mammogram results

poet_kelly
on 9/15/12 3:20 pm - OH

I had a mammogram last week and today I got a letter saying that the "findings" indicated I need to go back for "more films." It said that these "findings do not usually indicate cancer." It went on to say that an appointment has been scheduled for me on Thursday at 7:20 am and had a phone number to call if I had any questions.

I understand that abnormalities on a mammogram aren't necessarily cancer, but it's still worrisome. But more than that, I'm kind of angry about they way they handled this situation. Sending me a letter instead of having someone call me? And all the letter says is that "findings" indicate I need to go back for more films. But what findings? In which breast? And what are the additional films needed? How are they different than the films they already did? I have many questions but since I got the letter on Saturday, I must wait two days before I can call to ask any questions.

And they schedule an appt for me at 7:20 am? Um, I am so not a morning person. Wouldn't it have been better to check with me about the appt?

I am just not happy.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 9/15/12 3:27 pm - OH

RNY on 08/27/07

I agree that it is a very poor way of handling it. I would have been angry to have received a letter instead of a phone call, too. They never give you any details (they wouldn't have done that if they had called you, either), but at least they did indicate that, whatever the concerned, that it is not cancer.

When I had a mammogram a couple of years ago because of swelling in one breast and lack of color in the areola, before I even left the office, they had someone look at the film quickly and tell me that I would need a biopsy.

Please try not to worry. If they had been very concerned, I am sure that someone would have called you.

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

poet_kelly
on 9/15/12 3:30 pm - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

If they'd called during hours their office was open, I could have driven right over there and gotten a copy of the radiologist's report if I wanted it and had all the details that they have.

And this isn't really important, but I just find it unprofessional - the letter had multiple typos in it. Shouldn't someone proofread something like that?

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

nfarris79
on 9/15/12 3:32 pm - Germantown, MD

RNY on 04/13/11

My suspicion would be they had "technical difficulties" - as in the films got screwed up and they need to redo it and it has nothing to do with you at all. So no worries?

First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.

poet_kelly
on 9/15/12 3:44 pm - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

If it is technical difficulties, then I will be REALLY mad that they didn't state that plainly in the letter and instead seemed to imply that it might be cancer (even though they do say it's probably not). And I also do not want to be charged for another mammogram if the problem was that they screwed up the films.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

Scoobydoo061423
on 9/15/12 3:37 pm - OH

RNY on 11/12/12 with

A call would be the least they could have done. I would me mad,sad and confessed getting that letter. Why can't people pick up the phone now a days. And it is werid how you posted this today. I found out my great anunt just had this test and they found cancer. But they said surgery should clear it all up. I hope these findings are nothing and are just bumps for hitting things. My mom has that. Good luck. Keep us updated. :)

Reach for the moon, if you fail at least you will lay among the stars.

(deactivated member)
on 9/15/12 3:41 pm

Kelly, I went through the same thing years ago, except they called me and scheduled me. Of course by the time I had my repeat mammogram, I pretty much had convinced myself I had breast cancer. That's what happens when we get these frikkin phone calls and letters. Nothing was wrong, sometimes the views the technicians take the radiologist wants to see a better view. I understand the fear as a woman when it comes to this. Some hospitals will actually have the radiologist read your mammogram right then and there. I think that should be applicable to all women. I would never make it that early because of my back and hips. I need to get control of the pain before I have any procedures. I know with your back this probably applies as well to some degree. Always over a GD week-end.
I know you will keep us posted. Jane

martitalinda
on 9/15/12 4:18 pm

RNY on 02/05/07

Don't fret too much Kelly, oftentimes repeat mammograms are necessary to rule out shadows or densities that may appear on film and are frequently due to noise on the film and they just want to make sure nothing is amiss... I know and understand how worrisome this can be but with advances in technique and early detection even if it is a worse case scenario which I doubt very much you can be treated. I am status post lumpectomies and was called and scheduled for biopsies and surgery promptly years ago.... I even had to have a stereotactic breast biopsy 3 years post WLS and I am fine except for sweating bullets every 6 months around the time for testing...

This is just a precautionary measure and it works in your favor. (((((hugs)))))

autumnsiggy2 RNY 2/5/07 no regain having implemented lifestyle changes....

Day_dream_believer
on 9/15/12 4:20 pm

I had the same thing happen a few years ago. I received the letter and then the next business day my Dr. called. In my case there was a shadow on the mammogram. After they repeated the mammogram it showed to be a compressed blood vessel. They went ahead and repeated it 6 months later to be sure and then I was given a clean bill of health.

Try not to worry too much. Most of the time it is not cancer.

kirk6400
on 9/15/12 4:24 pm - Watauga, TX

RNY on 09/06/12

I got one of those letters once....got it on a Friday, after I got home from work so there was no one to call and I had to sit and wait all weekend. Talk about torture. I felt the same way you do. Why did they send a stinking a letter and not call? Very unprofessional.

If the appt time doesn't work, I'm sure they will reschedule you a time more convenient for you. Just ask. It's definitely a must to recheck and in my case it turned out to be nothing...some kind of calcium something or another. Heck, I can't even remember now. But I do remember the feeling of panic when I got THAT letter!!

Type-o's are my pet peeve too. I think if a business, medical or not, is going to send a business letter, someone needs to take the time to check for misspellings and grammatical errors. I can't tell you how much it bugs me when I come across a type-o in my pre-op materials. My doctor's staff puts together a notebook filled with all sorts of RNY information, nutritional data, menu suggestions, recipes, etc. and it bugs me to no end to find a type-o. For me, it's all about attention to details.

Good luck with your recheck!

HW...265....SW...260....CW....229....RNY on 9/06/12

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mammogram results