microcalcification questions

marie5890

Green Monkey

(((HUGS))))). Im sorry that it wasnt B9.

You know you have found a great website.  

GreenMonkey

hey,hey, hey... its a party here!  I just got the word!  I am officially part of the group.  All I heard was DCIS and then "waaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaahhhhh"  yep cancer but... the good news is ...... I get to stay in the group!  (will cope better tomorrow, crying now) 

marie5890

Green Monkey know this

DCIS is very very early stage cancer. It's stage 0....and it has not invaded  the surrounding tissue.

So focus on that....Very very early stage .. Prognosis IS excellent.

This is the reason that we as women are encouraged to get an annual mammo starting at age 40...to catch cancer in a very very early stage

You have. You really have. Take comfort in that.  

Lifeafter

Greenmonkey - Check out my sig line.  DCIS, high grade, multi-focal...here for you lady!

Michelle

francksgirl

was your DCIS invasive or not. I'm wanting to do the masectomy on both sides just to be done, but heard that they can't save the nipple in most cases. I just want this over with. But, I've only been married for 2 years on Monday. Would love to go on vacations again and be in a bikini one day. Going in for a lumptectomy tomorrow. By the time it's done, I will have been an a cup to having nothing. LOL

goldlining

Har1old, when I had my stereo biopsy, they did 10 samples. This is to guard against not finding "it" in a single sample when the target seen on the mammogram film is small or spread out. The dr said some places only do 5-ish but the chance of missing it decreases the more specimens they do. It's definitely not something you would do for kicks, but it's a relatively short lasting misery, and the difference between 4 or 5 and 10 wasn't that much worse. Some stabs hurt more than others, but it does end. Some people are lying down, others sitting up. I think the position depends on where they need to sample, according to what the mammogram image told them. I was leaning on my side with the table at about 45 degrees, and my breast diagonally into the machine so they could sample from the bottom corner. I was worried about whether I would be able to lie on my front for my massage appointment the next week, but it was not an issue.

GreenMonkey, sorry you're joining the catstir club.  But DCIS is the best news of the bad news.

francksgirl DCIS is not invasive by definition. I wanted bilateral mastectomy for the reason you say: get out while the getting is good. Everyone has their own situation, and I'm not a young newlywed but I don't miss my nipples, and I needed the peace of mind way more. However, they do various things to recreate nipples and you should talk to the reconstruction surgeons to find out your options if that's your only sticking point. 

Beesie

DCIS is never invasive.  If any invasive cancer is found, then the diagnosis is no longer DCIS.

In most cases with a mastectomy all breast sensation other than surface sensation (i.e. on the skin) is gone. Some women aren't bothered by this but some women are bothered a lot. Even with a nipple sparing mastectomy, in most cases virtually all nipple sensation is lost. The advantage is that the appearance is closer to that of a natural breast.  Anyone who chooses to have a BMX should understand the life-long implications and think seriously about it before deciding.  That's not to say that it isn't the right decision for many women, but it's not a decision to be made lightly or out of fear or frustration. 

Lifeafter

I'm currently waiting for a second opinion.  My path report said their were cancerous tumor cells in my lymphnodes that were removed.  I was never told.  Long story.  So I'm seeking clarification on this and my treatment optinos and follow-ups.

My left breast was prophylactic.  Clear margins were not possible with the lumpectomy and partial mastectomy on my right.  I had to have a full mastectomy.  I chose to have both taken.  I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life with mammograms every 6 months to check the other.  I wasn't able to have nipple sparing.  My understanding is that it depends on where the clusters are and how big.  Mine branched out all over my breast.  Plus I'm told they can't guarantee where the nipple will end up and it may end up not being able to survive anyway.  No thank you.  Take the damn thing. My decision, for me was a no brainer. I will be 41 in March, I have to nearly grown children (20 and 17) and I'm single. I'm at a point in my life and have been for awhile that men kinda of annoy me right now. I have too much drama raising my girls.  Even though I'm at a point now that I will soon be 'free' of my child rearing days, if someone comes along great, if not that's ok too. But I'm not too caught up in the what am I going to look like and what about sex. I just want to be healthy again.

