tips for better mammogram?

[withm]

Having been through all of this the hard way, all I can say is don't skip your mammograms. They may be a pain but they are a piece of cake compared to surgery, chemo, radiation, and the countless and permanent side effects.

[Helene2013]

That's why I go...even if I think every single woman hates them. The sooner something is detected (if there is something), the better your outcome will be. I'd hoped!

[Catrin]

I agree, don't skip mammograms. I WILL say, however, that I get diagnostic mammograms about every 3 years or so because I get cysts that come and go and periodically they want to take a closer look to make certain it isn't a baddie - and yes, sometimes ultrasounds are involved. Here one year, gone the next couple of years, etc. So far so good, but I make very certain to not miss and go to the same facility each year as they have all my records - and is the only place where they have NEVER hurt my boobies in the process. Mine are large and dense which makes false positives more likely.

Very glad it turned out this time, may it always be so!

[Pax]

Dang, Trek, that sucks. The whole "oops our bad" doesn't really make up for the gut clenching fear.

A couple of weeks after I had my reduction I got a phone message late on a Friday afternoon (of course), saying "they found something unusual in your biopsy, it's called focal ductal hyperplasia" give us a call back. This was late 90's, before I had internet access, so I got to be scared all weekend while trying to find what she was talking about in reference books at the library. I know they do this for a living and it's no big deal TO THEM, but it can be terrifying for us.

[Trek420]

Dang, Trek, that sucks. The whole "oops our bad" doesn't really make up for the gut clenching fear.

Yeah but I got chocolate, free parking and Starbucks.

Cancer sucks. My dad, grandpa and aunt died of it. Another aunt, grandma and KnottedYet survived. I will never miss another!

[Helene2013]

My mammo is done. No pain, no discomfort whatsover. I even told the tech she could squeeze even more if needed. I did take a Tylenol an hour before.

She did mention that my breasts were not dense at all. She showed me the pic from 2015 and she explained what it looked like. I could not see for 2017 as they were already sent (via system) to the lab. But she said that definitively, my breast is not dense but mostly fatty. Great...I'm fat. hahaaha

When I was dressing up, I told her "see you for the "spot" compression in a few days and she said it is not often people go back for more testing. Only if the radiologist wants to investigate more because he can't clearly see through something and he wants to make sure all is covered and avoid any doubts. Well...in my case I had to go up to ultrasounds both times, a different breast. But she said it is not often and this time, it may be just fine with a standard mammo and back in 2 years. We'll see! Crossing fingers it is the case. Why is it we rather go through other tougher things in life then wait for mammo results!!!

[redrhodie]

Yay Helene! Glad that turned out well!

I just went to my oncologist this morning, and only have to go once a year now, and don't need to see the radiation oncologist ever again! I was going to both twice a year.
The reason I still see the oncologist is that I'm staying on tamoxifen for 5 more years. Initially I was supposed to be on it for 5 years, but studies have shown a benefit to staying on 10 years. Since I've had no side effects from it, I elected to stay on.

[Helene2013]

Just got the good news in the mail (and my doctor gets the report as well). No need to go back for 2 years. The report said there is a benign lesion with no sign of cancer and does not require any follow up. Next mammo in 2 years. They keep the info on file for references.

I am still going to call my doctor as I want to know what the report says in more details. She probably gets something else than the letter I got. I want to know which breast (or is it the 2) so I can pay attention if I ever see any changes in the next 2 years.