Just had second mammogram today

Anonymous

Just had second mammogram today

fiveoclock

I had my first ever mammogram on February 8th, and later that day I got a call back to book a full mammogram and ultrasound for today.

The pictures are up for viewing already, and I can see some spots where the technician measured things - there seem to be a number of things they’re looking at. I know I have a cyst and certainly some of the spots are very round and look like cysts, but other spots I just can’t tell what I’m looking at. I just want to know already. I can’t be alone in that I’m looking at my photos and googling what abnormalities typically look like. Hopefully I hear something before the end of the week.

AliceBastable

Since it was your first mammogram, they called you back to get a more detailed view, plus the ultrasound, to have a baseline comparison for the future. Round is good.

Beesie

Don't try to interpret your own imaging. Radiologists are doctors with years of training on how to read imaging - and even they don't agree sometimes. I've had lots of mammograms and ultrasounds, thanks to having lots of breast issues and biopsies (I had my first surgical biopsy at 16) plus a breast cancer diagnosis. I've also had quite a few ultrasounds for non-breast issues (just had one yesterday). I've seen lots of imaging up on those screens, and I know that I don't have a clue what I'm looking at.

Good luck! Hopefully this turns out to be nothing at all.

moth

I totally agree with Beesie. I wouldn't bother looking at imaging. Diagnostic radiology is a 5 year residency - ie 5 years on top of med school. I only look when my dr wants to show me something specific and wants to point something out. Otherwise, really, this is one area where just like looking at pathology slides, it's best to wait for the report. Just last week my MO said to me about some imaging "the report says x but I didn't see it. But it's not my job to see it - it's the radiologist's. She's the expert."

i hope your report pops up in your portal soon & you get good results!

fiveoclock

Thanks all. I think I needed someone to tell me to stop trying to read it myself. I have put the pics away and I'm just waiting to hear back, but I'm feeling like it's all going to be just fine.

LivinLife

Good for you for putting those away! Please do let us know how this turns out for you when you get results...

fiveoclock

Thank you, and I will. I was really hoping to hear something before the weekend, but it’s 4:52 and I’m thinking it’s not going to happen today.

fiveoclock

I’m going to get my call tomorrow. I had hoped to hear from my doctor on Friday, but it didn’t happen. I did miss two calls from her on Saturday morning, but when I tried to call back she had left for the day. So...tomorrow.

fiveoclock

Just got the call. It’s Birads 4 - biopsy will be required. My doctor wants me to call her when it gets scheduled and let her know if I didn’t hear anything within 1-2 weeks. I’m feeling pretty good about it - as we all know Birads 4 can mean cancer but for most it does not. I read that without the A, B or C it’s about 23-34%

Beesie

Yes, the percents you mentioned are about right for a BI-RADS 4.

Do you have a copy of the radiologist reports on the imaging? If not, get them. It's important to have them for your records, and often they give an indication of what the radiologist thinks might be going on - even without the A, B, or C on the BI-RADS 4, the description might be able to narrow things down a bit.

Do you know if it will be a stereotactic (mammogram-guided) or an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy?

Good luck with the biopsy! Keep us in the loop!

fiveoclock

I will call my doctor’s office to request the report, thanks @Beesie. I don’t know what type of biopsy it’ll be, yet, but hopefully the report will show me.

fiveoclock

OK, I got the report. Left breast is a simple cyst, so we're all good there.

The right side:

Findings: On additional mammography views, the asymmetry in the outer right breast persists with lobulated margins

9 o'clock position 6cm from the nipple a heterogeneous lobulated hypoechoic nodule with posterior acoustic shadowing measuring 1.2 x 0.7 x 0.1 cm. 10:30 o'clock position 5 cm from the nipplea hypoechoic nodule which appears taller than wider measuring up to 7mm, indeterminate solid nodule vs a complicated cyst. 12 o'clock position 1 cm from nipple a heterogeneous hypoechoic nodule measuring 5mm, focal fat lobule vs intramammary lymph node. It measures 5 mm. No axilllary lymphadenopathy.

Impression: Persistent lobulated asymmetry in the outer right breast. Lobulated hypoechoic nodule at 9 o'clock position could be a sonography correlate. Given the constellation of findings, recommend referral to Tertiary Care Cetre for ultrasound guided core biopsy. Hypoechoic nodule at 10:30 position, complicated cyst containing debris vs. Indeterminate solid nodule. It appears taller than wider. This should also be targeted for radiologist supervised second look ultrasound.

Birads 4.