I had a mammogram two weeks ago. I got called to come back in because something about the compression of the muscle and tissue on both the left and the right side made it hard for them to distinguish whether I may have a problem or not. I spoke to my family dr. about this and he said that he doesn't think it is anything to worry about. He said a lot of times this is the type of call back you get if the pictures were unclear or they just want to compare something to be sure to rule something out. Ever since the call now I feel a lump on the left side. It seems to feel a little like a small rubbery thing. It moves around all over the place. Now I am scared. Has anyone gone through this??


Please respond.
Thanks!
Barb

While I have not experienced this myself, my mother did as did my aunt. My mother turned out to have breast cancer but they caught it when it was still stage 1. She starts her radiation therapy this month in fact. My aunt also got called back because of some of the films did not turn out as they wished. She had a 2nd mammogram and she was perfectly fine. I guess you do not know for sure until you get up there and have another mammogram. I know it is stressful, it was for both my mom and my aunt as they waited to go back. I hope I was able to help.

Terry

Did the Radiologist see your films before you left the facility. Did you have a screening mammo or was this a diagnostic. If it was a screening mammo I would relax a bit as this very well maybe just the case of needing better pictures. I am only familiar with facilities that show all diagnostic films to the rad BEFORE the patient leaves the building and the patient has an answer to the problem before she/he leaves. If yours was a diagnostic mammo and films were not shown to a Rad before leaving it could well be the films were not adequate. Having said this, I have seen Rads look at mammograms, say everything is fine, and then once they sit down to really go over them want to call the patient back. Maybe this is what has happened. It is very hard to try to figure it out from your end. I hope you do not have to wait to long to get in just for your piece of mind.
Newfie11

Hi!
Thanks for replying to my post. It was a screening mammogram. The lady that did the mammogram had someone check to be sure they were okay before I left. She told me they were okay and I left. The lady that called back said that it says something about the compression of the muscle and tissue made something difficult. They didn't say anything about a cyst or fibroadenoma that I think I have on the left side.
What do you think?
Barb

Where I go for a screening, what they check before I leave is to make sure that the image is readable. Later they are checked and they send out results. Hopefully they will rule out anything serious.

They would not call you back on a screening mammo to check a cyst or fibroadenoma. If there is an area of concern then you would be called back as a diagnostic mammo. If they were concerned about a cyst or fibroadenoma usually an ultrasound and add views would be done. If they are repeating a film due to not enough compression (Muscle stopping more compression) that usually means the image is blurry. It is called motion but doesn't mean you moved. Lack of adequate compression will do that. It is always a balancing act to try to get good compression without the patient hurting. I would not get to worried at this point.
Newfie11

Thank you Newfie!
Do you work in the field?
Barb

yes
newfie

I had a mammogram two weeks ago. I got called to come back in because something about the compression of the muscle and tissue on both the left and the right side made it hard for them to distinguish whether I may have a problem or not. I spoke to my family dr. about this and he said that he doesn't think it is anything to worry about. He said a lot of times this is the type of call back you get if the pictures were unclear or they just want to compare something to be sure to rule something out. Ever since the call now I feel a lump on the left side. It seems to feel a little like a small rubbery thing. It moves around all over the place. Now I am scared. Has anyone gone through this??


Please respond.
Thanks!
Barb

Hi Barb, I'm going through the samething. I had my mammogram done on 1/19/07 and I just received a call this past friday stating I needed a diagnostic mammogram on my right breast and an ultrasound. The kicker is they give me an appt for 3/14/07. So I'm going crazy. They claim the right breast didn't come out clear. But If they didnt see something why not just redo the mammogram? Am I crazy? So I do know how you're feeling.I'll pray for you

Thank you!
I went back on this past Friday. After an hour and a half, they were able to tell me that I am okay and do not have cancer. Ugh!
I am very thankful but boy did they scare me. They did another set of pictures and made me wait about 15 min. They kept seeing something against my breast bone but couldn't get close enough to rule anything out. Did more pictures still couldn't see after waiting another 15min. Then they called me in and did an ultrasound. They found a fibroadenoma. They had to discuss it with the doctor to be sure I was okay so another 15 min or so. Finally, they made do another compression set of pictures with a metal sensor stuck to the spot where the fibro. is. to see if it matched up. Luckily it did and they released me and said I am fine. I will go back in six months to see if it grows or not.

I know that the waiting is very scary. More than likely you will drive yourself crazy. I would call them and ask if you can be put on a list to get the next available cancellation appt. That is what I did and I am so glad I did.

I will keep you in my prayers too! Please post when you get some answers.

Barb

Although it is totally stressful, I agree with others that this is a common occurence in centers where the radiologist doesn't read films immediately, or where on closer inspection wants an extra picture (or 2!) to clarify things. Insist on a reading right away when you go back!