Bad mammogram one year after breast cancer diagnosis

Well, they are being extra vigilant and yes, it is incredibly stressful. This is why I opted for a bilateral mastectomy last week. I knew exactly what was in store for me and I didn't like the idea of going through diagnostic screening with 3D mammograms every six months to a year and possibly biopsies That is not the way I wanted to live my life. A cancer diagnosis is stressful enough without the added worry of it returning. I hope whatever they find is benign.

Call backs are indeed very common, and they are probably be extra thorough. That said, the stress and worry can be overwhelming. It will probably be helpful to consult with your treatment team as to options for screening, genetic testing, additional (prophylactic) surgery, etc. We are hoping that everything is benign!! (((( hugs ))))

Hi IADeb -

Sharing my experience in case it should help. After my lumpectomy and rads in 2014 for tubular diagnosis, my radiologist put my other breast on an every six month testing schedule for 1.5 years in order to follow some calcifications (my BC showed up that way originally.) Aaack! You think there is a reprieve and now something else may be brewing. I really related to your post.

I became so afraid of scans that I had to have a talk with her and tell her how fearful I was becoming. She had me go for an MRI and then put me back on an annual schedule. That helped a bit. The hyper vigilance is appreciated so deeply, but finding a way to get more conclusive answers and not live in scanxiety mode was even better.

Fast forward to a month ago - my new radiologists saw calcs and a troubling something in the treated breast in 3 D mammo. They wanted to do 4 biopsies. We ended up with 2 stereo and one US - guided one. After a scary week - diagnosis made was scar tissue from lumpectomy. The doctors told me that given my prior BC and presentation - they were taking no chances and would have done a wait and see had I not had cancer before.

This is a longwinded way of sharing my experiences post surgery of having doctors trying all that they can to help me stay safe. I love them for it and appreciate it but recognize that tremendous anxiety accompanies it in my case. I am very hopeful that your doctors are doing the same vigilant review and that you will get an all clear result.

I have not thought fully about a mastectomy to avoid the anxiety. Given this last round of biopsies, I certainly appreciate why others made that decision. I am going to see my ob-gyn and talk this issue over.

Hope you will keep us posted.

Belle xx

Hi Deb: Just an extra note - the scar tissue presented so much like cancer that the radiologist sent the specimen back for a second look to make sure it was not. Keep the faith + will look for your posts next week.xx Belle

That is great news IADeb!!!

Hi, as a breast cancer survivor, every follow-up mammogram has been a "diagnositic...".

Here in Canada they do not send you for screening after a diagnosis, no matter how long. It is always a diagnostic.

So that someone looks at it more closely while you are there.

Kosh