Mammogram

[Jones]

I was just called back to to re do my mammogram, which is causing me some anxiety. I know that call backs are common but I was wondering just how common. So I figured TE is the perfect place to help me put my mind at ease. Please take my poll and let me know if you have ever been called back.

[snapdragen]

Been called back two or three times, twice for an ultrasound. I know it's scary, and your mind is just running away with all of the "what ifs" right now. Try to stay calm, breathe, ride your bike.

Whatever the outcome - it will be OK.

[solobiker]

I was just called back too.

[Catrin]

I am called back almost every time - I have a very deep cyst that changes size from time to time. Even though I expect it - the call-back does cause a little anxiety.

[tulip]

I was called back about five years ago, when I was 38. It definitely had that potential to freak me out, but I decided to remain calm and not worry about it until more was known. I had ultrasound, and it was determined that I have fibrocystic disease (kinda lumpy breast tissue), which I already knew. My mother has it, too.

Since then, I have had yearly mammos with no further callbacks.

Fortunately, breast cancer does not run in my family, so I am not considered high risk. Well, my grandmother's mother had it, but that's considered too far back to be much of a risk, and I don't have any of the other common risk factors (never smoked, never been obese, never taken hormones, never had problem periods, not menopausal).

[mudmucker]

I think it's fairly common. I've been called back 3 times over the last 9 years, twice with ultrasound. I had one surgical biopsy. I don't freak out although my maternal grandmother died from breast cancer. I always say "why borrow trouble " by worrying stressfully in the interim about inconclusive data. Worrying isn't going to change a result. You get a result, then ultimately must move forward regardless of the outcome.

[emily_in_nc]

I have never been called back but am happy to learn that it is common, just in case it ever happens to me. I'm assuming that it is most often a false positive. My maternal grandmother had breast cancer very late in life, so I do worry about this disease to some extent.

[ivorygorgon]

I have been called back. Once, a month ago, I had to have an ultrasound. Yes, it is scary, but I guess I would rather know I have cancer and get it treated than leave it untreated.

My ultrasound showed 3 benign cysts. Nothing to worry about

[colorisnt]

I am sure you are scared right now, but the good news (as those above have said), it's really common.

I have never had a mammogram yet or been called back, but my mother got a call back and had to go and have an ultrasound. We have a history of it in our family, so they were being super cautious. It was just a fibrous tissue and she is fine.

We were all really scared. This comes on the heels of my Dad being told he may have prostate cancer. Thankfully, it was a pre-cancerous sort of situation and they caught it early. So, it does happen, but as this problem in stats I just did this week in class shows, about 94% of people screened who have to be re-screened are okay (if this is still accurate I don't know, but I doubt it changes THAT much).

[marni]

as someone who has been called back multiple times, I went through that anxiety the first time but then figured out it was pretty common.

I have no history of breast cancer in my family at least as far back as my great grandmothers, but if you have been following my thread venting about a lost month, you will see that is not necessarily a guarantee of anything.

Take a deep breath, ride your bike, stay optomistic and feel thankful that they are calling you back and doing due diligence.

[pfunk12]

I was called back after my first mammogram. I ended up having surgery because they were concerned about some abnormalities that they saw. It turned out that they were just calcium deposits. But like Muirenn said, they had nothing to compare it to because it was my first mammogram.

[malkin]

Never (yet) for a mamm, but last year I "flunked" my pap smear and had to go back for a more uncomfortable procedure with a fancier name. Everything was fine.

[Biciclista]

good grief, look at those statistics!

[OakLeaf]

That's why I encourage everyone to read, read, read and read more. And be selective about what you read (peer reviewed and NOT sponsored by drug or imaging companies).

Jones, sending good wishes that everything turns out fine and that you're able to find calm in all of this. If it is fine, I'd really encourage you (and everyone else here) to treat it as a wake-up call, and have at least a direction in mind, if not a firm decision, on each step of the way.

Decisions that will affect the quality of your life forever deserve to be made from a position of information, calm and strength - not fear - so IMO the best time to make those decisions is BEFORE you get a test, let alone a scary test result.

I know my decisions are unpopular, but they are NOT a judgment on anyone else's decisions, and I DON'T believe that everyone who is well-informed will necessarily make the same decisions I have. I just believe that everyone should be well-informed. Informed with research, not with advertising.

[Norse]

Yes here too. Called back and ultrasound showed fibrous tissue. My sister, who very large breasts, has been called back several times. Because of her size, she almost needs regular ultrasound screenings rather than mammos.