Results of mammo?
 

This was the same time of year exactly when I was DX last year with bc. I must say I am a bit nervous having to wait for the results of my mammo. I called my surgeons office but they made it sound like I would have to wait a *week* or more. Is that the norm?

(I've had some pain in my left breast so this is really stressing me out of my mind. I thought for sure they would tell me right away, but I guess not.) How long did any of you have to wait? I am hoping it comes in sooner then they think.

Chelee

Chelee
A week is ridiculous...I have the results before I ever leave the mammo center....I know some wait for a day or 2, but seeing my history, I know before I leave!

Chelee,

When I was diagnosed last spring, the call to "come in for more views" was on my voicemail exactly seven days to the date I had my annual mammogram. It took me totally by surprise, as I had thought I would have heard about any problem much earlier. The center where I have mine done does a computer check between the previous year's film and the new one. It takes 8 to 10 weeks to get in for annual screenings. I assume they are just backlogged. The technician checks the plates before I leave, but that is just to see whether they will be "readable" by the doctor. I am not looking forward to having to wait for the results of my first post diagnosis screening!

It sounds so trite, but try to hang in there. Here's to good news for Christmas!

Hopeful

My mammos are like Sheila's. They tell me right then. No anxious moments. I do like it when I take my films to my surgeon (usually a week or 2 after I get the mammos) as she is a wiz at looking at the films and gives me an even bigger piece of mind.

Hi Chelee.

The doc read mine while I put my clothes back on. I was told by the receptionist that everything looked OK. The official report came by mail in a week or so. I've switched centers since DX. The first place I went was exactly like Hopeful's experience, not to mention my lump turned up 5 months after the mammo. The new place is like a spa in comparison. BB

Shelia, Becky & Bev, All three of you got your results right away as it should be seems to me. I really thought my breast center would understand how anxious I am? I am trying to avoid the nightmare poor Hopeful experienced. Thats just awful. I don't want that dreaded call a week or more later...I want to know now.

I see alot of women viewed this...please girls...help me out here. How long did it take all of you? Did most of you have to wait...or did you get them right away like Shelia, Bev, and Becky did? (I know one thing, I am making a call down there daily.) http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...lies/smile.gif (Squeaky wheel gets the oil.) We hope?

Chelee

Chelee,


You & I have already spoken about this via personal e-mail, but for the benefit of others...I went for a mamo last week, and was told right then about my results. The nurse said that because I am now a "Cancer Patient" I will forever receive diagnostic mamos, and not have to wait for results. The doctor also gave me an ultra sound and gave me the results immediatley.
I really think we have earned the right to immediate results. Waiting is CRAZY !!!

Much Love

Results
 

I get the results immediately after the mammogram. I can't imagine having to wait a week! It would be torture.

Bonnie

I received the results immediately. At our health center, when you have a BC history, they KNOW you don't want to wait.

For those who get imaging at a major center in particular, usually the quick verbal results are given right away. But in rural areas or smaller facilities it can legitimately take longer. The reason for that is that often smaller facilities will have just one radiologist on duty, and that radiologist has to cover any emergencies that walk in the door when you happen to be having your imaging. Also, even though you have to be persistent in your own best interests, in places where there is only one radiologist, if the mammo is entirely clear and there are more immediate demands on the radiologist, you might not hear from the radiologist while you are there. In some places, if there are uncertain results or complicated results, they might also be reported to your treating physician first so that the physician is both aware you need to be contacted as well and can better answer your questions.

Because I have been imaged in both kinds of places over time, I don't take the courtesy of being able to talk with the radiologist or get a report right away for granted at all. I still will be persistent in getting my results, but I definitely appreciate their time.

AlaskaAngel

I will have my first mammo since being diagnosed exactly one year from the date and that is in March. My surgeon is having me get a diagnostic? mammo and seeing me and my films the same day to avoid exactly what you are going through. Insist on this, we have to put up with enough anxiety, you shouldn't have to wait for results on a mammo.

I called my surgeons office again today and asked for his nurse that is very good about getting back to me and handling my concerns. I told her I am very anxious waiting for the results of my mammo and was hoping I could get the results? She said thought they were already typed up and would go check and call me right back. That was around 2:40 PM. But I stayed off the phone and NO call. http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...lies/frown.gif I hope that isn't bad news? If they found something bad on it...maybe they have to wait till the surgeon calls me in. Now I am really stressed out. Maybe thats why they didn't tell me the day I was there?

