So scared

savingtess

So scared

savingtess

I'm 37 years old, had my first mammogram 6 months ago, and a follow up last week due to calcifications. My doctor called me and told me that they wanted to do a biopsy because they couldn't be certain the calcifications were benign..  There is no history of breast cancer in my family, and I don't seem to carry any of the high risk traits, although know that this doesn't mean that I can't be the first. I'm getting married this fall, and my fiance and I are eager to start a family.. I am terrified that this is going to affect my fertility. I'm terrified period! I know they say that most calcifications are benign, but am looking for some support I guess, with women who have gone through this. My consult is on Monday and then they will schedule the biopsy. I'm not sure if this matters, but the words the radiologists (there was more than one that looked at my films) used were: cannot be 100% certain calcifications are benign

thank you all

tess

lewisfamily503

Hi Tess, Sorry to hear about your calcifications. My feeling about this is that as more and more women get mammograms, the amazing technologies that have developed in this area will show that more and more women will discover they have these calcifications. For most of them, that is just what they will be......calcifications. The really good news is that if there is something more, like dcis, for example, you are catching it really early and the prognosis is excellent! For me, I started out at age 41 with a suspicious mammogram and after a biopsy, it turned out my calcifications were not cancer, but.....they were a pre-cancerous condition called "hyperplasia with atypia" with translates to abnormal cells, growing in a strange, unordered pattern. I have been "watched" ever since, with more frequent mammograms, and then this past year, I discovered a new area of abnormal cells on a mammogram. After yet another biopsy, this time it was dcis (ductal carcinoma in situ) or cancer cells, confined to the inside of the milk ducts. Still, it was caught really early and my prognosis is excellent! I know EXACTLY how you feel right now. After my first abnormal mammogram, I was devastated. It does get better!!! You have a lot of support on these boards. Please feel free to ask questions, vent or just get support from all the wonderful women here!



Hugs!

Anne

shiny

Hi Tess,

I remember the stress and worry you are going through.

Yes, I had bc at 39 in my left breast and decided on double mast with recon. But, just to add some weight to the fact that most clarifications are not "scary" stuff...At 38, I had micro calcifications in the right breast. Had a core biopsy and they turned out to be fine.

After my double mast in Feb, they checked all the tissue in that same right breast and it was still "peachy" no probs.

My take on this is that, it will more likely then not be B9, but if it turns out to be a little suspicious or pre cancerous, you will be a lucky girl in that you will be closely monitored or given pro active  options to protect yourself. SO, deep breath, I know it's scary, the waiting. You'll get through this. Keep in touch here for support.

Take care,

Shiny

shiny

(sorry, double click of my mouse pad caused my post to duplicate)

Shiny

kloveya

Hello,

I have had 5 surgeries on my breast 3 on the right and 2 on the left and all have been benign cyst. The first at age 12 and I am now 33.I just had another mammogram last week that should a lump and as usual calcifications. It worries me also because I wonder if there is cancer hidden in there. I have a very strong history of breast cancer in my family. My grandmother had her left breast removed in 2000 when she was 75 years old her mother died at the age of 45 from breast cancer and her sisiter died of breast cancer. In the past 4 years I have had 2 cousins die from breast cancer at the ages of 32 and 36. My insurance denied me getting the genetic testing done because they do noy consider me high risk because my mother doesn't have breast cancer now tell me that is not crazy. I go back to my doctor who i have been with for 15 years next week to see the next step and yes I am scared as hell. I wish you the best with all your testing.;

33rabk

Good Morning!

I know exactly how you feel.  I went through the same thing in April.  I did a self examination and felt an unusual lump.  My doctor sent me for a mammogram and ultra sound, they came back saying 1 lump was suspicious but the other was a fibrodemia. But my doctor doesn't trust pictures so he booked me in with a surgeon to do a biopsy (thank goodness).  The surgeon decided to do a lumpectomy because it was the most accurate.  3 weeks later I had it done and had a follow up appointment with him one week after.  I remember my husband and I sitting in the waiting room and the administrator kept taking everyone else into the office before us even when they arrived after, I knew then that something was wrong.  For the majority of the time I was scared but I had no high risk indicators, no family history, I was 33; so that day I was pretty confident until then.  Sure enough both lumps were cancerous and he suggested the next step was to do a partial mastectomy to see if the surrounding tissue had cancer in it and remove some lymph nodes.  This happened the week after and again a week later we met with him and again it was bad news, the cancer was throughout the breast and he had removed 2 lymph nodes and 1 tested positive for cancer.  I ended up having to have a mastectomy on my left breast and made the decision to have the right breast removed at the same time, I knew I would spend so much time worrying about the other side it wasn't worth keeping.  My "girls" had betrayed me and they had to go. 

Please keep in mind that mine turned out to be bad news but 80% of women who have biopsies things come back just fine.  I remember my doctor telling me to prepare for the worst and then if it's good news I will feel so much better.  But I really don't think you can ever be prepared for them to tell you you have cancer. 

If it is pre-cancer or cancer you have caught it early and you will be just fine.  We women are so strong.  

I have learned over the past couple of months to look at the things you love and appreciate, it makes you feel so much better than look at the negative things.  Whenever I am feeling down I think of my 2 young boys and husband and I feel so much better.

Stay positive and my thoughts are with you!  I wish all the best for you!

Angie