You’ve been called back after a mammogram. Now what?
If you receive a call or a letter indicating something possibly abnormal was found on your mammogram, the first thing you should do is take a deep breath. Your medical team may request additional imaging for a variety of reasons, and they will always be vigilant about reviewing your scans. Next steps could be more detailed imaging, such as a new mammogram or a sonogram, according to Nicholas Dudas, MD, FACS, and medical director for surgical specialties at TidalHealth.
You will have an appointment scheduled to review your latest imaging with your physician. Alae Zarif, MD, explained that it will be during this appointment that the physician will discuss what they see and answer your questions.
“It’s important to explain everything in terms that my patients can understand,” Dr. Zarif said.
This visit may lead to a biopsy, which will determine whether abnormal-seeming tissues or cells are cancerous. This result can take five to 10 days.
Once the biopsy results are received, your doctor will tell you if the results are benign or malignant. Benign means the sample doesn’t show signs of being cancerous, while a biopsy determined to be malignant means cancer cells are present. Malignant cells can grow and spread throughout your body if they are not removed in surgery or targeted with chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Sharnell Smith, MD, explained that her relationship with her patients is very important and sharing knowledge and listening to her patients is paramount. For some patients, surgery is the best way to remove a malignant tumor.
Your team can consist of a surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, nurses, navigators and support staff. Depending on the individual situation, you and your surgeon may choose a mastectomy or partial mastectomy. Dr. Dudas said that in most cases for breast cancer patients, lymph nodes are also removed and sent for testing to give your team additional information.
Dr. Dudas also said he works closely with radiation oncology and medical oncology for additional treatment. Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be used before surgery or after surgery to target cancer cells and shrink a tumor.
After treatment is completed, or sometimes in tandem with surgery, a plastic surgeon will join your team if you choose reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Dudas said, “Breast cancer reoccurrence is generally low, but not zero,” so even after the cancer is eradicated, your team will continue to follow you and check in periodically.
Learn more about breast cancer and the surgeons who care for patients at GetWellDelmarva.com.
Click on "Health," then "Cancer Care" to see the articles.
TidalHealth has breast health locations in Salisbury, Ocean Pines, Berlin and Seaford; learn more and book an appointment at tidalhealth.org.
The TidalHealth Mobile Mammography unit is now on the road, bringing 3D breast cancer screening directly into communities. To schedule an appointment, visit tidalhealth.org/mobilemammo.