Comments on: Mammogram Call Back Anxiety: Stories to Relieve Your Fears

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:15:21 +0000

I’m 52 and I was called back during routine screening mammogram for the first time. They saw an asymmetry in one view only and said I needed to come back for additional mammogram and possible ultrasound. The place where I got the screening could not schedule me for the diagnostic mammogram till end of Mar, which would have been 4 months away. I was not willing to wait that long, so I called around to different breast imaging places, and I found a place that could get me in 6 weeks later, which was the earliest date I could find after calling multiple places. My follow-up mammogram was not till after Thanksgiving and Christmas, so the worry and anxiety this caused really put a dark cloud over my holiday break. The day finally came for the follow-up mammogram, and I was physically sick with anxiety. They got me in fairly quickly and they took about 4 images of my right breast only using spot compression. After the tech took the images, she said I could go back to the waiting area to wait as the radiologist read my images. She said she would come out and let me know if I needed to do more images, or any other next steps the radiologist wanted. The waiting for the radiologist in the waiting area was horrible, and I could not stop shaking. In what seemed like forever the tech finally came out and asked me to come back with her to the imaging room where i had taken the mammogram. She said the radiologist would come in and let me know what next step where. About a minute later the radiologist walked in and sat in the chair next to me and told me he could not see the asymmetry seen on the screening mammogram in the additional views they just did, so it was just normal over lapping tissue making it look like there was an increased area of density. He said I did not need an ultrasound, and I could just come back in 1 year for a screening mammogram. I was so relieved, and I just broke down and cried on the drive home. I had really believed after over a month of worrying about this that I had cancer, since my mother had died from stage 4 breast cancer.
So, if you get re called to do another mammogram, please know especially on the type of assemtry they saw in just one view a majority of time this is due to overlapping tissue and it’s really common if you have dense breasts the radiologist said for this to happen.

By: Maggie123

Maggie123 — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:47:39 +0000

Paying it forward on this old post because the comments kept me sane during my 3 week waiting period.
I’m 42 and was called back after my screening for possible architectural distortion. Side note, I was called back last year for asymmetry which turned out to be a cyst. I just had my diagnostic mammogram and it turns out it was just overlapping tissue that flattened out on further compression. Non ultrasound was even needed. Yay! I did find out at the appointment that my TC score was 20.7 (high risk is anything over 20). They are recommending that I get yearly MRI’s along with mammogram and ultrasound. I am so relieved and really grateful that I am being watched so carefully. Hang in there ladies!

By: Mithra

Mithra — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:50:13 +0000

Thank you for writing this. I don’t think I have ever commented on a blogpost. When I felt so numb with worry and was googling all possibilities, came across your post and the comments really did help put my mind in ease. I have been getting annual screening mammograms for the past 4 years( family history) and got a call back saying the radiologist needs additional imaging. I didn’t receive the result from the screening mammogram and was so anxious. I was able to get an appointment for the next day and when I asked the technician, she said that they saw a density and wanted to be sure it’s not something of concern. I really hoped they wouldn’t call me for an ultrasound, but they did and after the radiologist also came in for additional imaging, I felt so numb. Finally heard the radiologist say that the density is a benign cyst and not to worry. The relief was overwhelming. Everyone there was empathetic and caring which made a huge difference and I am so happy that I could find an appointment right away.
Thanks to you and all the women who commented and I really had it in my mind to write here once I came back from the appointment.

By: teresa

teresa — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 20:12:59 +0000

In reply to Suzy Fearing. Thanks for sharing your story. It helped me this past week, when I got that Call Back appointment ultra sound. I posted my story below.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:52:25 +0000

So I am one of those who received a call back appointment after my mammogram. I had regular mammograms, but skipped a year last year, and received the call back after this one. They called back and said An asymmetry in the lower inner left breast requires further evaluation by ultrasound. The anxiety was bad! 5 days waiting for appointment, not sleeping, not eating, thinking all the bad thoughts. I am 62 and thought the worse. Today I went in at 8:00 AM for the ultrasound, and of course no news…they will let me know the results later today. Of course more anxiety and worry. I just got the result…..Minimally complex cyst left breast 8:00, BIRADS 2 Benign. Just continue with routine screening mammogram! PRAISE GOD! Be encouraged ladies…..I know it is easier said than done…but try to not stress! Thought I would tell my story since all your stories helped me out!