I don't really have any feeling in my chest.  I do have some nerve regeneration going on.  That's kinda wierd.  You touch a certain area on my chest adn I feel it in my arm, not the chest.

With that said, I will be having nipple reconstruction.   If I do get into a relationship again, I think it would be easier on the guy if I were at least 'normal' looking to the eye.  I'm sure guys would get a little wierded out at first if they feel like they are feeling up a naked barbie doll boob! lol

But francksgurl, it really will depend on what grade you are and how big the area is and if it is multi-focal.  So you still have options.  A lumpectomy may be all you will need to get clear margins.

Good luck and keep us updated!

Michelle

francksgirl

there are 2 lesions that are for me, and when I have my lumptectomy tomorrow they are putting wires in beforehand to take out more cells to test. I guess that is where I'm messed up, because as of right now, I have DCIS in 2 areas, and there is an area they don't know if it is invasive or not till they do the procedure tomorrow.

GreenMonkey

I saw just noticed that Michelle!!! we're practically twins!!!

GreenMonkey

you are all so wonderful!  I have been telling my non-catstir friends about you and I think they are jealous.   

Just posted my CATSTIR story on my blog - but I must warn you, I'm flaunting my nipples in it.

http://greenmonkeytales.blogspot.com/2012/01/catstir.html

ali68

Hi GreenMoney, sorry to hear you have the big C but you are very lucky I'd trade places with you.

Hope your hubby keeps his job, my hubby has lost his job twice in our marriage. Thank god he works for himself now.



Alison

GreenMonkey

Hi Alison!  you were just diagnosed too I see.  I am sorry we have to meet like this but it feels good to be understood.  

okay, your diagnosis has more letters and numbers and it looks scary  

as I wrote in the blog post - I know this is going to be hard but nothing is as bad as losing a child so I know I can do this!  

 Right now, I'm patting mysellf on the back for getting out of bed and taking a shower.  It's 6:13 pm 

ali68

Mine is bloody scary, I was shocked at being stage 3 I thought I'd be like you. Never mind I can't change things so I better get on with it. Start chemo and cold cap tomorrow 3pm. Help........

marie5890

Ali,

Sending prayers of strength to kick the bastard to the curb.

Think of Chemo as sending in the (Special Ops) warriors to annihiliate the  F*ckers.... 

(Special Ops=Special operation teams for our military here in the USA) 

GreenMonkey

I love that Marie!  "kick the bastard to the curb"  

Alison .... it is all so scary and I will listen ... to you, to Marie, to everyone here.  I'll listen if you need to vent.  I'll listen if you need advice.  

I promise not to focus on ME but rather on US. I want to be there for you, all of you, and I want you to be there for me.   

sending love.... in a super big way!  Monkey ME

ali68

Hi, arrived at hospital at 10am, bloods at 10.30 am, doctor at 12. Still waiting and they are 2 hrs behind. So cold cap 30 mins before chemo then while chemo is going plus another 2 hrs of cold cap. Maybe I will be home at 11pm. Sarah's 16th birthday today, she is going for meal with friends tonight hubby will have to pick her up. I hate the waiting ............

marie5890

Im obviously across the pond, but Hello Ali. Sending you good thoughts and Happy Birthday to Sarah!! 

It's still sh*tty, though. Having to stay that late into the night? Damn. Are you alone? 

ali68

Hi Marie, I' with hubby he is munching on chocolate will playing on his iPad. Have you read Cindys latest blog.

marie5890

Yes I have (I am assuming you mean Shannon). She is gifted in being soooo real and having it show up in her writing, isnt she.

And she laces the bad with a gritty smile that leaves you smiling even when life is stinking.

Is he munching on good chocolate? I love good dark chocolate. A lot of the chocolate we get here in the States is awful if you ask me. Poor quality and waxy. Give me a good European chocolate any time any day. 

Lifeafter

I need to rad Shannon's blog!

