New optional 3D mammogram view

[Anonymous]

OP I was sent for an MRI after a mammogram which showed nothing except my own normal breasts. The technician even said "its probably normal, your normal, but because we don't have older images to compare it to, we'll send you for more tests and I'll have to mark it abnormal"

Basically its a big business with a lot of scared customers.

[Anonymous]

Definitely opt for the 3D mammo.

My first mammo (regular 2D), resulted in 2 callbacks, and then a 6 month follow up. On the 6 month follow up they found a mass - which ended up being much easier to see on ultrasound. Stage 2A IDC (breast cancer).

Following that experience (full whammy of treatment: surgery, chemo, radiation), I was alternating mammos and ultrasounds as check-ups until my doc (breast surgeon) told me that the 3D mammo was all I needed. They really can see (and follow any spots they are watching) much better with the 3D mammo. So, now I don't get ultrasounds anymore.

[Anonymous]

I always get called back so I have the 3D. I look at it this way...think of all the dumb things we spent $50 on! This is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Had a routine mammogram today at Georgetown. No option. They just said they now have 3D. I hadn't been in 3 years. I assume it's covered by bcbs. My routine/preventative appts. Usually are.

[Anonymous]

DH is a radiologist (not WRA) and says callbacks should be less with 3D not more. He says a clearer picture should reduce uncertainty and therefore reduce callbacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had a routine mammogram today at Georgetown. No option. They just said they now have 3D. I hadn't been in 3 years. I assume it's covered by bcbs. My routine/preventative appts. Usually are.

BCBS covers the 3D mammograms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had a routine mammogram today at Georgetown. No option. They just said they now have 3D. I hadn't been in 3 years. I assume it's covered by bcbs. My routine/preventative appts. Usually are.

BCBS covers the 3D mammograms

Thanks

[Anonymous]

My United Health care policy did not cover it today. I just paid out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

My first mamo ever was a 3D and I still got called back for a cyst.

[Anonymous]

I'm fed up with how hard WRA in Va pushes the 3d mammo. It is an unnecessary upsell and every time I turned around this week someone was trying to sell me on it. I felt like I was dealing with group of desperate amway salespersons. One of the staff seemed bothered that I didn't choose 3d. There are posters in every room and corner touting it. Every person I encountered brought it up.

I got a call back. I noticed on both visits that their waiting room had only one or two other patients each time I was there. The waiting room and changing rooms were almost completely empty.

I have cysts. The doctor gave me the whole 3d mammo song and dance and said there are fewer callbacks with 3d. As I asked more questions she contradicted herself and said there may be more with 3d.

I won't go back to WRA. I'm going back to my old imaging group that didn't pull this shit. They also did this dramatic thing of having me sign off on the paper that the doctor gives you that tells you what they find BEFORE the doctor looked at me. The assistant kept pushing me to do it, implying I would be too emotional after it was done.

We are a customer base easily manipulated with fear and poorly explained statistics. I've been reading about the hysteria and incorrect "facts" used to sell more mammograms and to sell new technologies. The data isn't there and each of us hands over our $50 hoping it keeps the boogyman away. It doesn't. It just helps WRA's bottom line as women move away from yearly mammograms.

[Anonymous]

I love WRA! The 3D mammogram detected 2 breast cancers at different times when they were both very small, stage 1.

Well worth the $50 in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to WRA for a mammogram (it had been 2 1/2 years) and there was an optional 3Dview. I chose to do it (paid out of pocket) even though I had not done any research into it. I chose digital about 7-8 years ago before it became the standard and I reasoned this was probably the same and only involved one extra picture.
Well now I have been called in for follow up, and realize I wish they had told me about the option before my appointment so I was prepared to make an educated choice about wanting the 3D or not. I'm wondering if it's common to have false positives since this is new. Or if it really is better at finding true problems.
Have any of you done the optional 3D view and did you get called back for follow up? Has anyone looked into the 3D and have info to share about it?
TIA

I got it because my insurance does cover it. It actually has a lower false positive rate than traditional mammogram, I did not get called back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to WRA for a mammogram (it had been 2 1/2 years) and there was an optional 3Dview. I chose to do it (paid out of pocket) even though I had not done any research into it. I chose digital about 7-8 years ago before it became the standard and I reasoned this was probably the same and only involved one extra picture.
Well now I have been called in for follow up, and realize I wish they had told me about the option before my appointment so I was prepared to make an educated choice about wanting the 3D or not. I'm wondering if it's common to have false positives since this is new. Or if it really is better at finding true problems.
Have any of you done the optional 3D view and did you get called back for follow up? Has anyone looked into the 3D and have info to share about it?
TIA

I got it because my insurance does cover it. It actually has a lower false positive rate than traditional mammogram, I did not get called back.

This is my problem. It doesn't have a lower call back rate. The 3d will show the same cysts and issues that they will want to check out further. There is the potetial for there to be greater call back. Also to pp above, the 2d mammo probably would have found the same thing.