By: Suzy Fearing

Suzy Fearing — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 22:40:44 +0000

Two years ago at age 55 I got the dreaded call back on my routine mammogram. There were two possible findings in my left breast, architectural distortion and asymmetry. It was a late Friday afternoon in June 2022. I had to wait through the weekend to schedule the call back appointment so I began searching the internet and everything I read was not good. They called me on Monday morning to schedule a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The soonest appointment was 3 weeks out. I spent 3 weeks going down rabbit holes and made myself a nervous wreck. I could barely eat, and couldn’t get it off my mind. On the morning of my call back appointment I decided to Google it once again and somehow, miraculously, this blog was the first thing I saw. I cannot tell you how relieved it made me feel to hear from others that had shared their experience. Yet still in my mind with two possible findings I thought there was no way they weren’t going to find something. They took 6 images and then had me go across the hall for an ultrasound. When the doctor came in to do the ultrasound she told me she and the the other doctor who noticed the findings in initial mammogram had both reviewed images from diagnostic mammogram and didn’t see what they saw before and explained that tissue can overlap, etc. but they wanted to proceed with ultrasound to be sure. I was happy they were being so thorough. She said all looked great with ultrasound and she was 98% sure it was nothing but wanted to schedule a 6 month follow up to be sure. I left there so relieved but still had the 6 month follow up looming. At the 6 month which actually turned into an 11 month follow up because no one called me to schedule and I was too chicken to call, they said there were no changes and to schedule a follow up for 6 months. At that point I freaked and asked why they are waiting another 6 months, if there’s something there let’s take care of it now!!! The dr then explained that they have to follow these for 2 years. Wish someone had told me that in the first place! Today was my final 6 month follow up and everything is good and I can now resume with annual mammogram appointments. What a relief! Please do not freak out when you get a callback and DO NOT keep Googling!! I wish this blog would automatically pop ip first in an online search! It has been a huge source or hope and relief for me. I wish you all good health and happiness!

By: KH

KH — Sun, 26 May 2024 06:53:15 +0000

I was also called in for further tests after my recent mammogram (age 52, no history of BC in the family to my knowledge). Asymmetrical density in my left breast. I waited for 8 days after the recall (a total of 5.5 weeks since the first mammogram… they’re backed up at the moment). During those 8 days I found your site (which really helped me!) & told myself I’d also post if it all went ok….and it did. A huge relief. The assymetrical density was just different bits of glandular tissue sitting on top of each other. Here in Australia, routine screening mammograms are only 2D, so the 3D mammogram and ultrasound at the Assessment sorted it out. Between the recall & Assessment I spent a LOT of time reading and researching what may be ahead, scaring myself witless in the process. Had even picked out some surgeons! My advice is to be careful how far you go down the rabbit hole in your research….the stats here are that more than 80% of people going for a follow up Assessment after a screening mammogram are ok, so it’s unnecessary stress. I celebrated the all clear by heading to my local Blood Bank and donating blood. A good proportion of donated blood is used by cancer patients, so it seemed like a small way to help out. I won’t let this scare deter me from routine screening mammograms & will tell everyone I can that the follow up Assessment procedures are done discretely, and with great care & compassion by the BreastScreen team. Wishing you all the very best! ❤️

