Rest assured, a follow-up exam or test does not mean you have breast cancer.
Fewer than 1 in 10 people called back after anabnormal mammogramhave breast cancer.
This article discusses many reasons for a fast or same-day mammogram callback and helpful tips to manage your nerves.
choja/ Getty Images
The only difference is that theradiologistwill take pictures of a specific area they found unusual on your initial mammogram.
Your healthcare provider may also suggest abreast ultrasound(orsonogram).
A radiologist is simply tracking and identifying changes in your breast tissue.
This may be the case if you have dense breast tissue.
Newer mammogram technology has been shown to help reduce callbacks.
Check with your facility and ask if they used a 2D or3D mammographymachine.
You may experience a higher rate of callbacks from now on.
It’s not related to breast size or firmness (which is fat tissue).
They want to help you understand what was seen and why you gotta return.
If you’re anxious, schedule an appointment with a therapist or counselor to discuss your feelings.
Connect with people in-person or online who have also been called back after a mammogram screening.
More than 1 million women get biopsies each year, of which 20% are malignant.
A callback does not mean you have cancer.
Additional images often show the finding isn’t cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, quick mammogram callbacks are nothing to stress about.
Less than 10% of people called back after an abnormal mammogram have breast cancer.
The length and process of a second mammogram will be similar to the first.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.When to order a breast mri.
American Cancer Society.Getting called back after a mammogram.
American Cancer Society.What does the doctor look for on a mammogram?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Understanding your mammogram report.
National Cancer Institute.Dense breasts: Answers to commonly asked questions.
American Cancer Society.If youre called back after a mammogram.
2018;18(1):10. doi:10.1186/s12880-017-0242-4
American Cancer Society.Breast density and your mammogram report.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Core-needle biopsy for breast abnormalities.
