Help, Tomorrow another Mammgram at Stage III

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Help, Tomorrow another Mammgram at Stage III
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    So tomorrow I have to go for my first mammogram since this whole nightmare began last year.  I'm having high anxiety over going for a mam in my remaining breast.  Yep I'm really feeling I don't want to do this anymore.  Especially now knowing about the micro calcifications they were watching every 6 months in this breast and then being diagnosed with IDC in my left after being cleared each time on the right every 6 months.  I just can't take this!  The very thought of going there and if they dare tell me to come back in another 6 months I'll freak,  I know it!  The thought of going thru this AGAIN also freaks me out, so I just don't want to telll them to take it off too. 

    Do you think they'll want to do another core biopsy on this breast because of the density and micro calcifications?  Or will they just miss something that could be growing there like they did on the left before I found the 5.2 cm tumor myself? 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    Hope it all goes OK tomorrow. It won't be any fun, and I will be thinking about you. If you have dense breasts and a mammo missed cancer before, have you considered getting an MRI as well?? I get a yearly Breast MRI, which is no fun, but I do think is more accurate than just a Mammo alone. In fact, I do all three - Mammo, Ultrasound and MRI, spread out over the year. My BS thinks it just doesn't hurt to be extra cautious.

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  • justpayton1
    justpayton1 Member Posts: 786
    edited February 2010

    I can relate somewhat..

    I am going Thursday for my routine pet/ct scan and it will be a year since my nightmare started also.

    My anxiety level is off the charts...feels like i am back on the steriods :)

    I hope all goes well w/ you tomorrow.

    I agree w/ KerryMac and the MRI.

    Will be thinking of you

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    Funny I am trying to decide now about my other breast coming off. I really don't think I can handle the stress of another bc and going through tests. Out of cusiousity-what made you decide to keep it? I know part of me wants to keep it b-c well it's real and it's mine and another surgery is not something I would look forward to right now but...

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited February 2010

    Shanagirl, I also was freaking out before my first post-treatment mammo. I was upset and near tears during it, and the tech (who I have voted for as Sweetiepie Of The Year) was very concerned that she was hurting me - this was as she was getting me in the machine. I told her I was afraid because it ws my first post-treatment mammo and she was so sympathetic and sweet in the way she dealt with me. She did NOT pull one of the "I'm sure you'll be fine" platitudes since, in truth, she couldn't be sure, and afterwards said, "We should hear only good news".

    So I will take a tip from her, and tell you the same - we should hear only good news.

    That's what I'll pray for - that you should hear good news, and the tech should be like the one I had.

    Leah

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  • somersher
    somersher Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2010

    I understand, as I'm in a sea of anxiety myself right now.  I've had 2 lumpectomies that didn't produce clear margins, so now it is mastectomy for me.  I'm trying to decide whether to have bilateral so I won't have to endure this again, also.  What made you just do one side, and did you have reconstruction?  Are you sorry you kept it or would you do it the same way again?  Any advice is appreciated, as I must decide within the next few days . . .

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2010

    I couldn't stand the anxiety of thinking it might come back in the other breast and having to do the mammo every 6 months.  So I had them take the other breast when I had reconstruction.  I'm very happy with my decision.

    Shana/Barb -- I had super-dense breasts as well.  Insist on an MRI.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    This is the thing.  I had asked the BS at my first consultation when learning I had  to have a mastectomy, the shock of it all and trying to absorb the fact that they would take the left breast was so overwhelming, I honestly didn't think or even want to say Oh, well take the other one too.  When the BS discussed the mastectomy he told me I could have immediate reconstruction if I wanted.  At that moment the thought of waking up from a mastectomy with a "new breast" made from a 'tummy tuck" seemed to make the idea of the mastectomy less traumatic.  He recommended some PS I could make an appt with to talk about the possibilty of the "free tram flap".  So that is what I did, and honestly although I was a rough surgery as far as the post surgical pain, I awoke in recovery pain free, with a beautiful breast mound made from my belly, and was smooth and round and soft and my tummy flat as it was in grade school.  At the time of the surgery I also believed there was no node involvement but would wait until the SN. After my post surgical cosultation, I asked my BS if I should have had the right breast removed also, and he felt no.  But I really wonder now.

    image

    Barb

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited February 2010

    wishing you good luck tomorrow...as Sherri said, no words of knowledge or sage wisdom here as I too had a bilat....,I am ready to be done with all this BS sh**, folloow up exams and the what not...not a good time to write as I have just enjoyed a few too many glasses of red wine.

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  • cherneski
    cherneski Member Posts: 726
    edited February 2010

    Hugs and Prayers for ya!  Love ya!

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited February 2010

    I had bilat, too, so no mammos here.  However, I do understand the anxiety.  Once we've been diagnosed, nothing is just routine anymore, is it?  I like the MRI, it's just lots more sensitive.  You can always decide when/if you want to have the other side done.  For now,  I will be thinking of you, hoping you get through tomorrow with the least amount of stress possible.  G.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    Thinking of you today, hope it is as stress free as possible.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    Thinking of you today:) Prayers and hugs...

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  • Let-It-Be
    Let-It-Be Member Posts: 325
    edited February 2010

    Thinking of you today too Shanagirl, may it be uneventful for you.

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited February 2010

    Hoping that you hear good news today.

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited February 2010

    I did have a bilat for these very reasons. No more mammos for me. It failed to find my cancer until it was large enough for me to feel.

    Good luck Shanagirl. If you have any Xananx, today's the day to take one...or two.

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  • victoriasecret
    victoriasecret Member Posts: 333
    edited February 2010

    Hi nother bilateral here... When they were trying to figure out what was going on with me I said "If its cancer they are both GONE !" I did not want to deal with the emotions and anxiety...but thats just me ...because I do realize masectomy does not take away all the risk.

    When I sat in the surgeons office and she examined my "lump"  amd stated stg 2 maybe 3 I lost it and then I said "they're both going" not even a thought,I had my game plan all ready if in the event the worse case scenario played out ...it did.She agreed I am sure she knew it was Lobular which can present in the other breast.

    Having said that most doctors do not recommend dbl mx...with Lobular it is different.With my extensive family ca history I would have done the double regardless of the stg,or type...just me everyone has to make their own decisions.

    Best of luck thinking of you.

    ml C

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited February 2010

    Good Luck today - thinking of you....

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2010

    Barb~~ thinking of you!!  Calming thoughts heading your way ....

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited February 2010

    Just saw your post and wanted to give you a word of encouragement, and hope everything went OK today.  Please do not second guess your decision to save the other breast!  I went back and forth as to what to do and I really didn't make up my mind until the Saturday before my Monday surgery to do both sides.  It ended up being the right decision for me.  But for you, at the time with the knowledge you had, you made the right decision too!  I tend to second guess a lot of my treatment decisions and have to remind myself that I can't change what's already happened.  It's hard to do in practice, but something I think we all have to remind ourselves and go easy on ourselves.

    Hope to hear good news soon.

    Sharon :)

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