must be nerve wracking for you

I hope it all goes well and turns out to be just fine!

[Wahine]

Just catching up on this. Thinking about you and good luck.

[azfiddle]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and will check back in tomorrow for your update.

[Catrin]

I've been more stressed than expected this week, and now my keyboard and mouse are no longer working. Computer isn't frozen...but my input devices are not working. Thank goodness for smart phones! I should know something by mid-afternoon tomorrow, and hopefully all of this will prove to be a tempest in a teapot. I am taking tomorrow off work and have a stress relieving kettle bell workout planned tomorrow morning here at home.

Thankfully I got the computer up and going though it took some time. Unsure what the problem was, hope it doesn't return!

[emily_in_nc]

I hope you get the "all clear" very soon, Catrin. We just lost a dear friend to metastatic breast cancer yesterday at the age of 55. I don't want to hear any more bad news, ya' hear me?!

[Catrin]

No all clear yet The cyst, if that is what it is, is stubborn and refused to aspirate. They told me that this can happen if the liquid is too thick for the size of the needle and isn't uncommon. It is, however, officially now a "nodule", but that doesn't mean it isn't benign. My doctor had refused to order a needle core biopsy if it wouldn't aspirate so now things are back in his court. Hopefully I will hear from his office Monday after he gets the results from the radiologist, if not I will be calling Monday afternoon for an appointment. I am hoping we can avoid a surgical biopsy, they don't seem to think that it looks cancerous... I don't have a budget for all of this and I've a high-deductible insurance plan so it is hard to know the best way to proceed.

I went out this afternoon and went walking in the woods after treating myself to a wonderful triple mocha. I also started the day with a great workout at home that featured all of my kettlebells and jungle gym. Very thankful to have expanded my equipment!