to ask for a hand hold - mammogram call back

[ScatteredMama82]

I have annual mammograms because of high risk family history. I always get the result in a week or two, and its always fine. Until this year, I had my mammogram just over a week ago, got a letter today saying I have an appointment with the breast surgery clinic next Friday. I'm numb, my Mum died of breast cancer. She was only 48 when she was diagnosed. I don' know how I'm going to get through the next 7 days waiting to hear what they have to say. I've already called to see if I can go sooner but they can't fit me in.

I think the first bit of comfort is that you have annual checks and haven't noticed any changes yourself.

That's true, thank you

Not quite the same as your situation, but I referred myself after I thought I'd found a lump, as I had done several times in the past, and was very shocked to be told that this time it looked suspicious. I reassured myself that I had acted quickly and thankfully, when I got the results, although it was cancer it had been caught very early. I've since had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy and will now need annual mammograms. I'm a naturally optimistic person, but it definitely helped to to remind myself of the positives in the situation at each stage and not dwell on the unknowns. Also, whatever you do, don't Google!

I got called back, turned out it was a small cyst. It's not uncommon to be called back for lots of different reasons, even something like the mammogram wasn't clear enough or you'd slightly moved.

I am so sorry about this. I don’t want to dismiss your worries, because as you’ve said, you are at higher risk. But I hope you can take comfort from the fact that you haven’t found anything suspicious. IF there is anything, it is very reasonable to hope that it is early.

I was called back a year ago and while I was cleared for the moment I will never forget the awful feeling of seeing that thick envelope arrive: you know it is for an appointment before you even open it. And the week’s wait was grim. But most callbacks result in good news and having done some very rough calculations just now I think that is probably true for most women at higher risk, also. Although I am reasonably competent at this for a member of the public, I am not a HCP

Finally, as a specialist nurse told my own DM a little while back, ‘Early breast cancer is one of our most curable cancers now’. So I hope I have managed to give you some factual causes for optimism whilst honouring your special causes for concern. All the best

Thank you so much