topic Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM in Wellness

CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:23:23 GMT

I had a mammogram in February with a different radiology group. They asked for my previous records for comparison, and were reviewed. Previous mammogram was about 18 months ago, different insurance.

I was asked to come back in for an MRI (or whatever comes next) and I scheduled that appointment.

I am not someone who gets upset in advance of having the facts, but since they scheduled the appointment for mid-June, would you guess this is not what anyone would call "urgent" ?

I would think if a mammogram shows as "highly suspicious" ... wouldn't they try to get me in sooner?

Never had a call back before. What are your thoughts on this? TIA.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

on the bay — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:32:25 GMT

My daughter had a call back on her first mamogram. They said they didn't get clear enough films or something like that. Everything was fine on the call back.

My daughter's theory is that they call most back and do more tests, an ultrasound or whatever that is coded differently than the mamogram and thus gives them more money!

I'm beginning to wonder too. All the thousands of mamograms I've had except 2, always had a call back in which ultrasounds were given, once a biopsy-all ok.

Many women have dense breast tissue and despite the ads that 3d mamograms are able to detect much, they somehow do not detect enough to have a call back most every time!

So those are my thoughts. But of course if we get a call back, we worry and are going to go to make sure.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

lgfan — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 16:49:11 GMT

I wouldn't worry about it because if it was urgent you wouldn't be given an appointment in June. The appointment would be scheduled sooner. It probably is something minor and need to follow up with an MRI to make sure. I had a biopsy many years ago. It was much ado about nothing. It turned out to be benign. It was a cyst that was removed. SInce then I have not had any more scares.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Bhvbum — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:34:45 GMT

I would call the place you got the mammogram and ask them all the questions that you just asked. We don't know enough about the subject other than to guess, and you are looking for facts particular to your medical history. Stop worrying and just call them.

I just had a mammogram after 20 years, so imagine my apprehension. But I did it and I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it went and how competent these folks are. Give them an opportunity to show you

This is too important.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Ditzydori — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:40:31 GMT

Hi Tinkerbl44. I will tell you what happened to me. I have moved twice since leaving NY and going to the same facility for my Mamo for a good 20 years. Both times I moved I brought all my records with me.

nonetheless, both times I had to have a biopsy. Both were fine. Now I'm going to the same facility here in florida for the past 4 years and all is calm now. I have no doubt if I moved again, I'd be asked to do another biopsy.

I will say I'm a cancer survivor for 28 years im quite sure that played a part in the biopsy as I had a lot of surgery on the remaining breast for reconstruction symmetry. They wanted to be safe.

my guess, and only a guess, is the same safety measures are being applied to you. and yes, if it was that urgent, they most likely would have recommended you go sooner, or at least you would hope they wood.

When my cancer was found, things moved along quickly. But as someone else suggested, call the facility and ask them what your concerns are. It will help ease your mind without surmising or guessing.

I wish you a peaceful time until you can be rest assured all is well.

be blessed.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Laura14 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:46:30 GMT

Fully agree with @on the bay .

I started to get called back every year and, since insurance covers nothing once you go diagnostic, after paying hundreds of dollars myself to get the same well we really can't see and it's probably nothing so just come back as normal next year, the third time I refused to come back.

They also tried to send me to a urologist for microscopic blood in a UA claiming it was guidelines and I could potentially have bladder cancer. Are you kidding me? My mother's husband had just been treated for bladder cancer so I am slightly dangerous in that area.

I also know where to go for guidelines and it's three findings in six months. Telling a still menstrating woman she could have bladder cancer after one of the most common findings there is was ludricrous and frankly cruel in my opinion to scare somebody less informed than I am into thinking she had cancer.

Bottom line: I firmly believe my local medical facility has adopted a practice of unnecessary testing. It would not shock me that others have done so as well.

The fact that they are in no rush leads me to believe they are looking to collect on your insurance or you if it's not covered. If you can be content with the what if, don't stress. If you'll worry and can afford the time and money to check further, do it. And you can always have your scans looked at by a third party too if you want a second opinion as well. Done that myself too.

Good Luck!

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

on the bay — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:50:36 GMT

Yes, I forgot to mention that the regular mamogram for my daughter was covered 100% by her insurance but at the call back and the ultrasound, she had to pay $300!

They've got women between a "rock and a hard place" no pun intended because who wants to worry and not go back to make sure?!

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:59:17 GMT

Try not to worry, @Tinkrbl44. Yes, easier said than done. My mammograms have always come back fine, until my most recent one about six months ago. There was something suspicious so I had to go back for them to get a better look. I spent a month waiting for that appointment and being anxious about what they might find. It all turned out to be fine too.