By: GR

GR — Mon, 13 May 2024 21:00:37 +0000

Like so many of you I promised myself to post once I have had the dreaded callback appointment. 43 year old, 3rd mammogram and no history of breast cancer in the family. Danced into my routine mammogram with not a worry on my mind. Got the pictures taken and went on with normal life expecting my letter in the mail in a few days. When my phone rang the following morning and I saw the number.. I dropped off my work call immediately and answered. We need you back for more images the friendly nurse told me. We observed changes in your left breast. That’s all I got. They scheduled the follow up 5 days later. We hung up the phone and my mind started spinning. Like so many of you I started googling. Lucky for me – I found this post and the many wonderful comments early on. I had little information on what exactly they found suspicious/abnormal and I honestly think that was a good thing. I never saw a report and didn’t go looking for it. I tried to keep busy and read this post and the comments many times over the following days. Whenever I started feeling the anxiety come on … I just started reading. Thank you so much for keeping me (somewhat) sane.

Fast forward to today. Nothing could keep the anxiety and terror I felt at bay. My appointment wasn’t until the afternoon so I spent the morning trying to distract myself as best as I could. I was certain I would get the worst news of my life. I was scheduled for a mammogram and an ultrasound. They got me in quickly and took images of my left breast. I was told the images would be shown to the doctor and then I would either be called for ultrasound or I would get the all clear. Well I didn’t have to wait very long for the news. No ultrasound needed!! Everything was all good. We’ll see you in a year. I can’t begin to describe the relief washing over me. I did speak at length with one of the technicians afterwards. They re-assured me this happens a lot. More compressed images typically clear suspicions up. They stressed that mammograms can detect cancer 2-5 years before a lump can be felt so even if you ever get bad results … you are most likely in a very good spot to treat. Please do not let this anxiety rob you of the chance to get early treatment options. I for one will never, ever miss a routine mammogram and if I do end up getting another call back – I hope I will be more relaxed about it. It really is nothing to worry about most of the time.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 19:11:23 +0000

Just like so many of you, this post and everyone’s comments have been the only bright light of hope during some very dark days. I’m 55 and was called back in after a routine screening mammogram to take a closer look at microcalcifications in my right breast. I’m just back from my diagnostic mammogram and am blessed and thrilled to report that I just need to go back in in 6 months for a follow-up. Like so many of you I have been spiraling…I haven’t slept, I haven’t eaten much, I have been thinking and planning for the worst…all I’ve done is spend time on Google and we all know that just sends us deeper into the darkness. Thank you all for taking the time to post these notes and to give others hope and comfort when all we find on the intranet is the exact opposite.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 04:55:03 +0000

Let’s just say I am very very thankful I stumbled upon your blog, Jewels. This helped me tremendously after panicking from my call back!

So, I’m 46 years old and just had my first mammogram screening. Yes, my first. It didn’t help that all my friends, relatives, and even the receptionist at the screening center basically scolded me for waiting soooooooo long at this “old” age to have my first mammogram. So not only did I have fear going into my first mammogram, but I also was basically shamed for waiting this long.

Already doing the mammogram for the first time was scary enough. But getting a call back two days later really added a new level of fear. My first time and I’m already getting a callback! “It must be really bad, and it’s my fault for waiting this long. I bet the cancer already spread.” These were my thoughts spiraling all week while waiting for my second mammo and ultrasound. Like many of you, they saw dense breast tissue and suspected architectural distortion.

I had to wait nine days for my callback appointment and that was hell enough. I so very feel for many of you that had to wait 6 weeks. How unbearable that must be! Nine days was enough time to go down the scary Google rabbit hole, and this blog was the only uplifting one I saw.

So today I went to my second appt. After the second mammogram, the technician had me wait not even ten minutes, and said “The radiologist said she does’t even really see the distortion anymore upon second viewing, but we still want to do an ultrasound to double check.” Already, I felt an exhale of relief come out. The tech did the ultrasound, and had me sit out probably just another five minutes before coming out and saying “Yup, good news. The doctor just doesn’t see anything. Probably your tissue evened out the second time we put you on the machine. You can keep to your regular annual appointments.” It was all a pretty quick appointment.

So in summation, I am very happy. Got to text my husband and mom the good news. And afterwards, I treated myself to a yummy donut!