Callback on Mammogram

oh no it could truly be as simple as a cloudy image that they need to retake. I know it is very hard to not worry. But saying that don't create a problem where one does not exist. An affirmation about a clean bill of health might help.

I've heard a callback is quite common after a mammogram but like you said that wouldn't ease my worries one bit - sorry =( I can tell you that both my mom and MIL have received callbacks asking them to come in and do another mammogram which has then resulted in a biopsy but luckily they both came back fine!

Try to stay positive!

Not uncommon for any mammo. They may not have seen "something," there may have been an area that was not clear. I have had breast cancer, I'm a 10 year survivor and since then, I've had additional films several times. Not everything in breast tissue is breast cancer - cysts, fat deposits, milk pockets, etc.

This is very common. It happened to me last year, and on the call back they did a sonogram and figured out it was just a lymph node that was picked up by the mammogram imager.

It happened to me last year. I'd had my mammogram and a couple days later, I got "the call". I was told to go to the hospital this time. They did the second mammogram and the technician had me wait in the ladies waiting room while she had the radiologist read the films. I got called in again for more pictures. The technician told me she thought I might have a cluster of blood vessels that were being squished together to look like a suspicious mass. She had me lean somewhat twisted to get a different angle and took more pictures. Back to the ladies waiting room. Finally she came back to tell me it was just blood vessels and everything was okay, I could get dressed and leave.

I have since learned about a few friends who get called back in almost every year. I guess it's more common than I knew.

For what it's worth, be happy that they want to re-check you. No matter what the outcome, you are always better off knowing what you are dealing with. As my favorite Dr. once told me, "When in doubt, check it out".

Best of luck tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you.

I just saw this, and you might already have done your return trip. I hope it went well. Callbacks can be GOOD things! You want your medical people to be that careful and conscientious. Often it turns out to be nothing to worry about. And - if it does turn out to be something to worry about, the sooner it's dealt with, the better!

A very sharp radiologist noticed something about my mammogram back in 1995, and evidently thought, "I don't know what it is, but it doesn't look quite right." It turned out to be a VERY small amount of VERY early cancer. I might not have felt a lump for a long time, but they got it out when it was practically microscopic - amazing! After that I had quarterly mammograms for a little while, and then semi-annual ones, and finally got back to yearly ones. I still chew my fingernails off when I have to go, but I've been cancer-free for almost twenty years. So one of my soap-boxes is for women to get their mammograms and not to be afraid of them.

A call back just means they couldn't read it most of the time. You might have some very dense tissue. You might have moved and left a blurry spot. They might need to just reposition you. Most of the time they keep you there until they are read and then if needed bring you back in for another view, then send you home. Don't worry til you see them tomorrow. I sent a prayer up for you.

There can be different reasons.... many times, they did not get the breast tissue compressed properly to get a clear read.

This happened to me in January..... I had to go in for a "diagnostic" mammogram, and possibly an ultrasound. When they used a different plate for the mammogram, the area they couldn't read properly flattened out nicely.

However, since I was already there, they wanted to do an ultrasound to check on another thing they had noticed, also.

Both issues came up negative.

And... I will tell you, it did terrify me somewhat... my sister had just been diagnosed (at age 60) with breast cancer 2 months prior.... and my mother had also been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 86. (I was 55 at the time of my diagnostic mammogram.)

I hope that helped ease your concerns somewhat!

((HUG)) I know it's scary. Please don't torture yourself, though.

They are being thorough. That's all. Sometimes something shows up that they want a better look at, and depending on the angle or the density of your breast tissue, they didn't get clear enough a picture the first time. There are so many things it could be, most of them benign - a fibrous cluster of tissue, an inflamed lymph node, a benign cyst... my mother and her sisters have had multiple callbacks. I've not had a callback, but I've had the diagnostic version of mammogram instead of the routine version because of a lump discovered during a self check. None of us have had anything turn out to be cancer. We just have big, bumpy breasts. Please don't worry before there's a need. There's no benefit to worrying. Do go in as soon as you can and give them a chance to take a second look so that you aren't left wondering.

I don't know anyone that hasn't gotten a call back. Seriously. If you are on the younger side (and by younger I mean 40ish) you still have dense breast tissue. A screening mammogram does not pick up all views so what looks like a potential mass is often just fibrous tissue. It has happened to me.

I actually have a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound on Tuesday because I have an actual lump. I am not loosing sleep over this although I will be glad to know for sure the lump is a cyst. (This is the third time I have been through this).

80% of breast lumps are benign (non cancerous). Since you don't have an actual lump you can feel you should really try not to worry.

Best of luck!!

