First Mammo After Treatment

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bethaib
bethaib Member Posts: 125
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I just received a requisition in the mail from my BS's office about scheduling a mammo. However, it only indicates I should have the right breast done (where my DCIS was found). I guess I thought I'd be tested in both breasts, after all who's to say DCIS won't be found in the left side?

What is a "normal" process regarding mammos after lumpectomy/rads? Do they only do the "good side" once a year? I seem to remember I will have the right side checked more frequently at least initially.

Now that I've become a member of this group, I can't help but worry what my mammo will show this time. And so I worry even more about the side that won't get checked for a while....

I'm wishing I didn't have to deal with this added stress especially as it is just getting into the holiday season and there is plenty to stress about without this on top of it....

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    I have my first mammo on 12/10.  I had surgery last Jan. and Feb then radiation in March for the right side.  At my 6th month post radiation checkup she said we could wait until December to do a mammo since my insurance wouldn't pay for the left side until it had been a year since the routine mammogram that led to the DCIS diagnosis. 

    I understand totally about this added stress during the holidays.  My routine mammogram last year was on 12/2 then diagnostic mammogram on 12/4 followed by stereotatic needle biopsy on the 9th.  Kinda sucks the joy right out of Christmas.  I swore I would never ever go for routine screening in Dec again.  Then when I saw Dr. in Oct and she said mammo in Dec I thought no no no.  But it is what it is.

    Ann 

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited December 2009

    Beth and Ann,

    I just had my 1st mammo after tx, told myself it will be nothing. Hate to admit anxiety almost got the best of me and I almost passed out, granted it was after the 4th image of my affected breast. (disclaimer, it was not because it was painful, it wasn't comfortable but I think I almost had a vaso-vago from being anxious) Waiting for the results, won't lie, agonizing, but when they give you the all clear, it is very liberating. As for both of your next mammos, why not wait and get it done the first week of January? Waiting a couple of extra weeks won't make a difference and you can enjoy Christmas without the stress of waiting for the results.  You deserve a great Christmas!

    Penny 

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  • hobie644
    hobie644 Member Posts: 94
    edited December 2009

    I'll have my first mammo  in March, bilateral. And, because the MRI I had before my surgery found stuff of concern; I get to have another one, also in March,  to look for stabilitly or change.  I'm already stressing about it!!!

    Carol

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  • Wndalina
    Wndalina Member Posts: 98
    edited December 2009

    Hi!  I had surgery last Sept 2008 - radiation ended the last of Nov last year.  I have had one mammo on left only - the "sickie" one.  Tomorrow I go for my first bi-lateral mammie - kind of nervous, I feel like the right one has been ignored since the MRI before surgery.  I mean my mammie was CLEAN July 2007 - July 2008 not so much.  I see my BC surgeon next week and will discuss future mammies.  PRe-menopausal who knows what she will recommend.

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited December 2009

    Wndalina, how did you make out with your mammo? Hope everything went well!

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  • Wndalina
    Wndalina Member Posts: 98
    edited December 2009

    Hi - things were good - whew.  Funny how i have a strong front for everyone but then, the night before the mammie I couldn't sleep and had nightmares of how to tell people it was back.  I know its totally normal....  Thanks for asking.

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2009

    I just posed this question myself and had not see this thread. Thanks for the information. I am having my first mammo post BC treatment tomorrow and guess it will be only on the affected side. I am almost more worried about the other side at this point!

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited December 2009

    Susan,

    If you are concerned with the other side too, ask to have it done as well as long as it isn't a 6 month follow up from tx, if it is a year out then they should be doing the other breast as well anyway.

    Best of luck, take an analgesic (tylenol or what ever you use) to take the edge off the discomfort! Won't hurt your results at all. Remember to try to relax as well as if you are all tense then the technologist ends up compressing a tight pectoral muscle just to get to your breast. 

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2009

    Thank you, all good ideas. Strangely enough I am not all that nervous although I will probably feel it more in the morning. It's definitely not fun to contemplate though. I alreay have my tylenol ready for the morning.

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    Susan, 

    How did it go?  Praying all is well!!! 

    I have my mammo tomorrow.  I'm starting to get just a bit anxious about it.

