microcalcification questions

kennelmom

I hope i am in the right place for a question...My mammo showed new cluster of microcalcifications in left breast. Not on mammo in 09.. Had coned-down and report says group of  inhomogeneous calc (suspicious) in anterior 5 o'clock position they recommend stereotactic biopsy..I have had pain in my left underarm for longer than 6 mo now...That scares me:(   I can not seem to find info on what inhomogeneous calcifications are other than non uniform????  I have consultation at the breast surgery clinic this fri..This waiting is very hard  I would love any info anyone can give..Thank you ladies for being here:)

marie5890

Kennelmom Hellow and Welcome!

From my own layperson's educated understanding  the reason for the biopsy recommend may have less to do with the "inhomogeneous calcifications" phrase and more to do with the fact the this is a new finding since your '09 mammo.

So they want to know what are these calcifications are all about. More often than not, these are a B9 finding. It's because they have showed up that they are wanting to see what is up.

So, try not to panic (HARD WE ALL KNOW THIS).

On your consult on Fri., they may suggest going ahead and doing the biopsy, or they may sugggest waiting 3 to 6 months and seeing what, if anything changes.

I tend to always lean on the "go for the biopsy" route myself, but that is just me.

DONT do too much reseach out on the internet. It will only frighten you.

Soon I expect someone like "Leaf" or "Cycle-path" will post a very very helpful graft of stats about mammo's and more testing that may or may not be needed.

It's very useful and gives you a very intelligent breakdown.

HUGS!!! 

marie5890

(Infact I found it ).....If you look at the steps you how after your mammo you have fallen into the 10% that are sent for diagnositic work up (which would include your breast consult)...from there 25% of those women are sent for biopsy...

Of that 25% that go for a biopsy...only 20% actually get a diagnosis of cancer...So try to relax as much as possible and take it one step at a time. 

Lifeafter

Hi kennelmom,



Marie really covered it. That's a very helpful chart! I've never seen that before.



Keep us updated and I ditto the (((hugs)))!



Michelle

kennelmom

Thank you so so much...I have been reading on the internet way too much..I will go for biopsy for sure..  I will be 43 in March and my daughter is 19.  I have been very very scared wondering if I am crazy but I have read that I am not alone and that is helping a lot!  Had my fist mammo on 12-19,  my coned-down on 1-10-12..I also have no insurance so am going thru the county where I live.  I will let you know what happens fri:)  Thank you so much

francksgirl

Just try your best to pass the time this weekend. Go to the movies....clean.....stay busy......one thing...don't tell too many people your situation. That will drive you crazy later. So many people will say stupid things to you.....I wish you the best of luck. Hang onto you being in the 60-80% B9 category......unfortunately I was in the 20-40% malignant category. My Birad score was also a 4. Good luck to you!! The waiting sucks.......hopefully you will have B9 results and won't have the need to stay here!! "

Lifeafter

kennelmom, I'm 40 and have a 19 and 17 yr old daughter. I was literally on my way out of town to San Francisco for the weekend to go shopping for a prom dress for my youngest when I had my mammo. They gave me the news and I got in the car, picked up my girls and an extra bottle of wine and off we went. It was raining really hard that weekend. One of our big storms that came through last year. It was perfect because we were darting back and forth to buildings to get out of the rain. It was fun and I had no time really to think about what was to come.  The wine helped also... ;-)

Michelle

Cmconfused

Ladies-I got results on the phone from the nurse - benign!! I am about to walk into my gyn's office in a few minutes to get the details from him and copies of my written reports. She did not give me much info, just mammo again in 6 months and ultrasound as well.



Do you have any suggestions on questions I should ask of the doc? I am afraid I will forget something.



I will post more later to say thank you to all of you and I want to know how you are all doing.



Mallory, I will message you later after I see the doc. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions - you are all too kind.



Much love,

Claire

marie5890

Claire, CONGRATS!!

francksgirl

CONGRATULATIONS GIRL!!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! DOING THE HAPPY DANCE FOR YOU. You are proof that there are b9 results!!! Celebrate girl!!! 

Cmconfused

Thank you, Marie!!

Francksgirl - thank you!!! I have read your posts and I keep thinking about you. Hope you are doing ok. Just got back from my doctor's office and reading the copies he gave me. On the diagnostic, it says that my BIRAD was 4 as well but I am benign. I can't figure this stuff out.

It says that I have a 3mm calcification cluster in the superior medial segment. Magnification views demonstrate these calcifications to be heterogeneous in size and shape with several linear forms. And it goes on from there to say that they rated it 4, I guess enough to be suspicious and require biopsy.

Pathology report found it all to be benign and also fibrosis, which my gyn called "dense breasts." I keep hearing that term lately.

For any of you worried, keep the faith and listen to these ladies - they know what they are talking about. I asked my doctor if I should be worried about the future and he said no, just do the next mammo in 6 months and he said that if it that came back ok, I could move on to once a year. He gave me copies of the reports and a script for June. He looked a lot more grim two weeks ago when I last saw him, when he said: "this could turn into cancer later??" - so IDK if he was having a bad day that day or today he is just happy about the benign findings today. But then, I have never been good at reading men...

 This has really opened my eyes to so much. I don't want to worry myself but I now know that I need to stay informed. I never took my breast health seriously before and put off this first mammo for two years. Reading all of your stories has taught me how varied this all is and how strong women can be. You are inspirational and I will be checking in on here from time to time. But I promise not to be a nudge or start reading too much and stressing myself out!

 Thank you again. 

