Finally, mammo results...I'm worried!

[Chelee]

They FINALLY mailed me my mammo results. Why they couldn't tell me on the phone last week is uncalled for in my opinion. How nice to get the letter on the weekend when I CAN'T call anyone about it. But the letter says, "The above breast examination showed an area that we believe is benign (not cancer.) However, you should have a follow-up mammogram of that left breast in 6 months, to confirm that this area has not changed.

I CAN'T imagine WAITING SIX months to have it re-checked. No way! With the type of bc I was DX with last year...they really expect me to wait that long? Alot could change in SIX months. I think that is asking too much of me. I would think they could at least check it out with ultrasound & MRI.

I plan to PUSH for a MRI asap. I know there is no way I could WAIT that long to have another mammo. This letter doesn't tell me how big this thing is on the mammo...nothing. I have been having a slight annoying pain in that left breast...thats why I was getting upset with them making me WAIT for the results. This is a new pain...the exact same kind I had in my right breast when I was DX last year. So how can they expect me to wait that long when I am a stage III'er, her2/neu 3+++, positive nodes.

My hands are literally shaking right now...I am so nervous. Would you guys WAIT SIX months...or request a ultrasound and MRI right away? (Which I PLAN to do the minute I get to the center this Tues. for my herceptin.)

Chelee

[AlaskaAngel]

You and I both have the same evaluation and recommendation this time around.

Although it is taking longer than I would like to get it to happen, a copy of the actual written mammogram report is being mailed to me and I hope to get more of an idea what kinds of things they saw and what kinds of things they didn't see.

Your doctor is supposed to get the actual written report so that if he or she has any concerns, he/she can go to the radiation department and look at the mammogram personally and talk it over with the rads doc.

I too am not very enthused about a 6-month wait for me, since my last lump grew 0.5 cm in less than 6 months. I will wait to read the actual report, however.

But I am stage 1 and DID have rads, and you are stage III (?) I think and didn't have rads, so if I were in your situation I would be much more inclined to push for more analysis.

What happens here is that unless for some very unusual reason the rads doc happened to know by chance that your cancer was HER2, most of the time they only are aware that you had prior breast cancer. And I feel that HER2 bc does grow faster than the average bc. So... IMHO 6 months' wait probably isn't a good match for any of us -- Stage I or II or III or IV.

There are a lot of things about being HER2 positive that I hope get more attention with general breast care providers, and this is one of them. Your doctor and mine I think should be considering that we are HER2 positives when they look at the actual report, but I won't and don't hesitate to bring it up myself in case it has slipped their mind, or in case they need some one-on-one reinforcement about how fast it can grow. In my case I tend to think 3 months might be the longest I would be willing to wait... depending on what I read in the actual full report.

AlaskaAngel

[KellyA]

I would not wait six months, but please do remember that I am hardly patient or relaxed about these things. If it were me, I would ask for an MRI, but to be safe (especially with your previous history), would ask for a needle biopsy. I had two benign lumps in the past (about 7 years ago) and had both of them biopsied- and that was with no history. The fact is that the lump or area is most likely nothing- I don't think that they would want to wait six months if it looked "iffy", however, just for peace of mind, I would push for more.

I think you are completely justified to be a little upset with the way it was handled and completely understand.

Take a deep breath, try to relax and enjoy the next few days, and make up your mind to handle it the way YOU feel is best when Tues. comes around. You are completely justified in wanting more for your situation.

Love, Kelly

[panicked911]

i too, just went for my mammo and had the same result - had consult with surgeon immediately set up the appt back to back - and I was very glad that i did. Surgeon called the rasdiologist who said it was scar tissue. That was the reason for the " probably benign come back in six months." Surgeon said ni reaso to go back in six months since MRI is already scheduled.

her take is that for anyone with dense breasts mamo are virtually useless even with the new digital technology - sonos won't pick up the very small tumors and the only reason to do mamos is for the calicificatios which MRIs do not pick up.
memorial LSoan Kettering i New york is not even doing routine sonos anymore. mamo/MRi only for routine screeigs post and pre operative.
My surgeon did give me a sonogram script that i can have done elsewhere ( if it will make me feel better). Not sue i am going to do it .

Unfortunately for thos eof us who have had lumpectomies - scar tissue is a fact of life and thus the "probably benign" will become a fact of life. I hope this makes you feel better.

Susanne

[tousled1]

Chelee,

If I were you, I'd be on the phone Tuesday morning to my oncologist and getting an MRI of the breast scheduled. It's sad the way that this was handled but now you must think ahead. If your oncologist will not for some reason order an MRI then I would get the first appointment with your surgeon and have a needle biopsy of the area done. Best of luck to you.

[Chelee]

Alaska Angel, I want to get my actually report of my mammo as you mentioned. As far as I know nothing was found in my left breast on the mammo last year when I was DX? So I would think this is brand new. (But I want the details, as do you.)

So first thing Tues. I will call ahead of time and ask that they have the report ready for me when I get there for my herceptin that day. Then while I am there...I will request a MRI from my surgeon or onc...and see which one wants to authorize it asap. (Because I am NOT waiting!) As you said Alaska, these grow fast. Even three months for me is un-acceptable to wait. If I didn't have this little annoying pain in that breast...I wouldn't be near as anxious about it. And yes, I am a stage IIIA, positive nodes, NO rads. In fact, that breast as felt larger which concerns me?

Hopefully my surgeon will be calling ME Tues to come in to talk with him about this since my mammo was READ at *his* breast center. I know I sure took the time to *remind* his nurse all week that the only reason I KEPT calling for my results is because of my Her2 status. She acknowledged it and said she completely understood.

I want to get my hands on the actually report Tues which should be no problem. Then I will know exactly what they found? This letter tells me nothing...just enough to worry me as I am sure you can relate too.

Chelee

[Chelee]

KellyA, I'm not real patient either...especially with something like this. I would like to think my surgeon would of had someone call me if they were real concerned as you stated. But lately the way things have went for me...I have to follow-up and double check everything. (this her2 bc changes many things in my opinion.) We don't have time to wait and see as my letter states. Thanks for your very supportive post. Its much appreciated. I will *try* to relax a little...but it will be difficult.


Tousled, I am glad I am not the only one that feels this was handled poorly. Gee...really nice mailing this report to me on the weekend BEFORE Christmas. They might as well waited till after Christmas...its almost like they wanted to ruin my holidays. I called all week and supposely they didn't have it...then it comes on Saturday? At least I can talk to my surgeon and or onc that same day. I won't leave till I get answers and a MRI set up.



Susanne, In my case I didn't have a lumpectomy. I had a modified radical mastectomy of my rt breast last yr. So in my case...its definitely not scar tissue. My left breast has had nothing done to it. (Yet anyway) If I would of had a lumpectomy of that breast, I would be less worried. But thanks for throwing that out there.

Chelee