A call back could be that somehow you moved when the machine took the picture and it is a bit fuzzy. It could be that the radiologist read the mammogram different than the tech.

Just stay calm and do it over. I have had several that were not clear and when the mammogram was redone there was nothing there. If there should be something these, it would be in the early stages and you would be able to be proactive with your health care.

As the other poster mentioned you might have an area of dense tissue that the mammogram did not go through.

Just think positive about everything.

Let us know the results.

the other S.

You don't say if this is your first mammogram or not. I mention this because I had my first one this year and they told me when I was there that I should not be alarmed if I received a call back especially because it was my first one. Apparently, they can use your first (and any other prior ones) to compare those you have later. Where future ones can be compared to those earlier ones and prevent additionally imaging or testing, there is nothing to compare the first one to so it results in many firsts being redone.

I know it's not easy, but it really may be nothing.

I got called back a few years ago. My husband went with me as we were both a tad scared...ended up being a blurry shot and all was well!!

Good for you for going and getting it done!!
You'll be fine!!!

Hi Sweet Momma,

I've been called back the last two years. I insisted on a sonogram instead of the mammo when I returned. I have cysts in my breast that developed 2 years ago. A sonogram is going to tell them whether the cyst is worrisome or not. Another mammo will only confirm the cysts. I had to be stern on this but I don't want to expose myself to further radiation for no good reason. The girls at the front desk told me that was not protocol. I explained I understood they had protocol in place but I had good reason for the way I wanted my body treated. They of course said they would have to talk to the doctor to get approval. I said fine and I'd be happy to talk to the doc as well. The doc approved and that was it. If they repeat the mammo and confirm there are cysts the next step is a sonogram. Sonogram defines what the cyst looks like where a mammo can't. Sono determines if it's a solid mass or a cyst. Since sono is the next step anyway, I refuse to be put through another mammo. If you have the sonogram done, you will know before you leave if further testing is necessary.

I know there's no way not to worry about it so I'm not going to tell you that. I had 10 years of clear mammograms and then the last two have not been clear. It is nerve racking no matter what. Just know whatever it is you will make it through.

God bless you as you walk through this. If you would like to pm me, I'll be happy to visit with you.

L.

Nerve wracking but try not to worry. This happens way more than you think. I have been called back three times out of six! All was well each time. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

Yep I had a call back. It was nothing. If I get a call back again, like you I'd fret. Your reaction is normal.

Very, very common with a first mammogram. I got a call back for my first but not my second.

I had this happen when I had an MRI done on my neck and shoulder. I was called back the next day to come in and have it done again because they found a "mass-like lesion." Scared me to death!! It turned out to be an angioma, which is a benign fatty mass.
As the other moms have said, try not to worry about it. There could be MANY reasons that are nothing to worry about, they just want to get a more conclusive look. Keep us posted, but I am sure everything will turn out fine! Hugs and prayers to you!!
HTH,
A.

Yes, I have had 2 call backs, but they sent me for an ultrasound to see more both times. All was fine. Try not to worry, they tend to be extra careful and get more shots if the first one's do not turn out clearly.

That used to happen to me all the time, and I felt awful every time. I know what you are feeling! Sometimes they just don't get a good image, although it's easiest if they look at the image while you're still there and don't let you go home. But even that is stressful.

Once you're home and you get a call back, it's even harder. Usually once you're home, the call back is because the radiologist looked at it - that doctor isn't always available during the appointments and doesn't study the images until later.

Most of my call backs were because of breast density and cysts. The mammogram just doesn't cut through those sections and they show up as shadows, which make it unclear whether there is anything else in the breast. My other call backs were for calcifications. I did have 2 biopsies and even they turned out to be nothing. But that's rare even after a call back - I'm just saying, if you do have to go for anything else after this 2nd set of images, 9 times out of 10, it's not cancer, which is what you are fearing the most.

FYI breast cysts can be gotten rid of easily - I did. So now I don't have the discomfort, and I haven't had any more call backs. I'm not saying that's what's causing you to get a call back, but just that so many things can be resolved non-medically.

Try to hang in there!

When I had my first one they said you almost always get called back on your first one! I got called back, then they even went as far as to do an ultrasound. It was all for nothing, but now they have a GREAT baseline for me.

Mom mom went to Mass General last week as she got a call back too. She was worried but they told her what they told her and she was in and out with a clear report in 30 minutes. Try not to stress as the tech told my mom that a lot of times people are called back because they just didn't get a good shot the first time.

I got a call back once and no big deal...sometimes it's due to operator error...the majority of cases everything is fine. They usually do another mammogram and sometimes a breast ultrasound just to be sure.