Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Recalled after a mammogram - what happens at at assessment clinic?

37 replies

IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 10:24

Recalled after a mammogram - what happens at at assessment clinic?

I am 53 - have self examined can't find any lumps or bumps - I am not panicking - just wondered if anyone has been to one of these clinics - what happens and do you get the results there and then?

OP posts:
IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 11:17

poetryandwine · 21/03/2026 11:10

Hope I did not sound like I was lecturing you, OP!

I am a scientist so facts are the coin of my realm. I was terrified.

I had forgotten about the manual exam, and should have emphasised how incredibly kind every single person was.

You certainly didn't sound like that at all. I am sorry if I inferred you were.

I appreciate facts and sensible talk.

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 21/03/2026 11:10

Hope I did not sound like I was lecturing you, OP!

I am a scientist so facts are the coin of my realm. I was terrified.

I had forgotten about the manual exam, and should have emphasised how incredibly kind every single person was.

IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 10:55

Thank you everyone, maybe I am worrying more than I am letting on.

Its hard also being a nurse, who's worked on cancer diagnostics so know how many people don't have cancer but also those pesky ones who slip through.

OP posts:
IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 10:54

Chamomileteainabigmug · 21/03/2026 10:53

They start off with another mammogram on a better machine - some people leave at this stage.
Next is an ultrasound - some people leave at this stage
They MAY biopsy anything suspicious during the ultrasound
If you are still there discussion with doctor - for most people it is not cancer
If the mammogram and ultrasound look like cancer discussion with breast care nurse - breast cancer is very, very treatable with very high 5 and 10 year survival rates well in the 90s for early stage cancer.
Most people who are recalled do not have cancer.

Thank you

OP posts:
Chamomileteainabigmug · 21/03/2026 10:53

They start off with another mammogram on a better machine - some people leave at this stage.
Next is an ultrasound - some people leave at this stage
They MAY biopsy anything suspicious during the ultrasound
If you are still there discussion with doctor - for most people it is not cancer
If the mammogram and ultrasound look like cancer discussion with breast care nurse - breast cancer is very, very treatable with very high 5 and 10 year survival rates well in the 90s for early stage cancer.
Most people who are recalled do not have cancer.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 21/03/2026 10:44

I have had this twice after mammograms. Same experience as FOJN above. Medical staff very kind as they understand we are all anxious. It is hard for them to see some areas on the routine mammogram if you are someone with cysts etc (I didn't know I had the first time). I was recalled as they gave a very dense appearance on one side, so they had to do more screening and biopsy to check all was OK. Fully expecting to have to be recalled after next one too!

IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 10:44

poetryandwine · 21/03/2026 10:35

Sorry about your news, OP.

I was recalled once. I got a packet of info explaining what would happen, and that the large majority of women recalled do not have cancer.

At the breast clinic I was first given a more intensive mammogram on both boobs. Then a consultant did an ultrasound of the one that had been flagged, and the mammograms were read.

At that point I was cleared. If there were still suspicions, the next step would have been a biopsy. I think that is usually done on the day but results can take a while.

Early BC is very treatable. Cancer specialists often shy away from the word cure but there are many, many women who are never bothered by BC again after the initial treatment. The odds of this are good. Of course every death is one too many.

This is alarming and I am not minimising the problems, but at this point the odds are (a) that you don’t have cancer and (b) if you do, it can be treated successfully.

I have dense boobs, according to the consultant, but didn’t find the mammograms painful. They are particularly snug, though.

Very best wishes

Thank you

I am not panicking - I am a nurse and used to work in Cancer Diagnostics so am aware the majority of patients seen do not have cancer and if its caught early then the chances are so much better.

Thank you for your time, hopefully I can get the results on the day and deal with whatever I am given.

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 21/03/2026 10:35

Sorry about your news, OP.

I was recalled once. I got a packet of info explaining what would happen, and that the large majority of women recalled do not have cancer.

At the breast clinic I was first given a more intensive mammogram on both boobs. Then a consultant did an ultrasound of the one that had been flagged, and the mammograms were read.

At that point I was cleared. If there were still suspicions, the next step would have been a biopsy. I think that is usually done on the day but results can take a while.

Early BC is very treatable. Cancer specialists often shy away from the word cure but there are many, many women who are never bothered by BC again after the initial treatment. The odds of this are good. Of course every death is one too many.

This is alarming and I am not minimising the problems, but at this point the odds are (a) that you don’t have cancer and (b) if you do, it can be treated successfully.

I have dense boobs, according to the consultant, but didn’t find the mammograms painful. They are particularly snug, though.

Very best wishes

IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 10:34

FOJN · 21/03/2026 10:33

I attended a breast clinic after finding a lump. It was years ago so things could have changed. I had a physical examination, fine needle biopsy (bearable but not fun) an ultrasound and consultation when all the tests had been done. I was there for about 2 hours and was given the results on the day. The one I went to was really well run and the staff were great.

Hope your visit goes well and everything turns out OK.

Thank you

OP posts:
FOJN · 21/03/2026 10:33

I attended a breast clinic after finding a lump. It was years ago so things could have changed. I had a physical examination, fine needle biopsy (bearable but not fun) an ultrasound and consultation when all the tests had been done. I was there for about 2 hours and was given the results on the day. The one I went to was really well run and the staff were great.

Hope your visit goes well and everything turns out OK.

IwishIcouldconfess · 21/03/2026 10:27

tinyspiny · 21/03/2026 10:26

Was it your first mammogram ?

No my second.

OP posts:
tinyspiny · 21/03/2026 10:26

Was it your first mammogram ?

Swipe left for the next trending thread