Bilateral Mastectomy BOOKED !

Hi Candy and thank you for your kind words,

The Doctor at Breast Screen Qld (in Cairns) where I have my mammograms, told me that all mammograms are reviewed / assessed ("read") by two specialists (yes, I assume they are Radiologists). 

In my instance, the 1st reader (Radiologist) looked at my mammogram films and determined : "no abnormality detected", and they were then passed onto the next person to review.

It was indeed this "2nd reader" who found the tumour on the films ... pullled up my mammogram from 2 years prior to make a comparison, realised the tumour was not evident back then, hence determined that the "high risk breast lesion" (as it is often referred to) required further investigation. 

I received a phone call from the Brisbane office, offering me the next available appt in Cairns (which was the following week) ... at this next appt, I bounced back and forth between the mammogram and ultrasound technician.  You see, my tumour is so deep within the dense breast tissue (and I am big breasted) that the ultrasound was not able to visualise the lesion in its entirety ... yet the mammogram was able to identify it to the size of about a fifty cent piece. After 4 hours I was sent home (1.5 hours drive away) as the situation required further review by the Brisbane Radiologist ... then I was back to Cairns the following week for a Core Biopsy under Mammography (my left breast was squished in the mammogram machine for 20 minutes, while the biopsy was conducted). 

I share this info with you without hint or intent of complaint .... again, I am so very grateful for the diligence and care demonstrated by the Breast Screen Qld team.  If it were not for their astute dedication, I would not have been diagnosed and about to receive treatment.

I hoped I explained this clearly to you Candy ... I found it very interesting to learn about the "2 readers" policy.