Recalled for assessment (further tests)

Some women will be asked to return to BreastScreen Aotearoa for further tests or assessment because something on their mammogram needs further checking.

Most women who are recalled for assessment do not have breast cancer.

Like many other health checks, mammograms are not 100 percent accurate and sometimes they are not easy to read. During your assessment BreastScreen Aotearoa staff will check out anything on your mammogram that is unclear or that needs further investigation. Most of the time, women are reassured that all is well. But if a breast cancer is found, treating it when it is small gives women a better chance of successful treatment.

If you feel anxious you may find it helpful to talk over your feelings with someone close to you. This may be your husband, partner, whānau, a friend or the breast nurse at the BreastScreen Assessment Centre. By now your doctor will have your results (unless you have asked the programme not to send them to your doctor). You may wish to talk over your results with your doctor. However, visits to the doctor are not funded as part of the free screening programme.

What happens at assessment?
How long will the assessment take?
How should you prepare for an assessment?
When will you get you assessment results?
Further treatment

What happens at assessment?

During your assessment, BreastScreen Aotearoa staff will discuss with you the type of test that is best for you. It could be one or more of the following, in any order:

another mammogram - sometimes additional x-rays are taken to try and gain more information on the area that needs checking
ultrasound scan - this is a test using sound waves to produce a picture of tissues within the breast. Ultrasound can be used to give more information about the area that needs checking, especially distinguishing between cysts and anything else unusual. Not all conditions can be detected by ultrasound
clinical breast examination by a doctor - this may be done to check for any signs of cancer or other conditions that could cause the unusual image on the mammogram
biopsy - a biopsy involves removing a piece of tissue or some cells from the area in the breast that needs checking. The tissue or cells are examined under a microscope to see whether cancer is present. There are several types of biopsy and some women need to have more than one type. Most can be done on assessment day.
- Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNA) - in this process a fine needle is used to remove some cells from the area that needs checking. These cells are then examined under a microscope to see if cancer is present. This is done under local anaesthetic
- Core Biopsy - under local anaesthetic, a slightly larger needle is used to remove a small core of tissue. This tissue is also examined under a microscope
- Surgical Biopsy - a small number of women may have a surgical biopsy. This is usually done under a general anaesthetic when the surgeon removes part, or all, of the tissue that needs checking and has it examined for cancer. Sometimes, if the area that needs checking cannot be felt, a thin wire is guided into the area under local anaesthetic before the operation. Then the area of tissue around the wire is removed by the surgeon under either local or general anaesthetic.

How long will the assessment take?

For some women it may only be an hour, for others it may be half a day or longer. If you have children, work or other commitments you may need to plan to be away for a whole day. If you live a long distance from the assessment centre you may need to stay overnight.

How should you prepare for an assessment?

You are welcome to bring a support person with you, for example, husband, partner, friend, relative, or whānau member.
On the day you come for assessment avoid using talcum powder, creams or deodorants as these products make the films difficult to read, and you may need another mammogram.
Wear a blouse or jersey with skirt or trousers as you will need to undress from the waist up.

You may have a number of questions you want to ask. In the next few days, you may find it useful to write these down and bring them with you to the assessment clinic.

BreastScreen Aotearoa staff will do their best to make this day as comfortable for you as possible. Please let us know if we can help in any way.

When will you get your assessment results?

Most women will receive their results on the day of assessment, or they will be told when to expect them. Assessment results will also be sent to your own doctor if you have given your permission for this to happen. If your assessment shows you have breast cancer, the BreastScreen Aotearoa staff will support you in choosing a specialist who will provide treatment.

Further treatment

The few women who do have breast cancer will be referred to a specialist for treatment. Treating breast cancer while it is still small gives a woman a better chance of successful treatment. Most women will be advised to have surgery to remove the cancer. Some women will need further treatment such as radiation therapy, hormone treatment, chemotherapy or a combination of these.