Hi Justyouraveragevirgo,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that your mum has been recalled after a routine mammogram. This happened to me many years ago. I panicked, as I lost my mum to secondary breast cancer after a 12 year battle with the disease. Fortunately, the recall was because there was a slight change in my breast from the previous mammogram and nothing untoward was found. I had another mammogram and was given the all clear. It is impossible to predict what the outcome will be for your mum. If she needs further tests to establish this, they will be carried out.

I am sure that your mum is very anxious at the moment and she will appreciate any support that you can give her. I hope that she doesn't have too long to wait for her appointment. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for both of you.

Keeping my fingers crossed for good news.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you so much for your lovely and reassuring message. I’m really sorry to hear that you lost your mum to breast cancer, but it’s reassuring to hear that you were recalled yourself and that it turned out to be nothing to worry about.

You’re right, we just don’t know what the outcome will be until Mum has her further checks, and I think that uncertainty is what I’m finding hardest at the moment. She’s actually quite calm about it all, but I think I’m definitely the one panicking more! 

She’s had cysts in the past and she said she hasn’t noticed or felt any lumps, although I know that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s nothing there. We’re just trying to stay positive and get through the waiting, which honestly feels like the worst part.

Thank you again for taking the time to reply and for the support. It really does mean a lot.

Hi there- just like your Mum I was recalled following a routine mammogram & was beside myself with worry.  Mine turned out to be a normal spot/pimple which prompted the recall because it was a ‘change’ in the breast from the mammogram 3 years earlier.  The equipment is so sensitive it can pick up the very slightest of changes which in some ways is reassuring.  I hadn’t felt any lumps or noticed any changes so was relieved with the outcome of no further action.  I hope your Mum has the same outcome. Take care x

Hi Justyouraveragevirgo,

Most of us would agree that this is one of the hardest parts of our cancer journey. Sitting in the "unknown" waiting room, makes the uncertainty so much more difficult to cope with. Irrespective of the outcome, most of us feel better once we know exactly what we're dealing with.

I sincerely hope that your mum's appointment is soon and that they can give her the reassurance she needs.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Justyouraveragevirgo,

Most of us would agree that this is one of the hardest parts of our cancer journey. Sitting in the "unknown" waiting room, makes the uncertainty so much more difficult to cope with. Irrespective of the outcome, most of us feel better once we know exactly what we're dealing with.

I sincerely hope that your mum's appointment is soon and that they can give her the reassurance she needs.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Her appointment is a week on Monday so hopefully we’ll have some answers then. So right now I just need to get through the next week day by day and try not to let my brain overthink everything or do any unnecessary Googling because I know that’s the worst thing I could do right now. 

Hi,

Try to keep yourself busy in the meantime. It doesn't matter whether this is with work or pleasure - anything to distract yourselves from the wait. You are certainly right about not consulting "Dr Google" in the meantime. This won't give you any answers and will only serve to increase your anxiety.

 Please keep in touch and let us know how your mum gets on next Monday and remember, that we are always here for both of you.

Jolamine xx

It’s been over a week now since I found out she has to go back, and honestly this past week has dragged so much. I’m starting to get really anxious for Monday. Part of me just wants Monday to come so we can finally know what it is, but another part of me really doesn’t want it to come at all.

I’m also scared that if she needs a biopsy, we’ll have to wait even longer for answers, and I think that’s the hardest part of all of this - the waiting and not knowing.

I keep seeing adverts or people’s experiences about breast cancer coming up whenever I’m scrolling through social media too, and my brain automatically tells me it’s a sign or that it means something. I’ve never really had anything about breast cancer pop up for me before, so seeing it constantly now is just making me think even more into everything.

Hi ,I just wanted to say that as difficult as it is waiting for the result and whatever that might unfold ,its still better to know than not know ,as in at least she's getting checked out and if it is something sinister it will be stopped in its tracks ,the good thing is the mammogram has picked up on this, otherwise she might never have known there was a problem .....I hope all goes well for her ..

Thank you for reassuring me!️ Are you able to go through what will actually happen for my mum on the day of her appointment? Like, what’s the routine procedure for people who get called back after a routine mammogram? Also, roughly how long do these appointments usually take? I know what they need to do will depend on what she’s been called back for, but even just a rough baseline of what to expect would really help me feel a bit more prepared for Monday.

Thank you for reassuring me!️ Are you able to go through what will actually happen for my mum on the day of her appointment? Like, what’s the routine procedure for people who get called back after a routine mammogram? Also, roughly how long do these appointments usually take? I know what they need to do will depend on what she’s been called back for, but even just a rough baseline of what to expect would really help me feel a bit more prepared for Monday.

Hi I'm not sure what the procedure is but I'm sure someone will pick this up and get right back to you ,either a Moderator or someone who has been recalled as I've seen this pop up many times ,if you want to you can type in the search forum space at the top "Recall after Mammogram"  and lots will will come up ,I hope this helps ....

Hi there- during my recall I was there for about 3 hours altogether. I saw the Consultant first who took my history & examined the breast that had prompted the recall.  I then had a mammogram on the same breast followed by an ultrasound scan.  After the scan they told me straight away they couldn’t find anything of concern but that I would go back to see the Consultant again who would give me the full results & outcome.  She told me that all of the tests confirmed her suspicions following the initial examination that the area of concern was a simple spot/pimple & that I didn’t need any biopsies or any further treatment as everything was perfectly fine.  There was a bit of hanging around between the initial examination, then waiting for the mammogram, then the ultra sound & then back to the Consultant again but obviously, for me, it was a really good outcome in the end.  I really hope it’s the same for your Mum.  Take care  xx

Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me about your experience, I really appreciate it.

Knowing roughly what happens will definitely help me prepare for Monday, and knowing that it’s completely normal for her to be there for a while will hopefully make things a little easier for me while I’m waiting. I know if I’m unsure about what’s happening or she’s in there for ages, that’s when my anxiety will start spiralling and my mind will jump to the worst possible conclusions. So hearing about your experience has honestly been really helpful. 

Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience with me, it really does mean a lot xx

Today’s the day. I’ve hardly slept and I’m feeling incredibly anxious, both physically and mentally. I have so many thoughts and different scenarios going through my head, and I’m finding it really difficult to switch my brain off.

Her appointment isn’t until this afternoon, so I’ve still got a few hours to get through, which feels like a long time right now.

But I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has commented and supported me over the past two weeks. I’ve read through your comments so many times whenever I’ve felt anxious, and they’ve genuinely helped me get through the waiting.

Once we know more, I’ll come back and let everyone know how she got on.