Mammogram recall

My worry is because I have a face 2 face appointment and they don't call me its probably bad news .

Twice it was cysts I had, they were drained there and then at the face to face appointment.
On one occasion, the doctor walked in and said: I thought it was you MD, do you wish to make an appointment with someone else, because I know you.
I declined, I just wanted it sorted ASAP.

PinkSweetPea thank you xx
crazyH cysts were already drained at the appointment . So was yours drained at the results appointment? Or already drained at the appointment you had the tests done ?

Just because you’re having a face2face appointment doesn’t mean it’s bad news. I had an appointment with the Consultant. He saw me and told me that it was a cyst, which was drained. Please don’t worry. Take the good advice given by others and be positive.

I cannot remember if they did say suspicious, they just said it was not a cyst like they thought. When they phoned me they did offer me to keep my appointment if I wanted to if I had any questions but the lady had explained it all on the phone so I declined the appointment. That was 3 years ago so it may be different now with cutbacks etc.

Hi PinkSweetPea thank you for taking the time to reply. It's a terrible experience isn't it. Did they say to you the area was suspicious? My worry is because I have a face 2 face appointment and they don't call me its probably bad news . As I'm not sure how they work xx

Mumoftwinboys I got recalled 3 years ago and like you I had numerous mammograms whilst at the clinic, ultra scan, they thought it was a cyst so drained it, then said it was not a cyst so had to have the biopsy and then made a appointment to go back for results. They actual phoned me before my appointment and said it was a fibroadenoma which is a benign lump and did not need anything doing. Such a relief as I had thought the worst. I hope yours is some like a fibroadenoma and nothing more. Thinking of you

Thank you again ladies I really appreciate the support so much .

Anxiety is a terrible thing and I really thought I had it under control a bit better till this happened 😕.

Mumoftwinboys

Hi ladies, I'm having a terrible time I'm just not coping very well. The wait is torture. I feel I'm going to have a breakdown. My family keep telling me it's going to be fine but they don't know that really. I'm just a mess xx

I am with you. You can do this. You are going to be ok. 🌹

I really don't know what other advice to offer except you have to go with it and realise that some anxiety is normal, but when it begins to affect your life and family it isn't.

I say this because I had a close friend who also had breast cancer earlier than I did. She went for private treatment but would have had just the same care on the NHS. Now she still carries that breast cancer around with her 20 years later, constantly going for tests and scans etc which have cost her a fortune.

Her NHS GP says she has anxiety but she is always convinced its the breast cancer returning, even though there has been no evidence of it. It has ruined her life.

This is why I am trying to suggest you seek treatment for the anxiety, but I suspect you won't feel any relief until you finally get the reassurance you need from the professionals.

I meant to say it's NOW looking low suspicious not NOT*

keepingquiet thank you so much for your kind words. Anxiety is absolutely crippling for sure . I definitely do need some help with it .
Yes there is a breast care nurse but I think she's only there to ask questions about the biopsy wound. She was very kind and came in the room after I had the last 2 mammograms after the biopsy and said its not looking like it's low suspicious now from reviewing the last 2 . So she was trying to reassure me . I'm really not sure what changed xx

Anxiety causes more distress than the original problem. Yes, I do still get anxious from time to time but have learned that it will pass, nothing is ever as bad as it seems, and that there is always someone to turn to.

You have done a brave thing coming here, so we will keep on standing beside you.

I will make another plea for you to speak to your GP about this anxiety and hopefully find some help.

Breast cancer when caught quickly is easily treatable these days, but I think you know that. Anxiety is a far more crippling disease which is very difficult to treat once it takes hold.

Listen to the wise people here. The professionals will treat the cancer because that's what they do, but the anxiety will go unnoticed unless you tell them.

When I was having treatment I had a designated breast care nurse who I could ring whenever I needed to. Do they still have them?

I didn't ring her often I'm happy to say, but it did help knowing she was there.

Meanwhile keep posting, please.

Marydoll thank you
Sparklefizz ove put on a comedy called motherland it's really funny .
escaped I'm going to go out later with my husband when he gets home he finishes early today so going to do something.
fancythat ,the medical staff just gave me a leaflet about my dressing. They new I was in a state and really anxious but I suppose they see this every day and can't really do much until the results are in . Though breast care nurse was kind enough to tell me that since my last 2 mammograms they now hope it's good news.

Op, keep talking on here. If that helps.

Have you been given any advice or leaflets from the medical profession about coping with it all?

💐 Mumoftwinboys.
Can you try walks in beautiful places? Being in nature helps. Also carry little positive sayings in your purse and read it constantly. One a day to see you through this horrible waiting time.

Good idea Mumoftwinboys. I find Youtube comedy clips very helpful at times of stress. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Yes, I have been clear of cancer since 1998 and treatments are obviously better now than they were then. You can choose to be stronger over this. I'll be thinking of you and sending positive vibes.

An excellent post*Sparklefizze*.
For both of you.💐

Thank you Sparklefizz ,I hope you are doing well now ? I know I havecto get in control of this anxiety because I'm going to lose my mind if I don't. I'm going to do some yoga and watch something funny on TV. Hopefully this helps xx

Mumoftwinboys

Hi ladies, I'm having a terrible time I'm just not coping very well. The wait is torture. I feel I'm going to have a breakdown. My family keep telling me it's going to be fine but they don't know that really. I'm just a mess xx

I've had breast cancer twice so I sympathise but you have to make an effort to keep your anxiety in check because it's not doing you any good at all, and must be very upsetting for your family.

Find distractions - anything at all. Follow something on YouTube - do some yoga, singing, deep breathing, whatever. Every time you find yourself thinking about it, make a deliberate choice to think about something nice - kittens or puppies, your children, holidays, anything.

Buy some Rescue Remedy drops and sip those all day. They really work.

You can take control of this anxiety. I know you can do it!!

Hi ladies, I'm having a terrible time I'm just not coping very well. The wait is torture. I feel I'm going to have a breakdown. My family keep telling me it's going to be fine but they don't know that really. I'm just a mess xx

Thanks Elegran for sharing your story . Very much appreciated xx

The man doing the ultrasound tutted when he saw the coffee-bean, and the nurse standing beside me moved closer ready to be supportive, so I guessed there was a possibility. The call-back mammograms had not shown what the original one had hinted at, so the ultrasound was defining it. I had to wait a few days for confirmation, but things moved very fast after that. All the medical staff were superb.

Thank you ladies for your kind words xx
Elegran when they did the biopsy on you did the state it was highly suspicious? I am so glad everything worked out well for you . And the fact you needed no treatment after must have been a huge relief xx

Mumoftwinboys I went through almost exactly the same process that you describe, but my biopsy was confirmed as a small cancer the size of a coffee bean. I must tell you that by a fortnight later, it had been removed in a ten-minute spell in theatre (I know how long it took because I checked the time on the clock as I went in, and again when I came to in the recovery room!) It healed fast and in almost 20 years I have never had any repeat. That was without any chemo or radiotherapy, as they were trialling whether it was better to give these or not to patients with small tumours that had been detected early (the trial was called "PRIME" for "Post-operative Radiotherapy In Minimal-risk Elderly" I was a bit miffed at the time for being labelled elderly) So even if it does prove positive, you would be at the lowest end of the risks.

What a torrid time you are having.

I hope it is all better news going forward.