    Ann

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2009

    Hi Dietcoke,

    Thanks for asking. I had a clean mammogram, but did not enjoy the morning. They only did the affected side. As I was waiting for my results, they came out and called me back which happens to me a lot because my tissue is dense. Today though, it unnerved me and brought me back to that day in May when everything changed. As it turned out, the radiologist just wanted a better view of some calcifications that have been there for some time now. She wanted to make sure they were stable, and they were. I saw my surgeon after that who made me wait until he got the results for himself before sending me on my way. I will go back in June to have a bilateral mammo. I was much more anxious about the whole thing than I thought I was, but it all turned out well. I do appreciate how careful they are at my center, but all in all, I'd rather be in Philadelphia!

    Best of luck tomorrow. I will keep you in my thoughts.  

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2009

    Hello Ann,

    Just wondering how things went for you today. Hope it was quick with a good outcome.

    Susan

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    Well I was hoping they would give me the results today.  But they did not.  This was the first time I had the mammo at the surgeon's office.  They just added digital mammography to the practice.  Apparently the radiologist comes in to read them at specific times which I didn't know.  So I don't have results and may not know until next week.  Bummer!

    It was ok.  I had surgery last year on the right side but it didn't hurt as bad as the left side did today.  

    Ann 

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    Oh gosh... this waiting all weekend for the mammogram results is going to be agonizing!!!

    Ann 

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2009

    I'm sorry you are going through this. It really is so inconsiderate to make you wait. Do something nice for yourself and remember that you are doing everything that you can be doing to stay free of this beast. Sending you good thoughts.

    Susan

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    Thanks Susan.

    Fortunately I have a busy weekend to keep me occupied.  My daughter is turning 20 today.  We're going to a Christmas play this morning.  Plus we have a Christmas cantata tomorrow.  I play handbells in the cantata so I'll be busy.  I need to keep my mind occupied!

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    Finally I have the results. 

    Clean mammogram.  What a relief!

    Ann 

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  • AlohaGirl
    AlohaGirl Member Posts: 213
    edited December 2009

    Congratulations, Ann!  I have my first post-treatment mammogram scheduled for January 18.  I'm not too worried about it yet, but I'm sure I will be when it comes to the day before and the actual day (and waiting for results).

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited December 2009

    Ann great news congrats!

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  • Susantc
    Susantc Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2009

    Congratulations, Ann. I've been wondering about you. Go enjoy the holidays!

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  • dietcoke
    dietcoke Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2009

    Thanks!  What a relief!  Maybe I'll sleep better tonight!

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  • bonnie1jean
    bonnie1jean Member Posts: 40
    edited January 2010

    Has anyone been told to have a follow-up mammo. a few weeks after the lumpectomy just to see if all the DCIS is gone?  I've been reading about this.  My BS said I could wait 6 months, but today my radiologist called and told me that I should do the mammo. just be be sure it was all removed????

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  • Janets1
    Janets1 Member Posts: 57
    edited January 2010
    Hi Bonnie1jean:
    I was told by my rad onc that I could wait 7 or 8 months before my next mammogram (which would take me to a full year since the one where they discovered the DCIS). After two excisions and radiation, I feel pretty confident that there is nothing going on in there and personally, I'm exhausted from the experience, relieved it is over and not anxious to revisit it any time soon. Maybe there are different points of view about this but I am waiting the full 8 months!!! Did you have radiation? If not, maybe that is the difference........
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  • bonnie1jean
    bonnie1jean Member Posts: 40
    edited January 2010

    Hi Janets1

    No I haven't had radiation.  I'm actually still in the process of figuring out how to treat this.  My pathology report (read by 3 different facilities) say that  I have DCIS or possible pleomorphic LCIS.  I've had a consultation with a radiation oncologist, plastic surgeon and tomorrow it's on to the medical oncologist.  So I still haven't figured out the treatment plan.  My BS has told me twice that this is not life threatening and that we could probably monitor this.  I'm very confused.  And now to decide whether to do another mammogram or wait.

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  • Janets1
    Janets1 Member Posts: 57
    edited January 2010

    Hey, BonnieJean:

    That is great news if your BS told you that it is possible just to monitor it....if I had anything less than Grade 3 I probably would not have done the radiation. I guess it's all about your own comfort level and put together ALL the advice you get from BS, radiation onc, med onc etc. and you will have a better idea about choosing about your treatment plan - and the follow up mammogram timing. Keep us posted!

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