Prayers said for you both!!!

I went through this two years ago, had to have a biopsy and it turned out to be fine. That doesn't mean anything of course and you will still worry but sometimes these things do turn out well.

LG

Prayers for you both.

Smartie

LG,

I am a mammo tech and can hopefully offer up some helpful information.

First off, it is not uncommon at all for doctors to request additional views on mammograms especially if a patient hasn't had one in a few years. I would also venture to say she is having it done at the hospital vs the op clinic because the hospital is usually where the radiologists are on duty to look at the films. Whenever additional views are taken they are generally viewed right away by the radiologist.

When radiologists look at the films they compare them to previous years and look for changes in breast tissue. Now the catch is, breast tissue changes with age. What the doctors have to determine is if it's a "normal" change or an abnormal change.

Most likely she is going in for either spot compression views or spot magnification views. What these views do is take a closer look at the area in question. IOW, it zeros in on an area to see better detail. It is also not uncommon to have an ultrasound done after the spot views (just a heads up in case they also have her have one done.) Did they mention what views are being taken? Just curious.

If I were Flamingo, I would have her call the testing center and tell them Aug 5th is too long to wait. Don't have her talk to the appointment area have her talk to someone who actually does the mammograms or a manager in the mammogram dept. Tell her to explain she is very nervous and she would really like to get in sooner. (niceness helps here, BTW.) Not all places do this, but we did everything we could to get people in as soon as we could.

I will do a little research and post a few things for you. I know it is frightening to get that call.

LC

This had some helpful information: Most of the info is specific to this testing center, but they do also have helpful general information. I quoted a small section

http://www.mainlinehealth.org/mlh/othersvcs/imaging/article_5402.asp

LC, thanks for the helpful post!

LG, praying for Flamingo, and for you. I've been through my husband's cancer with him. I understand what it's like to be on the sidelines, you want to DO something.


SB

LG,

One more thing to share with you. If they do not find anything significant that they feel needs to be taken care of ASAP, it is not uncommon for radiologists to have a patient come back in 6 months for a follow up exam.

It's called a short-term interval follow up and commonly ordered after additional views. Not always the case, but I did want to throw this out here in case she is told that at her appt. This way she will know it is a possibility and won't panic if it does happen.

LC

One year, I got a letter requesting that I make an appt for more views - got it right after Thanksgiving not long after x moved out. I got in there immediately. As scared as I was going in there, I forgot all about scared and moved straight to downright angry when they said, "Well, it's the same thing we saw a few years ago and it hasn't changed. It's ok."

NOPE!!!! It was no where near ok. The same place had been doing my mammograms and they had never told me they had ever found anything. So, I go religiously, every year, and I won't leave until they find the same place. In over 8 years, it still hasn't changed.

(I keep hoping they will decide to do annual penigrams on men so someone will realize that this is a very bad plan and they need less painful technology.)

LC:

Thank You for all that info!

The reason Flamingo can't get into the Hospital for antother look is that we were going on vacation next week. So, no time before the vacation to go, and we are 5 hours away.

We believe that the "second look" is as noted in the article, since it has been so long, (4 years) they are looking to see what has really changed.

Also, Breast Cancer doesn't run in her family. That's a plus, but NO determinant of the future.

So, get your exams done ladies.

Once again, thank you to all that posted encouraging words of support.

LG

LG,

Enjoy every moment of your vacation. Although it will be hard to put this aside, do your best to put it away and enjoy your time as a family. The reality of facing the tests, etc will be here soon enough.

Hope you ALL have fun and that you are able to enjoy a few good rounds of golf!

Flamingo's follow-on appointment was today.

The tech was terriffic. She knew what she was supposed to look for and spent time with Flamingo to tell her about it and ease her fears.

"Shouldn't have waited 4 years! You wouldn't be here right now!"

We will not get the "offical" news until they send it to the GP and she meets with her.

It should be ok. I've got my fingers crossed.

LG

LG,

I am so glad to hear it....Thanks for the update and I'll keep praying.....

not2fun

I am glad everything went smooth today. I will be prayig for a positive test result.

Hey, lousygolfer, I don't think we've ever posted to each other's threads, but I've read your story, and I'm very glad to hear everything appears ok. I'll be praying for you until you get the final results.

My wife had avoided seeing her OB/GYN for a couple of year, too, and her mom had breast cancer. Your story hit pretty close to home for me.

All the best.

LG,

FABULOUS FLAMINGO FEATHERS FOUND to be FINE!! (well, I am sure you always thought of them as being more than just fine ha! )

I know until the 'offical' word, it is hard to breathe completely easy, but I am sure you are feeling a bit of relief at this point.

I am pleased for you. And, this has 'inspired' me to get my appt made this week.

Best to you and yours!

Well, maybe now you can rest a little easier. I know the anxiety over the appointment is probably as big as the news itself.

Keeping you and Flamingo in my prayers.

J

CC:

Thank you for the thoughts. Make sure your W goes to the Dr. and gets her check up. Flamingo always said that it "hurt" and would put it off. And here we are. More worried than we need to be.

I need to follow my own advice as well, and get to the Dr.

LG

I have them done every two years now (I'm 36), since my mom had breast cancer, and it does HURT, but it's a lot less painful than a mastectomy. It's also very temporary. Heck, tweezing my eyebrows hurts, but I do that every two weeks

and

GET THEE TO THE DOCTOR

Don't be scared, it's just a finger, although it feels like a baseball bat! :eek:

Glad things don't look so bad, more prayers comin your way

Oh, I only got 9 holes in, but I shot a 52 in a hurricane. Very frustrating, but very cool. It's amazing what tropical storm winds do to a golf ball.

My wife actually went, finally, a couple of weeks ago. She was unhappy with her practice, many of the doctors she liked had left, and we found a practice opened by the doctor who actually delivered our children - and they take my insurance! So she went there. I took the morning off from work to go with her, for moral support.

She had been after me for a long time to go to the doctor myself - I haven't had a physical in years, either. So I have an appointment now for early September... Should be fun... not...

One consideration I thought of, LG, which I'm sure you will also understand/appreciate... I thought about how sad it would be if, after having wasted so much time before finally coming to the point where our marriages are the meaningful, intimate relationships they always should have been - if anything were to happen.

Yeah, mammograms hurt like all get out - for a few minutes.....I hate mine but go every year on November 11 - it's easy to remember that one. When I go, they practically have to get my ribs in there because they know what they are looking for and where it is.....fortunately, it hasn't changed in years.