When was your first Mammo check up after treatment?

JJOntario

I'm just wanting to know when everyone started their after treatment check ups? My initial mammo that found this was done in October. I've just completed 33rounds of rads. I'm also a little uptight as before my dx I had a clear mammo and US 10 months prior. I'm seriously tired of my family Dr telling me to relax. I just want a plan...it also doesn't help that I have 2 complex cysts that they will watch for changes ... It's just frustrating to be told that I've done the pkg and now just go back to normal...

MsPharoah

Hi JJOntario, I finished rads in October and had my first diagnostic mammo in March, which included an ultrasound examination. I have since seen my surgeon every 6 months, my radioligist every 6 months and my onc every 3 months. I have now been returned to annual mammos and I see my onc and BS alternately every 3 months, so I feel that I am getting good monitoring. That first mammo was scary, for sure.

MsP

kittysister

My surgery was in Oct. of last year and they are already pushing for a mammo. I have a question .. for mammos after treatment is over, do they do the diagnostic where you have to have several pictures of each breast, or just a regular mammo? I remember when I had the diagnostic ones last year. I think they did 6 on each breast. Has anybody ever done the 3-D kind? Are they more gentle? With my radiation damaged one and both being dense breast tissue, I'm already worrying.

JJOntario

I haven't seen my BS since my lx check up...I feel like I'm pushing for a plan which is crazy??? I do see my MO in a few weeks so I'm hoping he can set things straight. I am such a planner so it makes me anxious to free float so to speak. I'm also worried about getting a mammo done on a boob filled with cysts (I always get them..and that's part of the problem as it made me immune to getting things checked) and I have a big hunk of scar tissue that is not going to like getting squeezed.

Kittysister -I'm going to ask about the 3D US.

MsPharoah

kitty sister, all my mammos since surgery have been diagnostic. Your doctors will decide when you should return to annual screening. 3d mammos still require significant breast tissue compression. They are recommended for women with dense breast tissue. My radiologist doesn't think I need them because my breasts are easy to read with mammo and us.

Don't worry...the first mammo is scary, but you need to be monitored, right? I wanted to hear that all was well, so I was ok with the discomfort of the mammo. Think about the mammo as peace of mind.

Good luck.

MsP

kittysister

Thanks, JJ and right, MsP.