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

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. 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience.I’m really glad everything turned out to be okay for you and that it was just a harmless spot.

It’s reassuring to hear stories like yours, especially when you hadn’t noticed any changes yourself either. My mum has suffered with cysts in the past and has had them drained, so that could be one of the reasons for her recall. 

Hopefully Mum will have the same outcome and we’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief after her appointment.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience, it really does help. x

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 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 ....

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. 

Best wishes for a good outcome today ,yes please let us know how you get on today ,there is always someone to talk to on here ......

Hi, 

We are still in the hospital but my mum has messaged me saying that she’s had an ultrasound and they think she has 2 cyst on her right side. She had just had another mammogram and it’s waiting for the results now. 

Hi thanks for letting us know ,lets hope its just cysts ,its so good of your mum to keep you up to date ....

We’re home now.

She had her cysts drain and they have took a biopsy just to be safe. They said she will get a call within 2 weeks with the results of that and then she will have to go back for a mammogram. 

Although I’m having to wait another 2 weeks and I still feel somewhat anxious about the results. I feel better this time as we know what it is and that it’s highly unlikely to be anything sinister. 

Thank you for your help and reassurance.