Mammogram Question - Mesquite,TX

Updated on January 21, 2011
S.D. asks from Mesquite, TX
16 answers

I had my first mammogram last week and today I got a letter saying that I needed to come in for addtional imaging. I called my doctor's office and the nurse said that the report showed calcifications in both breasts that needed to be looked at again. The women in my family all said that I shouldn't be surprised to get a call back, since it was a base line and they had nothing to look back at, but honestly, I am a little freaked out. The soonest I can get in is January 27th. I have no family history of breast cancer at all, I just don't want to be the first. Is this a common thing or should I try to get in sooner?

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L.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

S., I had the same thing and I was ask to get an ultrasound after that it was nothing mayor. My suggestion don't worry ahead of time.
Hope is nothing serious.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

Don't freak out!! This is pretty standard and I bet your doctor is just being cautious as well as he/she should be. I promise you that if they thought it was really cancer (I am a 14 year breast cancer survivor) I'm certain they would get you right in. If it would make you feel better, call your doctor's office, tell them about your concerns and ask that the doctor give you a call or better yet, make an appointment and go talk to him/her. I had had many mammograms where they found various lumps and bumps before the one that showed cancer. When I had that one, the doctor came in right then and told me he was sending me to a surgeon immediately for a biopsy. After that was done I still had to wait almost 3 weeks before my mastectomies which was really difficult but is not that unusual. Try not to worry too much as this is pretty standard. I wish you the very best, S.!

2 moms found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Call backs seem to have become very normal. In the old days they would look at the xrays and re-do them while you wait, but they don't do that any more at many clinics.

Try not to freak out. I've been called back many times because I had calcifications and fibrous cystic breasts. I'm grateful and happy to tell you all has been okay.

I think it's common but I say try to get in sooner so that you can relax. Call your OB-Gyn and see if he/she can help.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Me, and a lot of friends have just turned 40 in the last year or so. None of us got an initial clean bill of health. everyone of us had to go back then additional imaging showed everything was ok.
Additionally, just had my annual checkup and the doc said there was still a good chance I will have to go back because they only take 2 views and 40 somethings still have more fiborous breast tissue. Try not to be to freaked out.

2 moms found this helpful

E.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Though you will worry (and who wouldn't?!)...It is probably OK to not freak out. I found this on breastcance.about.com:

Calcifications are one of the findings that can be seen on your mammogram. These are very small bits of calcium can appear within the soft tissue of your breast. Calcifications are not breast cancer. These aren't always a sign of breast cancer. Sometimes calcifications are an indication of a precancerous condition. They appear as white dots on your mammogram.
Calcifications are divided into two kinds:

1.) Macrocalcifications are bigger bits of calcium, and are not usually linked to breast cancer.

2.) Microcalcifications are quite tiny bits of calcium, and may show up in clusters, or in patterns (like circles or lines) and are associated with extra cell activity in breast tissue. Usually the extra cell growth is not cancerous, but sometimes tight clusters of microcalcifications can indicate early breast cancer. Scattered microcalcifications are usually a sign of benign breast tissue.

Breathe. Ask your husband for some extra TLC. Have a glass of wine. You are not alone. I had my first mammogram this year and did not even realize I had been holding my breathe (figuratively speaking, of course) until my results were mailed to me. A previous poster who called this a "baseline" re-check was correct. Perhaps you are a "calcium-type-of-girl" but they don't know that this is your "normal" because it is your first mammogram.

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

I had my first mammogram recently, and I was also called back for additional pictures. I was told when I went in the first time, before the mammogram started, that it was very common to be called back after your first test. It's because the people that read the film don't have anything to compare the pictures to. So, they aren't certain about what your normal looks like. Everyone's breasts are different, so they often need different views of tissues, calcifications, etc. to determine whether or not they are "normal". I ended up having a second mammogram, and a sonogram at my second appointment, and I was fine.

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H.B.

answers from Modesto on

it's common. I just had a baseline mamo a few mos ago and the tech told me not to be alarmed if they wanted me to come back for more angles. they didnt though, so that was nice.

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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

I was told the same thing. Forewarned, thank goodness, by the tech that this is normal since they don't have a baseline yet.

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

I had to go back after my first mammogram as well. They just want to be really sure they get good views since it is the first one. I wouldn't worry at all. You don't have any reason to cause worry and it does seem common to be called back after the first mammogram. It is also very normal to be a little worried because you have to do it again so don't feel silly but try to relax. My second one was super fast and very easy since they knew what they wanted to look at. I hope that helps.

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C.G.

answers from Denver on

I would think if they thought something was really wrong they would have scheduled you sooner.

I just had my first mammogram and it was fine but I completely understand being freaked out.

My pap smear came back funny and I had another 6 months later and it was fine. My most recent pap came back a little off but the doctor thinks it's okay to wait for a year. If that one is not normal then we'll go from there.

I guess what I'm saying is that you have to trust your gut instinct. I have faith in my doctor and at some point we have to let go and let God.

1 mom found this helpful

D.M.

answers from Denver on

This happens to me every time. I do mean EVERY time. And there is a baseline one from when I was 30 and still.....they make me come back even though nothing has changed, because I have "fibrous tissue" (which is indeed true - I always have).

It's hard not to worry, but it's probably nothing. They can usually follow up with a sonogram and you're done.

ALSO - if you are lactating, they are really likely to misread your results. THEN, it's important to tell EVERY person who touches you that you are lactating.

GOOD LUCK!

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

This happens to me almost every time and always turns out fine. And your next mammograms will most likely be diagnostic because of this. That means that a doc reads it right away and will call you back in for a second look right then so you don't have to wait.

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S.H.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Hate to be the one to alarm you, but this is how my breast cancer started. It was my very first mammogram & I got the call back. Like everyone is saying, this is very common but it turned out to be calcifications that were cancerous. It was stage 0 & I am happy to say I am a 2yr breast cancer survivor. It also didn't run in my family. I also have to add they didn't get me in right away like you think they do when they see cancer. My mammogram was in January, got called back in February, needle biopsy in April, surgical biopsy in May & started treatment & further surgeries in June. So this stuff takes time & still turns out fine. Good luck to you.

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

Hi! I had my first mammogram a couple of years ago. My doctor insisted I go to a facility with digital mammography. He told me Solis in Denton is good place. And, there are others around. But, some places still take traditional film x rays. When you have traditional film x rays, you are more likely to have to go back. With digital images, the x ray reader can enlarge the images.
You might check to see if your original images were digital- and try to find a place like this for the next time. Good

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P.

answers from Dallas on

Don't worry about it! Honest. They did the same thing to me last year. I went back and had a needle biopsy last December. They scared me quite completely over nothing. Then I was told to come back in 6 months (but due to other personal events I waited a year). Gee - the "calcifications" had mysteriously disappeared. Really - don't worry about it until there is truly proof that it's a worry. Keep a positive attitude. I suspect it's really common. I had nursed my daughter for almost 2 years due to health issues she had and I was told that may have contributed to it.

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R.O.

answers from Dallas on

common. cut out ur caffeine, but follow up

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