Trying not to worry...

momzombie

Guess I'm premature, but I can't stop thinking about the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound I have scheduled for tomorrow. I had a screening mammogram last Friday and got a call Monday telling me to come in for diagnostics on left breast. My PCP's office also called Monday to tell me to come in to go over some lab work. The nurse mentioned that I am anemic and have a Vitamin D deficiency. Now I'm really concerned because that's been linked to breast cancer. Trying not to worry until I have something to worry about. Not succeeding.

MelissaDallas

Mom, try not to get ahead of yourself. A big percentage of women eventually get called in for more views. Often just that clears things up and with the closer look it definitely appears benign. Even if it turns out you needed a biopsy the vast majority are benign. I honestly don't know anyone who hasn't had low vitamin D on testing and lots of women are anemic too! Hope everything is okay

momzombie

Thank you, Melissa. I'm trying.

Logang

The not knowing and waiting are the worst! Sending hugs and hoping you get good news!

LisaAlissa

Hi momzombie!

As Melissa says, being called in for a diagnostic workup is very common, given that women are screened every year. In fact, it would be astonishing if one were never called back! This is from the Imaginis site, which has additional info about the screening process:

On the above diagram, note that your goal is to fail to be advanced farther "up" the diagram. Each one is a narrower group of people. Your doc found "something" that they want to take a closer look at during your routine screeening mammogram, so they've asked you to come back for additional imaging (a diagnostic workup). So you are in the 10% of people who have screening mammograms who are asked back.

Of all of those who are sent on to a diagnostic workup (where you are), only 25% are sent on to a biopsy--that is, 75% people "fall out" of the screen at that point. You may be told that you need to return to your routine screening schedule...or that they would like to see you again "sooner" so that can see if "whatever-it-is" is stable.

Of the 25% who are sent on to biopsy (not your category yet!) 80% will be told their biopsy doesn't show cancer.

You're early in the screening process. There are at least two distinct layers of screening you'd have to get through before you could even have the possibility of a cancer diagnosis.

I know it's easy to worry, but really. Try not to borrow trouble that isn't yours yet.

Hope you fail to advance in the diagnostic process very, very soon!

LisaAlissa

momzombie

Thank you, Logang and LisaAlissa. I had the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound done yesterday. Also saw my PCP yesterday.

LisaAlissa, great diagram. It helps to see it laid out like that.

I thank everyone for the support and pray for negative results for others who are waiting.

Kicks

Don't know your age but many women are anemic. For some, it just goes with being a woman for some. I've never been anemic

Low Vit. D is very common in today's world (for men and women) I have to 'work' to keep my Vit. D level up and have had to for 20+ yrs. Taking mega doses of Vit. D daily and using my light box daily from Aug - June.

momzombie

Thanks, Kicks. I'm 55. My PCP told me that normal vitamin D level should be between 50 and 80. Mine is 8. My hemoglobin is 9.7. I know this doesn't automatically mean that I have cancer. I probably need to get outside in the sun more and to change my diet. Also take supplements.

momzombie

I've been doing a lot of thinking and re-thinking...On the phone they told me it was my left breast. When I got there, they told me it was my right breast. Had the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound on my right breast. Tech took the xrays to the doctor to read them right then. Came back ten minutes later, very embarrassed, and told me the doctor had left the facility to go pick up his wife whose car broke down somewhere.

I was more annoyed and frustrated than mad. I mean, couldn't the wife figure something else out to take care of her car situation, other than calling her husband! I mean, he's a doctor and has huge responsibilities and people's emotions and lives riding on what he sees in the films. Lol....I'm kind of getting angry now. Lol

I asked the tech when I might hear something. She said Monday at the latest. Lucky me. ...my PCP's office is closed on Monday for President's Day. ACK! So now I sit and wait. I do hope they got the correct breast. SIGH

ChiSandy

Does your health system have an online patient portal? If it does, and you set it up, you will probably find the written report from the first mammogram that found the anomaly that required the diagnostic imaging. If it says "left," and the diagnostic imaging was performed on the wrong breast, you have documented evidence (make sure to print it out in case they try to delete it) of a screw-up. In that case, demand diagnostic imaging for your left breast too (and put that in writing, date-stamped, as well)

momzombie

Patient portal is a terrific idea! Thanks, ChiSandy.

I tried to log on yesterday, but need passcode which my PCP's office has to provide. Called all afternoon, but kept getting the busy signal. His office is closed on Monday due to the holiday, so I will try again on Tuesday.

Meow13

love the diagram

momzombie

l just remembered something my PCP said while I was at my appointment last Wednesday. He read the report of my screening mammogram and he said it mentioned something about asymmetrical cells or something like that. I know he definitely said asymmetrical.

Can anyone shed some light on what he could have been talking about?

LisaAlissa

Hi MomZombie!

I don't know what he might have been saying. But you should get a copy of the report on your screening mammogram. Not just the "patient letter," but the one that describes what they saw. Clearly your PCP has it, and you should request a copy.

Then you can see for yourself what it says, and ask more here, if you like,

HTH,

LisaAlissa