1st Mammogram after dx

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DebInTN
DebInTN Member Posts: 85
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I just scheduled my first mammogram (annual) since being dx 2/29/08.  I have had mastectomy on right and am healing from reduction & lift on left side.  They said to allow 2 1/2 hours.  What can I expect?  Not sure why so anxious about this, except that my dx last year completely caught me off guard.  Guess in the back of my mind I'm afraid that it will happen again, even though I know it's really not likely at all that they'll find anything else. Thanks all!

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  • ijl
    ijl Member Posts: 897
    edited December 2008

    Deb

    I totally understand you. I had my mastectomy in August 2007. Then in February 2008 I had my first mammo after the treatement along with the MRI followed by lift in the other breast. Now I need to schedule my 2nd "after treatment" mammo and I am very anxious  too. I tel myself that it should be OK, but I am still dreading it.

    But when you think about it it's a natural reaction after what we went through. Just like you my "bad" mammo caught me off guard. So it is reasonable for us to dread this procedure especially "waiting" part. I am hoping to get what they call "diagnostic mammo" where they tell you results immediately vs waiting a few days. Last time they did but said that they might not do it now and I REALLY don't want to spend 2-3 days jumping at each phone call.Since they told you 2 1/2 hour I think you will know results right there.

    I guess we just have to accept that we will have annual anxiety that would  hopefully lead to clean mammo Smile

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  • car
    car Member Posts: 492
    edited December 2008

    2 1/2 hours sounds like a long time. I've had two mammos post-dx, and the mammo itself didn't last very long. Fortunately, I now have my mammos at the comprehensive cancer center (my BS orders them), and the radiologist reads them while I'm there, comes out and discusses them w/me. I think we all should be treated that way--it really reduces the anxiety. Maybe the extra time is due to the fact your radiologist will be on site and you'll get the results right away?

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  • OG56
    OG56 Member Posts: 897
    edited December 2008

    I am going tomorrow for my 6 month post surgical mamo. Even though I don't think there will be any more cancer I am scared too!  Then to make matters worse, the BC Center called to tell me that my Surgical Oncologist is no longer there and so now I have no doctor! I traveled home to Omaha from NY for Christmas and to see my BS and he is not there! This really freaks me out and I am not sure why except I am scared something else will show up and I would have to find a new Dr. and new hospital etc....

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  • DebInTN
    DebInTN Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2008

    Thanks all.  I guess misery loves company?  I've never been a 'fraidy cat' so this is all so new to me.  Sometimes I get so annoyed with myself - but then I remember that the surgeon told me on day one that it would be a year before I begin to get to the other side of this - and it's not a year yet.  I even find myself getting jittery when I go to the oncologists office and see the chemo folks - and I didn't even require chemo.  Everyone thinks I have been so strong and brave ... but there are moments that I feel so weak & vulnerable.

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