if you have a bad mamogram result, does that mean you have cancer 100%?

Question

or can it be something else. My mom got a call that she had a bad mamogram and needs to do an x ray. She is worried. Did anyone have a situation like this and it turn out ok?
thank you

Answer 1

Many women have a mammogram and get called back for special views or an ultrasound or even a biopsy. By far, the majority of these additional tests are negative (no cancer). Sometimes the mammo will show a dense area in the breast which is hard to see through, so the radiologist will ask for compression views to visualize that area better. Sometimes, calcifications are seen, so the radiologist wants magnification views to better see the borders and shape of the calcifications. Many calcifications are benign. Sometimes, the mammo shows a mass, and an ultrasound might be needed to determine if the mass is solid or cystic. Sometimes, after these additional tests, a biopsy may still be necessary. Nearly 85% of all breast biopsies prove to be non-cancerous. So the chances are very good that your mom will be fine!

Answer 2

A bad mammogram does not mean you have cancer. It can be benign tissue. They will do an x ray to see if there are any growths, and if there are, they will then do a biopsy to determine the nature of the material. A lot of times the tests can come back negative. I'm sure she'll be fine. Take it easy.

Answer 3

Stage 1 is the first of the following stages in which breast cancer becomes invasive and damages surrounding tissue. At this early stage, tumors are small (less than 2cm across) and the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Under the arms, the lymph nodes do not have cancer cells. In later stage breast cancer, the lymph nodes are one of the first areas of the body outside the breast to be affected by breast cancer. The prognosis for stage 1 breast cancer is often good providing treatment is given early on. Stage 1 breast cancer survival rates are high. Studies of breast cancer patients followed up to five years after treatment show approximately 98% of women surviving stage 1 breast cancer. These women usually live much longer than 5 years and enjoy a full life.

Answer 4

Bad mammograms are VERY common. You can search the Internet to learn what the percentage of improperly read mammograms is. It's huge. Also, the follow up x ray is highly inconclusive. Unfortunately the medical field is full of people that are so over worked and underpaid that the dozens of test that are done are highly suspect. Good luck

Answer 5

I know that if she did have a bad mammogram, ther is a smufge of cancer within her. I guess they'll find out when she takes the x-ray. Most people when they find out immediately about it, they get treatment A/S/A/P and they turn out okay but sometimes cancer returns more or less. Sorry about your mom and I hope I answered your question.

Answer 6

absolutely not -- it's good to have a baseline for year over year comparisons.... amgram can vary without being anything life threatening. Breast health is so important, just relax and get the second exam or test or whatever and they can explain what their findings were and usually it isn't anything to worry about. If they said come inj right now urgent urgent urgent then you may have cause to be concerned, but these days early detection is very promising. Good luck.

Answer 7

I had this happen to me three times. It happens a lot when you have dense breast tissue, or if you have lost or gained weight. They basically go by if there are changes from the last mammogram. All mine were due to losing or gaining weight. All of them turned out okay when they did them over. If there is no breast cancer in her family, I'm sure everything will be okay.

Answer 8

No it does not mean you have cancer. You need a biopsy to tell for sure. My mom's had 3 bad mammograms, and all 3 biopsies said it was a fluid-filled cyst, completely harmless.

Answer 9

No, this does not. I've had to have mammograms redone. It is essential that your mother follows guidelines and gets mammograms on a regular basis for her age because they are good for comparison later. Don't listen to the negative people on here because they don't know what they are talking about.

Answer 10

I have had this happen. If your doctor says more tests? Think of it as a good thing. I always have to have more tests...usually they do a ultrasound on whichever breast has the issue. I would rather go through more tests then to have a false negative happen and die of breast cancer.