It's possible that they are still busy with ladies who missed getting their mammograms during Covid restrictions and are now getting caught up. Yes, mid-June does seem like an unusually long wait. Maybe you can ask the scheduler to flag your appointment and move it up if they get a cancellation.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Shelbelle — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:08:05 GMT

Over the years I have been called back 3 times for various reasons. Always a good outcome, Hang in there!!!

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Shelbelle — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:10:54 GMT

I doubt that your next appt is an MRI, it will most likely be unltrasound or compression xrays. MRI's of the breast are usually done after a diagnosis of cancer before treatment is decided on.

Based on my own experince call backs are usually done right away, and not 2 months later.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

CelticCrafter — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:11:13 GMT

They are just now calling to say there was something not right, two months later?

Unacceptable.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Vivian — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:16:03 GMT

Just an aside. I found a facility where you get immediate results. It's in a hospital. You wait for an agonizing 20 minutes while a radiologist reads the films. Once I had to stay for an ultrasound. Everything turned out OK but after that experience, I ask my doctor for a Xanax to deal with it. This way, there's no long-term torture.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

char1976 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:20:46 GMT

I don't what state your in but my sister who lives in Missouri said that according to insurance she has to have a momogram and an MRI. She hasn't had breast cancer. But My mother and I have had breast cancer and have never had a MRI and we live in Arkansas.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

on the bay — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:28:14 GMT

@Vivian,

I've never had to wait for results either and if there was any question about it I got an ultrasound right then.

Maybe it is different at different facilities.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

skatting44 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:31:19 GMT

two months later for additional imaging ? Maybe they see fibrocystics that are caused by hormones. Also the last mammogram I had the tech had to note in which arm I had received the Covid vaccine as some women they are noting to have enlarged swollen lymph nodes in the breast area after vaccine administration , even months later .

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

icezeus — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:53:35 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
two months later for additional imaging ? Maybe they see fibrocystics that are caused by hormones. Also the last mammogram I had the tech had to note in which arm I had received the Covid vaccine as some women they are noting to have enlarged swollen lymph nodes in the breast area after vaccine administration , even months later .

@skatting44

When I received my Booster my lymph nodes in my left arm pit really swelled up. It was extremely painful for several days.

This is after having no reaction to the first or second vaccine.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Scooby Doo — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:27:01 GMT

If your next appt isn't until June I doubt you have anything to worry about. They probably just need to get a better picture for comparison.

I've had several call backs, ultrasounds, and cysts removed.

But the one callback that I had said the radiologist needs you to come back in. Tomorrow would be great. Anytime you want. That's when I knew something was wrong. Yep, I had cancer, but it was caught early. I haven't had anymore issues since 2004. Knock on wood.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

BlueFinch — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:42:48 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 I've been called back for an ultrasound a couple of times. It was just a fibrous cyst. I still have it, but now they just see if it changes. No more recalls, or ultrasounds.

I feel if yours was highly suspicious, they would have moved quickly. I bet they saw something that they figure is not serious, or possibly an imaging artifact, but they want to make sure it is documented, just for routine monitoring, so this isn't an ongoing recall situation. Seems they would just do an ultrasound, though, instead of an MRI.

I know it's hard, but try not to worry. It never does one darn bit of good anyway. Thoughts will be with you for an uneventful recall.

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

kaiwahini — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:43:40 GMT

I have been to the same facility for all my mammograms. The first one I had I was called back (very common for first-timers) and they got me in within a week. They wanted more pics.

The last time I was called back was a couple years ago after my first 3-D mammo (also very common). Again they got me within a couple weeks, but I complained about the angst it causes to be called back without knowing why. I was told that I could've requested the doctor to call me back and they would have explained what was going on.

My mother went to a different facility in town for a mammo when she found a lump. She went to the doctor and he told her to get in right away. They scheduled her for a month out - knowing it was a lump! The doctor "pulled strings" to get her in within the week and because it was still suspicious, they scheduled a biopsy a week after that (should've been done sooner). It was stage 3 aggressive cancer. She was in surgery by the time the original mammo was scheduled and the lump had grown a lot according to the surgeon.

Don't wait! Press for answers!

Re: CALL BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:13:51 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
They are just now calling to say there was something not right, two months later?

Unacceptable.

@CelticCrafter

And the second appt is in another two months. Makes me think this is routine, not some super suspicious something or other they saw on the mammogram film.