A Question About Mammos After Lumpectomy

SallyS70

I was surprised that my MO wrote my yearly mammo request for a screening mammo instead of a diagnostic mammo. I had a bilateral diagnostic mammo 6 months after radiation which was a year after the previous mammo. At that time I knew I had a lump near my incision. It was biopsied B9, and I had a diagnostic follow-up on just that breast 6 months later. Now it is time for my yearly bilateral mammo which my MO has ordered as screening. I thought that mammos would be every 6 months and diagnostic for 5 years after diagnosis. I will be just 2 years from diagnosis at the mammo date. What type of mammos are your docs ordering after your lumpectomy? When did you or will you go back to screening mammos. My MO is wonderful, so I am wondering if he just made a mistake when he wrote the order. I will, of course, call his office for clarification too. Thanks for your input.

snorkeler

After my lumpectomy I had 3 years of diagnostic mammograms every 6 months. Nothing ever showed up, and after the last one I was informed that I will be going back to annual screening mammograms. I don't really mind, because at the imaging center where I go, 3D mammos are only for screening, and since I have dense breast tissue I'd really prefer the 3D one. My lump could not be seen on a regular mammogram.

SallyS70

Thanks for responding snorkeler. I do not have dense breast tissue but am curious if my breast center is using 3D mammos.. I will be asking that question.

proudtospin

snorker, my mamos were like above, mine were not 3D at the time as I was diagnosed in 08 so the 3D not so popular

also, now that I am older, my breasts are not dense

now doing yearly screening, I do have one suggestion, stick with the same facility as they are familiar with scar tissue and your history

SallyS70

proudtospin, thanks for responding.