Ali, I assume Sarah is your daughter?  I'm sorry you have to go through this on her birthday.  Where are you in the UK?  I have a couple friends that live there and my daughters' stepsister just arrived in Canterbury this week to attend a semester at Kent.

marie - I agree on the chocolate.  Although...I must say, Safeway brand - Select (I know it's Dominic's in the MidWest) has a great very dark chocolate with just a handful of ingredients.  All natural.  I eat the 78% cacao.  It's pretty dang creamy and not bitter like you would think a dark chocolate like that would be.  I eat a square when I'm craving something bad.  I find for me it kills my cravings.  My gf goes to Germany every year and always brings chocolate back with her.  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

Michelle

sc2012

My mother had a mamogram two weeks ago which found calcium.  She then

had a second mamogram, a diagnostic one, a week or so later that showed clustered microcalcifications.   She now has to have a biopsy.

My question:  I have found conflicting information on the Internet about this -- some sites say that 80 percent of all biposies of clustered microcalcifications are benign, but other sites say it's just 65 percent. 

Please help clarify.  What have you found/read/heard?

marie5890

Sc,

Hello and welcome.

I cant speak to the percentage of clustered microcals.

The 80% of all biopsies (which combines all kinds of findings, including clustered microcals) are said to be B9.

If take out the finding of clustered microcals only and look at those biopsies specifically, it does sound possible that the % is different. Whether or not it's 65%, I have no idea. 

GreenMonkey

Hello My New Best Friends!!!  

 I started writing to deal with my son's suicide, now I'm writing about my cancer.  But I'm a nut and silly stuff always happens to me so somehow, humor gets mixed in with all that.  Thank you for reading!  It feeds my ego BIG TIME.

 Alison!!! I finally fell asleep and had a dream I was in the chair next to you in the hospital, waiting for you to wake up.  I wanted to suprise you.  You were drooling (just a bit) but you looked peaceful.  I was amazed that you looked so pulled together - makeup in place, hair combed - (like you do in your picture).   Then the phone rang in your room and in reality and I woke up.  

Happy 16th Birthday Sarah!  guarantee you it will be a birthday she will never forget.  Mine just turned 21 so she no longer has to hide the fact that she drinks.  

 I hate waiting to... this is one big waiting game isn't it?  

I'll keep checking back to see how you are doing.  So let us know when you can.  Know we are all pulling for you!   MonkeyLove!!!  Shannon  

sc2012

Thank you for your reply.

Actually, the 80 percent benign biopsies figure I've seen is for "clustered microcalcifications" alone.

I just wanted to confirm this with people on this site.

Thanks again.

ali68

Well I'm still here and they are starting again. They have tried 6 times to find a vein. The first one was wasn't right. Have Found one in my inner arm what a shit tthis is. Had cold cap on for two hours now and still no chemo.

GreenMonkey

oh Alison...UGH!!!! lets get this show on the road!  

marie5890

Ali,

Do you have the option of getting a port put in? That hunting for a vein to find for chemo is really is an awful experience. If you have the option for a port, seriously consider it. It sounds scary at first, but it will make the chemo part of the journey less "frightful and traumatic" (if thats really possible) if the adminstration goes more smoothly.

Think about it.  

GreenMonkey

not to take the attention off Alison, because my heart is with her now but I have a question (hope its okay to ask). 

 My official diagnosis is (according to the pathology report): HIGH GRADE INTRADUCTAL CARCINOMA, SOLID TYPE, ASSOCIATED WITH NECROSIS AND CALCIFICATIONS.  

 Does any of that indicate that the cancer has spread from the duct because last night when I spoke to my obgyn, she said that necrosis was found outside the duct - necrosis meaning dead cells or dead cancer cells (?)  

I also just found out I'm ER+

My obgyn also suggested I go to Sloan Kettering for a second opinion so I have two appointments scheduled one with my local dr. on 1/26 and the other at Sloan on 1/23..  

ahhhhh the waiting game continues.... 

Likeachickadee

GreenMonkey,

My understainding is it would say "infiltrating" or "invasive" if the DCIS had passed through the duct wall and it would be IDC and not DCIS.  Intra means inside of....as inside the duct.

Good luck with your appointments.