Hi
Hoping for some advice/reassurance from this lovely forum which I have just found. I am 56.
A few weeks ago I had a routine breast screening via a mobile unit. Last Friday received a follow up recall letter to attend Saturday 9th August. In a state of panic yesterday I decided to phone the dept and spoke to one of the breast care nurses. She said the mammogram showed a 37mm lump and it has been scored in between 3 equivocal and 4 suspicious. She confirmed on Saturday I’ll have a more detailed mammogram including armpit. Called it tommo something? Followed by an US and a biopsy. She said I should receive some results on Saturday but will wait a couple of weeks for biopsy results. Going through the conversation in my head I am now stressing out. As I am assuming that on Saturday they will tell me I have cancer and the couple of weeks for the biopsy will be to determine what type. Is this correct? I’m going out of my mind wondering what else she could mean as had thought she would say I won’t get any results until the biopsy comes back. Please can someone advise? Is a between 3 and 4 mammogram score always cancer? Sorry to ramble but I’m very worried. Thank you.
Hi @sjowakey sorry you have to be here but, if it turns out to be what you suspect, you’ll find lots of support here.
I was recalled from a routine mammogram, just like you have been, and was told by the radiologist at the biopsy that it was cancer but the biopsy would determine what type. The scanning technology they have now is very sophisticated. I’m not sure, however, this is the proscribed procedure as many women on this forum were left hanging for several weeks before having breast cancer confirmed. It does sound, though, that this is what the nurse means. There are lots of things it could be other than a tumour and I very much hope that that is what it is found to be when the analysis is done. If it turns out to be BC however, which obviously mine did, the vast majority are dealt with successfully through surgery and various adjuvant treatments. The prognosis is usually extremely good. I am three years past the stage that you are at and sometimes it feels surreal that it ever happened at all. Please be aware that even if it is benign, they may want to take it out so surgery may be involved come what may. I wish you good luck but, whatever the outcome, you are welcome to ask questions or just download on the forum whenever you need to.
Thank you for your reply.
Hi @sjowakey I’m sorry you’re going through this stressful period of not knowing.
I have nothing to add to what @Tigress has said, except to say that our specialist breast care nurses are here to chat you through anything - from clinical questions to worries.
You can get in touch with them here on the forum on the Ask our Nurses your questions board or on our helpline 0808 800 6000 which is open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and 9am-1pm Saturday.
Sending our warmest,
Lucy