Waiting to do diagnostic mammogram/US
Hi all. They found a mass on my recent screening and now I'm waiting for my diagnostic mammogram and US next week. I don't know if it was an oversight on the breast care navigators part but I didn't even think to ask for the actual report. She didn't give it either and the final report isn't loaded in my portal. Just shows the BI-RADS 0. My half sister had breast cancer so I'm at a higher risk. I'm not freaking out per se, I'm a nurse as well so I'm wanting to read my report. They mailed it out to me so hoping I get it tomorrow. 😩 I'm an information type person. I like to learn and prepare myself so i am struggling with not knowing the actual findings. She just said "5-6mm mass on the upper outer quadrant near the nipple".
Looking back at my screening appt, I didn't think anything odd when the technician went back to look at the R breast images and then decided to re-do that breast. She made a comment about making sure she had a good view "like the left" She also wasn't very chatty or friendly in the beginning until after she decided to do the R breast again which tells me she saw whatever this mass is. I am also wondering if they are delaying me seeing the report as long as possible so I don't freak out? Also my US was scheduled out to May 28th and this morning it showed they added it to right after my diagnostic mammogram. And it's an oncology radiologist performing both.
I KNOW I'm overthinking everything and will not know 100% until that next appt. I want to post here because I'm sure someone else has felt like this. Thanks for listening.
Comments
-
Hi Nikola, I'm truly sorry about your experiences, but you've come to the right place for support. It's traumatic to get caught off-guard during exams, but you're already blessed because you're a nurse, so you've already got the learning curve advantage in place. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but medical professionals don't get to be part of that luxury, unfortunately.
After you have your 3D mammo & US & the test results will get uploaded into your portal, you'll feel better knowing more drops of medical intelligence. You're already ahead of the game with the tiny "5-6mm" info, indicating it's an early stage lesion, whatever it may prove to be. Frankly it's got a greater chance of being benign until after your US provides further indicators. It's location in your "outer" quadrant is more ideal than not.
You're only doing & thinking how you're trained to think in clinical settings. It's OK to embrace the present circumstances within your caliber. It's more difficult for medical professionals to play the patient. Best wishes in your upcoming imaging! Please keep us posted.
2 -
Sorry you are worrying right now and know you are more worried with a family history as well. I know how hard the waiting can be as well to get results. Best wishes for dealing with whatever right now and that is able to be treated with time.
2 -
It may be a small comfort, but family history, specifically genetic mutations, are only present in a minority of bc cases. This occurs roughly only 15% of the time or so. Most bc cases are not related to family history or genetic mutations for currently known genes (dozens beyond BRCA). The waiting is difficult but focus on what you know to be fact now and try to stay away from speculating about things that might never come to be. Take care
2 -
Thank you, all! I'm patiently waiting for the mail, lol. April 10th seems so far away. I know just enough as a nurse to get me in trouble, I know but this is the planner in me wanting to control a situation I know I can't. Again, thank you all so much. I'll update with the screening report as soon as i get it. ♥️
1
