Mammogram recall, am I panicking unnecessarily

[RedTartanLass]

I'm 44 have a family history of breast cancer, so had a mammogram 2 weeks ago, I received a letter yesterday asking me to attend this Wednesday for another mammogram, an ultra sound and maybe a biopsy. I am bloody terrified they make it very clear on the letter that is doesn't mean I have cancer and 7 out of 8 people asked to re-attend wont have cancer.

I am so scared, I've tried not to think too hard but I am at the age when my mum was first diagnosed, she died a few years later. My gran died of it, my cousin in her 30s has it and my aunt was first diagnosed in her 40s as well. This is on both sides of the family maternal and paternal.

Does anyone have any words of reassurance, I'm already planning my funeral

Red Tartan - Statistically you are likely to be fine although, with your family history, you need careful monitoring, and you are getting it, so take comfort.

I was in your situation last year and proved to have BC, so I am not going to say that it is going to be OK - because I don't know that.

But what I will say is - you are being monitored and, with your family history, that is good. Statistically the chances still are that you will be OK. If you are not, you will find out asap, and you will have a very good chance of a cure.

Take heart and do not panic. In all liklelihood you are fine. If you aren't, join us in General Health on the Tamoxifen thread. We've all had the bad diagnosis, and we aren't beaten yet.....

The same thing happened to my mum a couple of years ago. She had the letter and went into a complete mess, convinced of the worse etc. She lost about a stone in the 3 weeks or so.

Anyway, she had the second mammogram and the results were fine. The nurse doing it told her it can be difficult sometimes to get the picture right and so they recall a lot of women for that reason only.

Thanks ladies for both sides. I've just started crying...and I'm scared I wont be able to stop...

my mum was also recalled last year, it turned out to be nothing (she had some scar tissue from a previous op).

Good luck for wed xx

sorry you are having to deal with this. Good luck.

Thanks for messages have had a "good" day today. Roll on tomorrow and get this waiting out the way. Although will have to wait for the results I suppose. Had a big cry in the bath yesterday. Silly girl, being a right drama queen!

the majority of recalls are because they couldn't read it properly, or their is something like scar tissue etc. The ONLY reason to ask for you to go in prepared is because of the vv tiny number where they still see a shadow & want to check it quickly - even then, it is far more likely to be scar/benign etc,

tis still scary, best wishes for tomorrow but think positive.

Been thinking of you today ... how did you get on ?

Hope you are okay RTL.

Hope you are OK. I had a recall and luckily it was nothing-I think they are over careful, which is a good thing.

I hope it was alright, sweetheart.

Sorry to read that you have had to go through this. It must have been very scary.

Really hope that the news is good, but if it isn't, there's every chance you will be fine after some treatment.

The Tamoxifen thread is full of inspiration and some brilliant women...and if you are going to get any sort of cancer, BC has the biggest amount of funding of all I think and a very, very good cure rate.

Thinking of you xx

I'm another one on the Tamoxifen thread and just wanted to say I hope today went OK for you.

Are you okay RTL?

am also on the tamoxifen thread and just wanted to check that you are ok - I echo everything Cakesandale said on her post - hope all is well.

Red Tartan Lass, I am also on the Tamoxifen thread and am having treatment at present as my recall did lead to a diagnosis of cancer. It was a huge shock but if you are in the same boat you'll find there is lots the medics do now and the outlook is much better than 10 years ago. Take heart, try not to panic and take one step at a time. I know its easier said than done, and that if you had a BC dianosis you'll be reeling, but there's lots o0f support here and elsewhere for you.

Bit worried by radio silence. Hope you are OK RTL.

RTL - lots of people are hoping you are OK?

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind kind thoughts. There has been a reason that I've not been back earlier. It was a horrendous day but the team at the hospital were amazing.

I had about another 6 mammograms in the morning, then they took me upstairs to see the doctor and to give me an ultra-sound scan, they asked me if I want dh to join me.

The doctor met me with a beaming smile and said the reason you were recalled is that we found a 9mm lump in your left breast HOWEVER we can't see it now!!!!! After spending half an hour or so on the ultrasound she believed it was a cyst which had now collapsed.

Soooo went home in a daze of relief and phoned one of my closet friends. "MMMMmmm" says she "I have a bit of a funny boob, I might get a mammogram as well, I've been to see my GP she says it's nothing, but I have a private insurance, I might as well"

I think ""

My friend phones me the Tuesday after, she had taken her blouse off and the consultant said "Oh yes you have cancer!!!"

Fast forward 2 weeks!!!! 2 weeks!!! And most of the results are back in, she has Breast cancer, it's in her lymph nodes, her liver and they think her spine.

WTF, WTF. I feel guilty it's not me, happy that I'm ok. She's bloody amazing, she hasn't cried yet.

She's been told it's not curable (the liver cancer) and I stupidly googled it. She isn't even out her 40s, dear god.

I just want to thank you for the incredible support you have given me, and I hope I can help my dear friend along this journey.

Sorry for rambling.

So glad it was OK RTL - have been wondering how you got on. Very sad for your friend though .