3D Mammo Callback and results

History:

I am a pretty healthy, in shape, just turned 62 year old. I have been going for my yearly mammos since I was 40. Most of the time I got callbacks, Ultrasound, 6 month wait and see and finally, a biopsy. But so far so good.

This post is for women who get a callback most on 3D mammos, which is supposed to prevent callbacks!

I had my annual 3D mammo on Friday, second time I have had 3D. I got a callback about 2 hours later from a nurse who said the doctor needed more images and to come in for additional mammo and Ultrasound. She tried to get me in that day but couldn’t. So I had to go the entire weekend stressing, reading so many of your posts. I know 3D has something like 40% fewer callbacks so I was alarmed when I got the call. I also read the average age for BC dx is 62. This only elevated my growing anxiety. I was like a zombie the entire weekend. When the technician on my screening mammo did my Second breast, her entire mood changed. All of a sudden you could hear a pin drop and her whole demeanor changed. I braced myself for that call.

This morning I went in not knowing why or what they found. The nurse who called me was pretty horrible, made it seem urgent and told me the doctor will explain everything ‘going on’ when I come in on Monday. Again, only fueled my anxiety. I had to take off work today, I’m divorced and really can’t afford it.

As the tech was doing my mammo I tried to read her inflections to try and get some sense of relief. Nothing. She brought me to an area in my gown to wait for the Ultrasound. The US room was right next to me, these were all breast ultrasounds being done. Each time the tech walked back to her lab, I could hear her cheerful voice saying the doctor said it’s only a cyst, see you in a year. Three times i heard this as I watched the women walk by me with stress and fear fading from their faces. When she came to get me she had a look and tone of seriousness that further scared me. At this point I was in full panic mode.

She took her time doing the ultrasound. She began clipping images right away which told me she saw something. When she was done she told me to wipe up and put my gown back on. She said she would be back shortly. As she left I noticed my images were still on the screen. I did what I never had the nerve to do after a breast sono, I looked at the screen. You see, I also do Ultrasound. I am registered In cardiology and also do vascular. But 15 years ago I did it all, including breast. At this point I knew nothing other than there was something in front of my right breast. I looked at the screen so I could prepare myself for the worst, mostly I wanted to see if there were any spiculations. All I saw was a small simple cyst. Which means fluid filled and benign. Five minutes later under the curtain I see the door open, not only did her feet appear but next I see the radiologist come in with her. This has happened to me a few other times and it has always been to say they saw something they wanted to watch or check. The doctor extended her hand and said you're fine. It's just a small cyst. All I could do at that point was break down and cry. Later, I told the sonographer how I heard her with other patients give the good news and sent them home. When the doctor came in, I knew it couldn’t be good. She explained to me that the doctors always come in after a callback to help the patient relax when it’s good news.

If you have a 3D mammo and get a callback please, please, please DO NOT worry! If you have a mammo and get a callback the SAME day, do NOT worry. If the doctor walks in after testing, it does NOT mean you have cancer! I worked myself up into a mess over the weekend. The 40% less callback rate is great with 3D mammo but you can STILL get called back and still be FINE. The three other women plus myself all got the okay-it's-fine message in under an hour. And most likely you will too.

I am so thankful I found this site because here is where I got my most information from other women who have been through this. I wish I had seen it when I had a biopsy ten years ago.

One last thing - try not to get your mammo on a Friday, because it's hell going through the weekend waiting.

My thoughts and prayers and so many hugs go out to ALL you women who are going through this. And special love and prayers to those who have been diagnosed.