Member of the "6 Month Watchful Waiting Club", Unite!

For those of you alternating mammograms & MRIS, are you getting a screening or diagnostic mammogram?

I alternate every 6 months between MRIs and mammos.  I get screening mammos, which I'm fine with.  Because I have an implant in my breast, I normally get 4 pictures - two in each position, one with the implant in place and one with the implant pushed aside.  I have a history of breast cancer so if anything ever shows up that isn't clear or that appears suspicious, the tech talks to the radiologist who advises on taking extra pictures at different angles or doing a magnifed view or they pull me in for an ultrasound right away. I'm perfectly fine with that approach. Why have more rads than necessary?

Diagnostic usually takes more views from more angles and/or if there is an area of concern, they will take magnified views.  

Thanks for the explanations.  Now I know that all of my mammos have been diagnostic because I get many views taken each time, then I get a sono right after and the radiologist always talks to me before I leave. I've always had many, many cysts, some complex cysts, so I've had many mammos done, probably more that I would consider safe.   

This was the first time I got bad news, I could tell it wasn't good because my radiologist was having a hard time trying to explain what he saw.  He's been my radiologist for over 20 years and he knows my breast conditions really well.    Now I'll be going to a new place (new state) for my follow up because we moved and my heart is broken.  I hope I will have a good radiologist here too.  

It is great to find this thread, I am already in this club, unfortunately. A long wait-see story as every of you, started this May 1st, my 1st screen mammography. Then put into six month club, actually four months left, really three months live in peace, a nice summer with my daughter. Then fall comes, another due is around the corner.

Thanks all of you, learning here, I know that most of the cases in this club are treatable. Good.

Also, I wonder if you have metal clips (the one from biopsies) in your body, did you feel any side effect due to this stuff? I wonder if some of you have several. I also have this dilemma, as a Chinese woman, I am pretty small in the breast, if cutting tissues samples through biopsies, I wonder if my breast will shrink, of maybe just directly go for surgery...

I lost 15 lbs since my call-back, I was a little obesity, now almost normal. I am 45 years old, live with my 7 years daughter, don't know if something really happens, how to deal with it.

Thanks for listening, my due is next month.

Well, got my "your mammogram was o.k." letter today. I guess i can breathe again until April MRI time.



Of course, in the back of my head I'm thinking "yeah, right" about the mammogram...

Cheers! Hopefully I can have same result soon.

Melissa,

Did you receive treatment for "LCIS"? I am really new to those birads 3 situations.

Felt the need to report good news:  6 month mammogram could not be done as scheduled at NYU Langone, since they are still without power from the storm.  The anxiety was killing me, so I was fortunate to find a very well regarded private radiologist who did it for me today-- very short notice!  He did an US too, just to be safe.  Pronounced me "boring".  Hurray!

Here's to hoping the rest of the women in the 6 Month Club have very boring results, too!

Melissa,

I wonder how can one have a job if dealing with so many checkups every six month. I am hoping to get a job when my girl grows up, but since I fell into this group, I feel like it is impossible.

Carpediem,

When I read the statistics, it says less than 2% in this category is cancinoma. I don't know if Melissa's case is counted into. I don't know what does this 2% exactly mean for, does it include LCIS and DCIS?

I am in Vancouver, taking care of my child alone, my husband works in Seattle, that he visits us the weekend. I am talking to my husband, if something happens on me, I want to go back to China for treatment, cause I need my family to take care of me, and my girl also needs someone to take care. I don't know if something happens in this group, what treatment it may be, if it is just surgery, my husband can take one week off to take care, but if it is long term treatment, ... and I need very quick decision if I have to after I got my checkup result. Can not do any planning now, my husband and my close friend are bored of hearing me talk this, thanks for the sisters here.

momoschki,

What wonderful news.

Yes, thanks everyone, I am so relieved, as this group so uniquely understands. The situation this time was made that much more stressful by the hurricane, which has large portions of NYC still without power (including, unfortunately, the hospital where I get my screenings.) I feel do fortunate to have found a reputable radiologist who could do the mammogram & US on such short notice to give me the peace of mind I needed (at least until May, when the whole cycle begins again!)

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if I should really be here in comparison to many of you who have been dealing with follow-ups for years (bless your hearts).  But I am awaiting my first 6 month follow-up which will be next week and just wanted to say hello and that you all are in my thoughts.