Follow up mammograms

H cinchgirl, I'm heading off this afternoon for my first (6 months post rad) follow up mammogram so was very interested to see this post, although I don't have any experiences to share (yet). I'm also curious to know what the follow-up experience has been like for others who had surgery and radiation to treat DCIS.

Thanks for posting.

Im pretty sure mammo picked up my low grade dcis.  It was my first mammo

I just had a biopsy last month after my annual mammogram picked up abnormalities (or whatever).  Thank G*d it was benign.  However, I have to do a 6 month followup.  I hate them; any test is just scary and nerve wracking.  Once you've had BC, I guess you never get over of the fear of it coming back.  I can understand your thinking about getting a mx just to put a halt to all of the testing, but remember a mx has its own set of problems.

Hi all, just got a call for a follow up ultrasound and possibly another mammogram (after my 6 months follow up mammogram last week). I'm now feeling pretty anxious. Actually make that scared... Luckily I only have to wait until Saturday for the follow up to the follow up.

Mine was a very tiny (3 mm) intermediate grade DCIS found by mammogram, followed by core biopsy, followed by wire guided biopsy/lumpectomy, followed by radiation - 7 months from start to finish. I am hoping not to have to go back down that road again, but regardless I am grateful for the tests that are catching these things.

really?  New calcs developed from radiation???   oh great......

Thanks everyone, and thanks for the link, BL. I like the conclusion: "Newly occurring calcifications in the treated breast are usually benign, and they can be managed conservatively in many cases by using morphology and pattern of distribution as a guide."

The tech told me I was scheduled for mammo only on the treated breast, but since it has been over 12 months since my last bilateral mammogram she went ahead and did both breasts (and hurray for her for taking the initiative and not just blindly following 'orders'). So I'm not even sure whether the area of concern is in the treated breast or not - I hope so, because then as Beesie says it may just be scar tissue. Fingers crossed!

keep us posted akmom!  hoping for the best!

I too, am due for my mammogram in February and am concerned about the calcifications on my non-affected breast.  Beesie, I never had a mammogram post treatment.  Is this the general rule?  I am also worried about the actual mammogram on my affected breast too, as it is pretty sore and tender after the lumpectomy and rads. 

That is very good news, cinchgirl, thanks for passing it on!

Mamglam, I was worried about the mammo also as my breast is still tender (finished rads May 1) but it was actually not particularly painful - I've had much worse during past screenings. Hope yours will be okay.

Hi gumshoe, I've been lurking on the Canadian threads and keeping an eye on you! Sounds like you've been busy at work, me too. Why the heck can't life just give us one thing at a time, instead of piling everything on all at once??? 

Hope everyone gets good results, I am going to keep watching for your posts.

Not yet, I think I'll have to make a phone call tomorrow and follow up myself. It's probably a case of "no news is good news" but I don't take anything for granted anymore!

Hi gumshoe, my doctor's receptionist said he had "signed off" on the results and she wasn't told to call me in to review them. Hmmmm. In the circumstances, you'd think they would know I would want to hear what the ultrasound and diagnostic mammo showed... But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - he usually goes too far the other way and calls me in for nothing

I'm sure it will be a false alarm, anyway. Thanks for asking!

wow.......that is quite a story

Wow!!  In 2007, I had clear discharge from my right nipple and had several mammograms and a failed ductogram (that was a crazy experience).  Come to find out it was a papilloma that was benign that I finally had removed in 2010 because the discharge turned colors.  

This year, I over slept and miss my annual mammo.  I had decided to just wait until next year because I had not felt anything and neither did my gyn during my annual exam.  Well my hubby strongly encouraged me to re-schedule.  After much protesting I finally had it done...suspicious calcification, MRI, biopsy, DCIS 5 cm, High Grade with necrosis.  

I ended up with a MX because of how large it was and the fact that it was high grade and age of diagnosis.  As much as I hate mammo's...I will never consider putting one off again.