I hate this - 2 1/2 years out and mamogram anxiety

CAMommy

I’m 2 1/2 years out from my original dx and tomorrow I have my next 6 mos mamogram. My anxiety is as high as when I was first called with suspicious mam in 2015.

I was told my my Oncologist I’d be down to yearly after my 2 years but the radiologist wants me every 6 months still. I guess it’s better so they can catch things earlier but this anxiety is crazy.

About 2-3 weeks before my appt I just start to get really freaked out and anxious. Rationally I know wither I’m anxious or not has no impact at all on if it comes back. And if it does being in an already freaked out state will only make everything worse. But I can’t stop worrying.

I hate this

Georgia1

Hi CAMommy. I'm so sorry; I know it's stressful. But in addition to the favorable odds you already know about, from your signature it looks like your family history also gives you good reason to believe a recurrence is unlikely. I wish I had some way to help! But I do send you warm wishes and good thoughts.

HollyDollyD

Hugs. Praying that all will be well and sending you

Holly

TrmTab

I think these milestones are natural to be anxious.

I have my 2 year Dexa Scan in a couple of weeks...after 2 years on Arimedix only now do I get a chance to see if the drug has damaged my bone density. I wish I could have had a test at 3 or 6 months to see if there was an affect and only then continue for years.

Point being, whether it is 6 months or 2 years, these tests will be mile markers

CAMommy

thank goodness I’m all clear. Another one in 6 mos. I suppose I’ll worry for the rest of my life 😐.

I see the MO in 2 weeks. She doesn’t do much except order my mamograms at this point.

Kkubsky

I know the feeling. My mammo is scheduled in about 2 weeks. It will be 2 yrs since I was diagnosed and I am definitely feeling scanxiety! I tend to start looking at recurrence statistics and prognostic factors and try to reassure myself that I am fine. But until that mammo and us come back negative, I am nervous. I am down to annual mammos so it has been a year since my last one, although I am seen by either my surgeon or rad onc every 3 months. I think this is to be my last diagnostic mammo....back to screening after this one. No difference except that the diagnostic ones are looked at right away....no waiting anxiously for results.

Funny how when scan time comes around for me, I emotionally and mentally transport back to that awful day when I found out I had DCIS. All the insecurity and fear comes out again....well...maybe not quite as strongly...but still there. I play these silly "what if" games in my head. I can be my own worst enemy.

Glad your scans results were good news. Hoping the same for me....

CAMommy

oh my goodness I totally start googling reoccurrence and prognosis data too.

The Center was very slow this morning, I was the only one waiting for results and yet they took 30+ minutes. I thought for sure something most be wrong but then had to remind myself 100 times if they saw something they would do more images right then. Eventually they told me to go get dressed which is always the sign everything is ok. But sheesh it was a long wait.

TrmTab

Agree, I have my annual mammo on Feb 5...I'm sure once I get through with the Dexa scan, I will start thinking of that!

Meow13

I am 6 years out and still get horrible anxiety at MRI and mammograms. PTSD that is what it is.

kittenknit

I just had my 6 month follow-up (after no treatment). I opted for tomosynthesis (3D mammo) plus ultrasound. The mammogram didn't show anything, so I'm glad I had the ultrasound, which gave me a better idea of the actual dimensions of the DCIS. Will request u/s going forward when I see the BS at the end of the month, since I'm not sure the extra radiation is worth it for what it doesn't show.

Kkubsky

Had my mammo/us this morning. ALL NORMAL!!! Now I don't go back for a year! Yikes! But I do see the radiation onc in between then and now...... Kind of scary being set free so to speak.

MarcellaPa

Meow13, you're right--it is PTSD.

I just made my appointment for my mammogram for April 4th and the fluttery feeling I've had the past couple of weeks increased. I had my first baseline diagnostic mammogram 3/29/17 6 months after I completed my rads. for some reason, my surgeon recommended ongoing screening mammograms rather than diagnostic mammograms. I'm told the resuts won't be available until 5 days after instead of that same day. Apparently insurance won't pay for ongoing diagnostic mammograms. I'm dreading a 5 day waiting period. Anyone else treated for DCIS switch to screening mammograms with the wait for results? How did you cope?

Marcella

Meow13

Marcella, my mammograms are read as I wait. I always ask for the longer appointments that read the results after I have the images. This year my medical insurance has considered my screening facility as out of network I will pay more. It is worth it to walk in and walk out with a reading. The anxiety is terrible but the relief of hearing good news has help me continue on. The time I had a question on my MRI sent me back to a panic state, but they did a biopsy and a result before the weeks end. I hate looking for trouble sometimes I wish for a quick end. I don't want to suffer for months with certain death. But on the other hand, catching cancer ASAP is appealing.

MarcellaPa

Thanks Meow!

I spoke to my surgeon's physician's assistant today and she explained that the facility's policy is to recommend ongoing screening mammogram after the initial baseline diagnostic mammogram. She said there were more biopsies ordered based on diagnostic mammograms and that those biopsies were more often negative.

She told me the screening and the diagnostic was the same and the only difference was when the radiologist read the film. In the diagnostic, the radiologist reads the film while you wait. The screening takes longer and you wait for the results. The thought that I have to do this for the rest of my life is upsetting. :

Annette47

I was switched back to screening mammograms after 2 years as well. A bit disconcerting at first, but the more clear ones I get, the less it bothers me.

bluepearl

Take some magnesium like Natural Calm, I believe it is called. relax you. Magnesium citrate powder too will help...avoid magnesium oxide...while cheap, it is poorly absorbed.

TaraLeeOm

I'll be getting my lumpectomy in a couple of weeks. I am receptor positive, so they want me to take the hormone inhibitor pills. But I've read they can possibly cause blot clots and stroke.

So I will be taking them to stave off the chance of cancer and trading that for the chance of a stroke?

I hate this, too.