I don't know if I can handle to much more stress. Seems most all of you get your results right away. This is a new cancer center and its big enough that they do have more then one radiologist. So I can only think maybe they found something. I wish they could understand just how stressful this is for us to have to wait. Thanks so much for all the replies.

Chelee

Chelee,

Please be kind to yourself and resist the temptation to create a bad outcome here, when the reality could be that she just got tied up doing more pressing things and never got back to you. It is a busy time of year, offices are short staffed, and, sometimes, people just get distracted. She could have had to deal with an emergency with another patient, or gotten a personal call that made her forget what she was doing. It is just as likely that some innocuous reason kept her from calling you as it is that bad news was the culprit. Try to get a good night's sleep and call the office back when they open tomorrow. Take care and let us know.

Hopeful

Last December was my Mammo on my remaining breast (Left) and I got the results right away. This coming Friday I will be having an Ultra Sound on my Bi-Lateral Mastectomy Breast's and I will also get the results right away as well.

Chelee, If the tech saw a big whopping tumor. she would have told the doc to look at it. No news is usually good news, Hang in there and keep pressuring them for results.

My point is, you can get your mammo anywhere.( I did not know this before) Just because your Doc wrote the order on a certain company's form, doesn't mean you can't go to other companies. Vote with your feet next time. Just make sure they take your insurance, they most likely will. BB

Chelee, If the tech saw a big whopping tumor. she would have told the doc to look at it. No news is usually good news, Hang in there and keep pressuring them for results.

My point is, you can get your mammo anywhere.( I did not know this before) Just because your Doc wrote the order on a certain company's form, doesn't mean you can't go to other companies. Vote with your feet next time. Just make sure they take your insurance, they most likely will. BB

Bev, Actually I wanted to get my mammo at the breast center where my surgeon is. He told me I HAD to go where ever I had my last mammo last year because thats where they have my films on record. They like to compare them. He said thats how it works.

So I did go back to the place I used last year as per their instructions...and the strange thing is when I called that place the other day to see IF they would give me the results of my mammo, they said they couldn't because my films were sent over by courier to the breast center. (Thats where my surgeon is.) That they would be read by the radiologists over there.

That made NO sense to me since my surgeon which I trust told me I HAD to go to the same place I went last year so they could compare films. (Now I find out they were sent to his breast center.) So I don't know what to think or believe? I just wish they would give me the results. There is no reason to take this long. Maybe my insurance company is the reason I have to go to the same place? I know when I have ECHO's...I have to use the same place for that too? Tomorrow I have an appt with another doc...I will walk into my surgeons office in person and see what they say? This is nerve racking.

I sure hope no news is good news like you said Bev. I am trying to think positive...but as you know thats pretty hard sometimes.

Chelee

Chelee,

Like Bev said, you can go anywhere you want to for your mammo. Your doctor may have been trying to simplify things for you, by telling you to go to the place where they had your most recent films on file. Otherwise, you would have had to either go to the old place and pick up your films yourself or arrange for the old place to send the prior films to the new place so they could compare them. The films are technically YOURS, not the radiologist's. You can pick them up or have them sent anywhere you want.

Hopeful

Chelee

You can get a mammo anywhere, but if you do, make sure you have old films for comparison....it is very helpful for the radiologist to COMPARE! I have mine at a small hospital....as a matter of fact. last time, the regular radiologist Dr. who reads them was off on vacation when I was scheduled, and they called and had me reschedule so he would be there, and the same Dr. would be reviewing my films. I sit and wait so if he needs more intense views of an area, I am there. Then he comes in and gives me the results. I have friends that go to another small hospital, and they have had the waiting problem....they demanded timely readings, and if they didn't get them, they were going elsewhere for their mammos.....they made a statement and the hospital has since changed its policies!

Chelee,

You can have your mammo done at any facility. Just make sure you ask for your films. My daughter works for a radiologist (that's where I have mine done) but I have all my films, from the very first mammo I had. Also, the same with your bone scans. I asked the radiologist for a copy before I left his exam room.

Hang in, I think Bev is right. If they saw something your films would be on the top of the pile to read.

---Sue and Kevin---