Asymmetry - Additional Mammogram/Ultrasound Needed

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circe221
circe221 Member Posts: 11
edited December 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hello All,

I am a 45 y/o woman who has gotten annual mammograms since 40.

This is my first post and I am in the throes of a full-fledged panic attack. I had my annual screening mammogram done this past Friday, and recieved a call today that there was asymmetry in my left breast. The doctor who called me said that "what they are seeing in the left breast is what we call 'asymmetry' - not like they are seeing a big cyst or something alarming or a mass, but they need to get a better picture of it, and we will need to get additional views and an ultrasound."

I am a school teacher and took the call in my bustling classroom, and felt like I was about to pass out.

The follow-up appointment is this Friday afternoon, it was the soonest I could get.

There is no family history of breast cancer on either side of my family, but I am scared.

I am single and live alone. Luckily my family is nearby and my mother will be accompanying me to the appointment on Friday.

I just wanted to post here to get some sort of lifeline. This is beyond scary and I feel so helpless.

Thank you in advance for your support!

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  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited December 2019

    Sounds like you’re doing a diagnostic callback. It’s not so different than what you’ve experienced with mammogram in the past. It may take a bit longer as a technician will do several views of your breast taking different angles to allow the radiologist to review the images. Then there might be an ultrasound to go in conjunction with the mammogram. Mammogram and ultrasound are complimentary in that they “see” tissue differently and can detect or differentiate what’s going on in the breast.

    Many times you will know before you leave the diagnostic imaging appointment a preliminary verbal report of: come back in 6 months or a year or if a biopsy would be needed to determine if something looks suspicious.

    Glad you are following up. Many times we fear what we don’t don’t know or if it’s a new situation. Many diagnostic imaging tests are done on women every day- not all diagnostics result in needing biopsy- not all biopsies are cancer.

    Best wishes to you and let us know how you are.

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  • circe221
    circe221 Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2019

    Thank you - I am experiencing extreme anxiety over this.

    Of course, I am just getting over pneumonia and I have parent/teacher conferences this week on top of everything.

    I feel like I am going to throw up, and am trying to remain calm but it is hard.

    One thing you mentioned is that I may know before leaving the appointment if a biopsy is needed - is this common? That would be great, and would at least alleviate waiting all weekend. I am upset that the earliest possible appointment was for Friday late afternoon, and dreaded waiting until Monday. My gyn did say it would be additional images and the ultrasound - not sure how long these would both take?

    Thank you again for the kind words! Just have to get to Friday!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2019

    Reach out to your docs to get some anxiety meds. You don't need to deal with over the top panic.

    You may or may not know anything for 2-3 weeks. Waiting is VERY hard. No way to know if you will need a biopsy. We are all different and there's no way to predict.

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  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited December 2019

    screening to diagnostic in one week is not unusual. Just to clarify for your piece of mind- ask the technician when you can expect results. They can tell you if a verbal same day preliminary is possible or if results will come from your doctor- which depends on your doctor’sstaff timetable. In the facility I’m familiar with the same day verbal results are available and if biopsy is needed- it is scheduled within the next week to 10 days. The method of biopsy and why are also explained. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, that’s how you get information to eliminate fear and reduce anxiety of the unknown.

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  • circe221
    circe221 Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2019

    Thank you - my mother will be coming with me so I am going to share all of this with her as well in case I am too upset to remember what to ask.


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  • carrieanne78
    carrieanne78 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2019

    It sounds like we both are going through the same situation. I also got a call back for another mammogram and US and have to be seen on Friday. I am also a teacher! I don't have any info to give you but I hope you the very best and will be sending you positive thoughts on Friday!

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited December 2019

    image

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  • circe221
    circe221 Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2019

    Carrieanne78 - sending you a huge hug from one teacher to another!!!

    We have parent/teacher conferences this week on top of everything else so my stress level is through the roof already!

    We will be connected on Friday - praying for positive results for both of us!!!

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  • circe221
    circe221 Member Posts: 11
    edited December 2019

    Thank you djmammo - you are so helpful in these threads - a true blessing to those who are going through this!

    My mother sent me something similar - and I am trying to focus on that.

    I guess my alarm came because I have always had asymmetrical breasts (so much so that as a teenager I was embarrassed to wear a swimsuit) so I don't understand why it would show up on my 5th mammogram all of a sudden - wouldn't they have noticed the asymmetry during prior mammograms? I always get 3d due to breast density also, so I guess it is just scary. But that graphic definitely puts things into perspective and grounds me a bit. Thank you <3

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2019

    circe221, asymmetry in appearance of the breasts (different size and/shape) is not the same thing as asymmetry as seen on a mammogram within the breast tissue.

    Good luck with the additional imaging. Hopefully it clears up any concerns and you are sent on your way for another year! The odds are very much in your favor


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