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Maya72
Maya72 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hi All. I had my annual mammogram on March 6th. Today I recieved a call from the diagnostic imaging center saying there was a need for more photos and ultrasound. Is this normal to be called back?! I am terrified!! I also have dense breast I believe making it harder to see if there is anything going on. My next appt isn't for 3 more weeks.


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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited March 2018

    It is very common. About 10%, so you are bound to get called back sooner or later. It can be something as simple as your skin being folded under the plate. Often they take more views and say, yep, looks benign. See you next year! Even if it turns out you need a biopsy about 80% of them are benign. It is way premature to be terrified. If they think they need more looking you may get an ultrasound too. Also, the vast majority of us who are not very elderly have heterogeneously dense breasts. It is really the small percentage of women who have extreme density greater than 75% that are the real problem. Your mammogram showed something, so clearly your breasts weren't too dense to have a finding to be investigated, right?

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited March 2018

    Hi and welcome Maya72,

    Yes, call backs are VERY common, and yes dense breasts are harder to read and most likely have a high call back rate. If it sets your mind at ease I’ve just been through the exact same thing as you are going through...matter o’ fact my screening mammogram was just the day before yours. I went back today for more images and it was simply a matter of a ‘skin fold’ which caused an area of denser looking breast tissue...which is another common cause for call backs. The stats show that 80-85% of findings are not cancer. Now if you take into consideration the thousands of call backs those numbers show the odds to be very much on your side. A couple of things you can do is to call your doctor and ask that he/she review the results of your screening with you so that you can get an idea of why you’re being called back. You can also call the centre that’s re-imaging and a see if you can be put on the call cancellation list for an earlier appointment....3 more weeks seem very long. Some get the doc to prescribe medication if the anxiety is not bearable. Until then I highly recommend not using google, it doesn’t help with the anxiety. Use the articles and read through the boards here for support. You’ll find this community is filled with awesome people so giving with advice and tips. Try to keep busy and remember those numbers are on your side! Keep us posted, we’re here for you

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited March 2018

    Totally normal, especially with dense breasts. I wish I had a dollar for every call back ever had. I could take you to Outback for a steak dinner.

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