Breastscreen recall anxiety - Real Mum story on MoM

10 Comments

Mid November I went for my routine mammogram and two weeks later I was notified that they would like to do further tests. That was mid December and the earliest appointment I could get was after Christmas and New Year. It was really difficult to truly relax and enjoy the holiday festivities. At the back of your mind was the question, “What if???”. Thankfully I have had my test today and it has come out all clear. This is also the second time I have been recalled. The first was about 4 years ago. What I have learnt is that I needed to stay calm, stay strong and not assume the worse. At the same time, I needed to prepare for the worse too. So the way I handled it was to make sure I did all the things I needed to do just in case I got bad news. This had a good effect on me as I was kept busy and had hardly anytime to be anxious. Another benefit is I got to finish off things which I should have finished off long ago. I wonder how other people cope with a recall? There were other ladies in the waiting room today who were so anxious too. We must all remember that the authorities are super cautious and will recall more often than not. This is good in that it would hopefully turn out to be nothing bad but if it was bad, it would mean they have caught it at a very early stage. Thank you to Breastscreen for looking after us.

Posted anonymously, 5th January 2016

10 Comments

- - cherz said
  - 09 Jan 2016
    9:01 pm
What a wonderful story and so pleased it had a great outcome. I tooo wish to thank Breast Screen for looking after us, it is a wonderful service supplied and if we keep up with regular visits even when a recall comes back positive we in most cases are assured of a successful outcome.
I also regularly have to have colonoscopy’s with occult bowel tests in-between and have had a couple of bowel tests that require a call back resulting in a colonoscopy to be scheduled and although it is worrying it is best to know the outcome either way.

- - clairejay said
  - 09 Jan 2016
    1:00 pm
I’m glad it turned out to be nothing. Thanks for posting this story as I’ve never had a recall but as you say – they are very thorough and likely that they recall more often than not. It’s a good framework to keep in mind for the future.

- - BellaB said
  - 07 Jan 2016
    6:50 pm
It’s an anxious time when you get a recall for any test.

- - mom93821 said
  - 06 Jan 2016
    6:41 am
It can be a scary time and staying calm can be quite a hard task. Thankfully you have been given the all clear. I am thankful for the screening and technology that has detected lumps. Results do have to be re-checked as technology is not always accurate. Wishing all mums well that may be undergoing any of these procedures.

- - mom165081 said
  - 06 Jan 2016
    1:38 am
Thanks for sharing your story – I haven’t been recalled, but it must cause a lot of angst.

- - mom94125 said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    9:43 pm
we went through that scary moment which turned out to be fine, with my mum. thank god hey! i hope you get to enjoy christmas next year!
- mamavon replied
  
  05 Jan 2016 , 10:50 pm
  Next time I am going to go for my scan after the new year. That way, I can at least have a worry free holiday season.
- - mom90758 said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    9:22 pm
It was so good of you to remain so calm and reasonable. I had a recall a long time ago. I was just 38 years old at the time and I was advised to get my first mammogram. What I did, without really thinking anything of it. But then, after the mammogram, they asked me to stay for an echo. I started to worry. Still not happy, they advised me to take an appointment with the oncologist. I was starting to freak out!! I went, with my little girl that was just over 1 year old at the time, and my husband. I talked, the oncologist asked to discuss my case with the team before sending me for a biopsy. At the end, because I had undergone 4 years of infertility treatment and just suffered a miscarriage, and my body was full of hormones, the oncologist thought all those microcalcifications I had, were just because of the hormones. She advised me to get a mammogram every 6 months to check if they were changing in dimension and number. I did so for 2 years and then, at the following mammogram, they had just disappeared. Just like that. Result of the hormones thus, that by then were completely out of my body. I was so relieved!!
Now I just get a mammogram every 2 years. I got one exactly yesterday. No joke!! And I really hope they won’t phone me. That would mean that everything is fine. I guess every woman worries a little bit in these situations. And I am having some small pain (needle type) in both my breasts lately. I said it yesterday during the mammogram and they expect it to be just a symptom of the beginning of menopause. If not, something will appear on the mammogram results. I want a letter, just a letter!
- mamavon replied
  
  05 Jan 2016 , 10:53 pm
  Wow, that must have been a worrying period for you. It is amazing how all these hormones can affect so many things. I hope you get an all clear letter soon.
  - mom90758 replied
    
    06 Jan 2016 , 6:13 pm
    
    Thank you. I hope it too!
    Hormones can change so many things in your body. I got my first autoimmune disease (vasculitis) probably as a result of the infertility treatment too. Nasty hormones!