Do you come unglued when going for your follow-up tests?

koshka1

I am scheduled for my yearly mammogram next week. I can't focus. I can't eat. Wake up in a panic. It seems to not get easier but get worse. How do you all cope. No words can express how much I am dreading next week.

auntienance

I'm 4 years out and I still stress over it, but it's getting better. One thing that helps is my husband going with me. He was with me when I was diagnosed and knowing he's there is a comfort to me. I don't think the stress will ever go away completely and I worry about how I'll feel when I'm no longer under the care of my mo. I have a feeling that it will be more stressful. I feel your pain and am sending you some positive thoughts. Good luck!

Janet456

I feel like I am walking down the gallows every year. x

ml143333

I am only 6 months out from my last chemo treatment, but I still get nervous every time I have to go get bloodwork.  I always wonder if something bad will pop up.  I won't get any routine yearly testing like a mammo or US since I had a BMX and that bothers me a bit, but my BS and MO assure me that they will still take good care of me and that working together, I will be fine.  I sure hope so.

koshka1

Janet....well put. I am in Canada and when they do the mammo, they don't say anything. You have to wait to hear from your doctor to get the final results. I wish we were like in the US where the radiologist can review it while you are there and you leave there at least knowing.

Especially the times where they need additional pictures and you don't know what is going on.

Happened to me a couple of years ago and I started crying.

Not looking forward to any of it...already getting nervous.

Kosh

april485

In a word, yes. Every.single.time.

Janet456

Kosh - it's the same here. I go for the mammo and they give me an appointment 2 weeks later for the results.

I go back for the results and I am left waiting in a room, in a gown. My consultant is a man and as long as I hear women's footsteps trotting down the corridor towards me, I know I am OK even before they open the door. If he is ever to turn up - I'll know i'm in trouble.

He's a nice guy but I don't ever want to see him again, or hear his footsteps. xx

koshka1

Oh that is just the worst!

I always look at the lady doing the mammo and look for her responses. I always try to tell if she is acting weird or trying to be nicer or trying to "not tell me something." This whole thing makes it so much worse for me.

Last year when they did only 1 film on each breast in each angle...she mentioned that is all that was needed...and told me usually that is a good sign.

I hate when they say nothing.

Sometimes I totally grieve that I have to go through this...through the years the constant worry can get totally depressing and you just want to go back to normal. I know they say this is the new normal and I truly hate it.

2 weeks of waiting is unhealthy.

Hugs.

Jade-dream

Yes!  I've been unglued since August 4th!  That was the day of my first follow up mammo & ultrasound, after right mastectomy a year ago  & finishing chemo in January.  They found something in the other breast. Microcalcifications and a 6mm spot that is too difficult to biopsy due to location near the chest wall.  Having to wait for biopsy until August 28th (even tho the cancer centre advised that the biopsy would occur within 1 week.). Apparently the stereotactic machine in the neighbouring town broke down and it is causing long wait times.  So yes! I feel unglued.  Going in for the follow up mammo was difficult. But this feels like salt in the wound. Anyone else have an experience like this?  

koshka1

Hi Jade,,,where are you in BC? I live in Cloverdale and had my treatment in Surrey. I just love how we have to wait a month for a biopsy! For sh*t's sake...seriously. With the amount of $ we put in to raise money this is unacceptable.

2 years ago they found something on my mammo. They were going to make me wait 1 month for an U/S. I complained and got in 2 days later. Then they said they need a Breast MRI. They said 3 months. I am like are you kidding me - I have 'had' prior cancer and you say 3 months. Anyways, I complained and called every day and I got in within 2 weeks. All was clear.

Unreal.

I don't know if I am making you feel better.. but hang in there as tomorrow is the 28th. The stereotactic is not that bad...just bruising. I had mine at the Women's Hospital on Oak St.

Hugs...Kosh.

Jade-dream

Thanks Kosh. I'm in Vernon B.C., apparently the stereotactic machine in Kelowna is broken (the Kelowna people will be sent here for a year they say!). It does make me feel better to know that at least I'm not the only one struggling with wait times. And it's so good to hear that it was all clear for you. Thank heaven, eh? It gives me hope that maybe I'll get the "all clear" too. I suppose the wait for biopsy results will be another week or two. . .

Sounds like you have good "powers of persuasion". I apparently need to brush up on that! Hugs to you.

koshka1

Geez. That is kinda funny. Can't believe it will take a year...you have got to be kidding!

It is a sad case when we can't repair a machine for a year...lol.

Anyway, I am not a fan of the stereotactic. I ended up having to have an excisional right after as they were still not sure about my diagnosis as the sample was not enough.

Keep me posted on how you are doing.

And just know that I am on the "losing my mind" train like you are.

Kosh

Jade-dream

I know Kosh, isn't it crazy!?!   I just shake my head and pray for the best. . . 

Jade-dream

Hey Kosh hope all is well with you. How are you?

I finally got the biopsy I had been waiting for since Aug 4th.  The radiologist opted for doing the ultrasound version instead of Stereotactic tho. (he couldn't understand why it was written that the lump I have would be too difficult to biopsy) so he went ahead and completed it. Now just more waiting. . . 

(The radiologist suggested that I call my doc to get an appointment to get results and darn wouldn't you know?  Can't get an appointment to get results for 9 days!

Man this wait is hard! 

koshka1

Jade Dream,

Oh crap ! go figure! the wait is the worst!!!!

I have a deal with my doctor... as a prior bc patient to give me my results over the phone and just send me the bill for $30 or whatever...I told her enough of the nonsense of waiting and having me drive to vancouver stressed out....give me results over the phone and then do my surgeon referral etc if the need be.....it's not like we have no experience with this...i can fully understand tho if it is a brand new diagnosis.

With a system as bad as ours for waiting, anxiety is the worst!

she agreed and so be it. she gives me my results over the phone

my mammo was fine.

Kosh

Anonymous

kosh--great news on the mammo !

anne

Jade-dream

yay! They finally gave me the results over the phone! Good news! YAY! Good to hear you got good news too, Kosh!