Reason for Possible Repeat Mammography Examination
Alrighty, so you've just gotten a call about having to come back for more imaging after your mammogram. Now, you're all worry and wondering what the heck could be going on. Here's the deal - it ain't always a cause for concern.
First things first, take a deep breath. A lotta folks get called back for a possible finding on a screening mammogram, but many times, those findings end up being completely normal. So, try not to stress just yet.
A callback mammogram means you gotta head back to your doctor's office for more scans. But fret not, this don't always mean something is wrong. In fact, most of the stuff found on a screening mammogram is benign, or in other words, not cancer.
Now, let's dive a little deeper into what could be going on when you get a callback. Here are some common reasons:
- Unclear Images: Just like when you try to snap a picture with your phone that doesn't come out right, sometimes the images on a mammogram can happen to be a bit blurry. This can create areas that look like masses, even though they're just regular ol' breast tissue.
- Dense Breasts: Some women have breasts that are made up of more fibrous and glandular tissue, which looks white on a mammogram, just like cancer does. This can make it tough for the docs to know what's going on in there.
- Cysts: These are non-cancerous, fluid-filled sacs that can pop up in the breast. Sometimes they can be felt, but other times, they won't show up until they appear on a mammogram.
- Calcifications: These are tiny bits of calcium in the breast tissue. They're common after age 50 and are often not cancerous. However, they can be an early sign of something going wrong in the breast tissue.
- Fibroadenomas: These are benign tumors that don't usually raise your risk for breast cancer. Some of them may disappear on their own, while others will grow over time.
- Areas of Asymmetry: If one part of your breast looks different from the rest or if your breasts look way different from one another, you might have to come back for another mammogram.
Now that you know what could be going on, it's important to understand what happens next. You'll likely have to get more images of your breasts, possibly with an ultrasound or even an MRI. This helps radiologists get a better look at what's going on inside your boobies.
If your callback mammogram shows something suspicious, your provider may ask you to come back in for a biopsy. This procedure lets them take samples of the breast tissue to see if it's cancerous or not. However, even when breast cancer is found, 80% of biopsy results are NOT cancer.
If everything turns out to be just fine, you can get back to your regular mammogram schedule. But if there are somewhat suspicious areas they want to keep an eye on, you may need to come back more frequently for follow-up mammograms.
Dealing with pre-mammogram jitters is normal. Just remember that getting a mammogram is an important part of maintaining your breast health. If you ever do get diagnosed with breast cancer, you'll be surrounded by a team of health care specialists ready to help you through the journey. So, cross that bridge if it comes to it - and remember that getting called back for a mammogram ain't necessarily a guarantee that there's a problem. Plenty of things can initially look abnormal on a mammogram, but end up being benign.
So, there ya have it - the lowdown on getting called back for a mammogram. Stay calm and remember that they're just being thorough in their efforts to keep your breast health at its best.
- Maintaining health-and-wellness and ensuring women's health is crucial, which is why a mammogram, even if you're called back for more imaging, should not be ignored.
- In the realm of science and health-and-wellness, many foods can help boost the immune system, making the body better suited for handling potential health issues like those detected during a mammogram, should such a need arise. For instance, consuming foods rich in antioxidants, like berries, can aid in the body's natural healing process.
