Call back for more mammo views

Thanks for the suggestions, jenlee. I walked my dogs a couple of miles, held my purring cat for awhile, and will do a stretching routine and listen to a relaxation meditation tonight.

Best wishes and positive thoughts on your biopsies. Thanks for taking time to respond to my stesses when you're in the middle of some big stresses yourself!

That's great news! I'm so happy for you, jenlee!

I called my doctor's office again today about scheduling images. Unfortunately, the office is "backed up" and they hadn't even looked at my report. This information came only after I called 3X (in two days; I thought I was very restrained!) and told the person who answered the phones that, if I could leave work to pick up a registered letter that told me to call the doctor's office, they could take the time to tell me what was going on.

So, it looks like I'll have to wait until I actually see my doctor on Monday before I have any clue about what is going on. If my oncologist had actually looked at the radiology report and done nothing, I'd feel more relaxed about this. Since the radiologist sent the registered letter immediately (and the tech took about 7 different pictures of my L breast, focusing on one particular area), I'm feeling nervous about my results again. I've learned that the techs are usually good at spotting abnormalities.

I'm feeling very frustrated with the doctor's office right now. He is the head of the Cancer Center at a local hospital. Seems like he is always behind, and the using the Cancer Center is like being on a long waiting list. I used to go to a free-standing radiology clinic for my mammograms. There, I would wait for my results and get an on the spot ultrasound if the radiologist thought it was necessary. The hospital tore it down to build a new office building.

First, the doctor was very apologetic that they did not respond to my messages. She said she never got any messages (Later, I heard her talking to some clerical workers. I heard, "She kept talking about a registered letter. What's a registered letter? We don't send those!"). It appears someone didn't pass the messages on...

Anyway, my "focal asymmetry" appeared last year and appears to be more "prominent' and "dense" this year. The the report also says it likely breast parenchyma (essentially means breast tissue). BIRADS = 0 (the prominent and dense don't sound wonderful).

So, I should have some answers after an ultrasound and more views on Friday.

I think the PA was trying to reassure me that I won't have to wait and stress about my results this time, but she said, "They'll either give you the 'all clear' before you leave Radiology on Friday or they'll give you some paperwork. If you get paperwork, bring it over here and we'll get you right in to see the breast surgeon."

I think she was trying to reassure me they'd be no wait to interpret results this time. However, it came out all wrong! Telling me I could talk to the Breast Surgeon right away does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside or give me a sense of security!

Hi karensimone,

When I was first diagnosed, the wife of a coworker had a recurrence after 15 cancer-free years. In my mind, 15 years is the benchmark I have to get by without a recurrence.

I did surgery, chemo, radiation, tamoxifen, femara, evista, etc,. just to do everything so it doesn't come back.

It's all a guess, an educated guess, but still a guess.

There's so much we don't know/things they know but don't telll us. For 3 years, my doc wanted to do genetic testing since I was 40 when diagnosed. This year, when I mentioned the melanoma I had removed, the magically insurance purse openned up and I was approved for testing. Hmmm, is there a link between Melanoma and Breast Cancer? Yes, there is a big link --- almost 3X as likely to get melanoma after breast cancer compared to someone who never had breast cancer.

And yes, a positive result on the genetic test would scare me. What difference does it really make if you know? I have no relatives to warn, no kids to worry about.

I also learned there's many cardiac side effects and problems that show up after having radiation on the left breast side.

Sometimes it feels like I joined a club I didnt ask to join (no ones to join the cancer club) and then, when I think I've left it behind, I find out it is the gift that keeps on giving in many, strange ways..

I'd like to give up my membership in the cancer club; Anyone else want to join me? Let's leave the memories, side effects, body and emotional changes and worries about the future behind.

Wait, where will that leave us? Better?