I May Just Be Passing Through. (Question re Assessment.

They will give you indication but if they do a biopsy you usually have to wait a week for results.  It will be a one stop clinic so they repeat mammogram or do extra magnifying images, then you see doctor who may do ultra sound and will decide if you need biopsy.  If you click on my name you will see my profile.

Good luck let us know how you get on xx

My understanding is that it is very clear on the images whether it is is a cyst (fluid filled so shows up black) or a mass (shows up white) so if it is cysts, they can tell you on the day.

If there is a mass, they can also tell by the shape how suspicious it is - I think if it is smooth edged it is less likely to be cancer.

They may be happy that a mass is nothing to worry about and again, would tell you on the day. I was in recently for a lump I felt near my scar and the ultrasound person told me it was just scar tissue and nothing to worry about - no biopsies either.

If they think it looks a bit suspicious  and want to take biopsies, then they can still tell you what they think (I was told I likely had cancer and biopsy confirmed) but they cannot tell from images whether it is definitely cancer.

They give you as much info as possible on the day. My biopsy results took a week and I was told when I was going to get the results.

That's really helpful, as I want to know what to ask........

There is not always a lump.  I was recalled for breast calcifications, which appear as white dots on mammogram.  If it's cancer it's early stage DCIS , it's not broken out.  It comes as low, medium or high grade .  It can  be extensive or very small area and they use an expert eye to judge if it needs biopsy.  I had 2 areas 5 & 10mm biopsied.  Doctor confident benign on day but radiographer doing biopsies thought different - I could tell by attitude, body language.  Both right as one area benign and one not.  At year 3 I had biopsy on good breast for what they suspected a bruise but treat diagnosed patients with extra care.  It was a bruise .  Then 2021 recalled to do magnified images on other tiny areas of breast calcifications from 2015.  There was no change.  Again just super cautious.  

if you have breast calcifications they can adopt the watch and wait approach if small.  You should be rechecked in 6 months.  Ask to see your images .  Fascinating IMO.  I hadn't seen mine since surgery in 2015 till last year and found out they had left tiny marker clips (about 10) in breast for future reference.  No one had mentioned.  I had trainee BC nurse last year so while explaining everything to her I was included !  

I waS never told of my calcifications in my 2019 mammogram which I had because of family history. I’m so mad they never made me aware as I would of insisted on them keeping an eye on it but it was mthat found the lump in 2021

That's not good.  My surgeon did tell me that some medics thought the removal of breast calcifications & DCIS over treatment but she didn't,  I was quite pleased that they were still double checking my calcifications 6 years on. Hope you are doing well now x

Yes thanks. 8 months post op now. All the best. X

I now feel loads better informed, which is useful. My only other question would be whether anyone has any tips to deal with the waiting. On a rational level, I know everything may be fine - and even if it isn't, things are unlikely to be absolutely terrible. (As far as I can tell no lumps or changes.)  On the other hand I keep unhelpfully reminding myself that Ashkenazi Jewish women (I'm one) are more likely to get aggressive forms of breast cancer, I don't think I can talk to anyone -other than my partner - about the fact I've been recalled  It really isn't long to wait, but I just feel as if there's adrenalin absolutely surging through me. It's a really weird - and not pleasant - sensation.

. Sadly help on dealing with waiting hard to come by.  The waiting and the unknown are the worst part of this.  We all understand it but can't control it.  We've gone inti obituary writing, funeral planning mode !   Breast cancer is very treatable, and there are ladies on her with secondary LIVING long, good quality lives but even knowing this when I've had recalls or biopsies over the years I still withdraw into myself while waiting .  

There is an Awake thread where we just chat about life - been running about 4 years.  Jump to end , reply to last post and say hi.  You will be welcomed and you might enjoy the chat.  Link below 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/breast-cancer-forum/128753/awake/1676975#1676975   

We have a lot of ladies just passing through who get given the all clear and we love to hear this.  

Hope today goes well xx