Cmconfused

One more thing - my doc mentioned today that calcifications are a lot more common in women who are 50 and older - but I keep seeing a lot of ladies on here like me, in their early 40s (I am 42). Are we a minority in this??

marie5890

Claire..

On the BIG large huge scale of things, yes they are more common in older women. But it's such a large scale that there are plenty who are younger have it show up too.

Yes, do those SBE's and do the 6 month (then yearly) mammos. Just stay on top of things, and stay informed, but dont panic.

If you every find a lump or notices changes (dimpling etc etc) get it checked out. The whole point IS to be educated and be aware.

ENJOY YOUR SPRING!!!  

kennelmom

Thank you everyone..Franksgirl I hope you are doing ok.  I will try to keep busy.  Just waiting for the consult is making me crazy..

Mrochon, I  love my wine!  Having more than my share lately..So as a rule if malignancy is found do they call?  Or do they make you come in..  My mind goes crazy so I was actually wondering why a consultation first.  I have to take the meds I am on to my appt tomorrow.  I was recently put on BP meds.  Have not been on any medication in three years so I hate it..  So after my consult tomorrow I guess more waiting..YAY..    

Thank  you all again:))

leaf

It depends on the doc.  Some make you wait for an appointment, and some call.  Some docs actually ask which way would be the best, but others don't give you a choice.

While some people would say that they want to know ASAP no matter what, some people have been called in the middle of a meeting at work, or in the middle of their commute to or from work.  For some situations, that could be hazardous.  

I got a call (mine was not a malignancy), but others don't.  

Lifeafter

The radiologist called me the next day after my biopsy. He told me over the phone. Like Leaf mentioned, I was at work but I didn't want to wait. I told him that before he did my biopsy. He told me on the phone he was sending my ob (because he was the one that started this all) that day. I thanked him, hung up and immediately called my ob. Biopsy was on a Thursday, got call Friday, in my ob's office Monday. I was lucky I didn't have much time in-between all of this to wait.



You know what I really miss kennelmom? I can't really drink anymore. I don't know if my body is still healing from all these surgeries or what. If I drink a half of glass of wine, I feel sick. I don't get a nice relaxing 'ahhhh' feeling anymore. Hoping after I'm through all this, that changes! lol

GreenMonkey

Congratulations on the good news Claire!!!  

Also, Marie.. you are such a steady force her.  Thank you for reaching out to all of us.  You really are an angel.  

francksgirl.... thinking about you!  xoxo

xoxo 

GreenMonkey

WHAT! you can't drink anymore.  I so love the wine buzz.

but I must admit, I can't drink now because I'm too depressed.  Everything feels heavier.  

francksgirl

I got the call...I knew I was getting the call last Tuesday from my surgeon, I just didn't know at what time of the day it was going to be. I knew I was getting possibly bad news.....by the tone in his voice that he had immediately. I tried to stay rational when talking to him. Trying my best to understand all of these damn medical terms!! I was at work. Everyone was at lunch. It was just Kevin and I here. After I ended the call, I just cried hysterically, went out for a smoke and called my husband. An hour later, my boss drove me home.

Greenmonkey......I have one more week before i'm on that lovely operating table! I can't wait till its over girl!!! Oh....Darlin, you have to drink. I'm going to become a wineoholic!!! Aldi's (never went there in my life) they have a brand of wine, "Winking  Owl" the Merlot. It's very good....only $2.69 a bottle. Last night I had 2 glasses, I took my Xanax with the valium in it, and slept like a baby. This morning was the first morning I didn't shake like a damn earthquake. I popped another xanax with valium this morning, and I'm at work functioning like normal. Do I want to talk to anyone? NO.....nobody. Lock myself in the shower, yes of course, and just bawl my eyes out. It helps yes, but I can't do that everyday. Last night I went to have the laser done again with the acupuncture to not want to smoke..I did..I think it helped. And the best think is.....I went behind my surgeons back and said, "fuck it!! I'm going tanning whether he likes it or not!!" SO, I DID.......AND YES I ENJOYED IT!!! I put a towel over my chest and just layed there and relaxed...felt so good......and yea, I'm glad that I did it. We need to really treat OURSELVES WITH THINGS THAT WE LIKE RIGHT NOW, cuz so much is being taken away from us!!!

ali68

We all need to treat ourselves in this terrible time.



Love to everyone



Alison

Lifeafter

Xanax with Valium? Is this a homemade drug? lol I've never heard of that.

I've been through six surgeries in the last 8 months. I know my body is still in recovery. Alcohol just doesn't mesh well at all. I do miss opening a good bottle of red. I live in Northern California. I'm an hour from Napa and even less of a distance from the '2nd Napa Valley' - the wine rich foothills. It's hard. But oh well, it is what it is.

lisamarie68

I am at the point now that if i continue to worry anymore it will completley take a toll on me .. although for now mine is LCIS stage 0 ... and as Doctor puts it "NOT CANCER" I am totally exhausted reading all this stuff ...also keep hearing that if there is no strong family hx of bs then no worries ... I am scheduled for pre op tests on Jan 31 and wire guieded excisional biopsy ..since I dont understand any of this and I am letting my worries get the best of me , I am just gonna wait and see what the biopsy brings to the table ... just Angry....

lisamarie68

I am at the point now that if i continue to worry anymore it will completley take a toll on me .. although for now mine is LCIS stage 0 ... and as Doctor puts it "NOT CANCER" I am totally exhausted reading all this stuff ...also keep hearing that if there is no strong family hx of bs then no worries ... I am scheduled for pre op tests on Jan 31 and wire guieded excisional biopsy ..since I dont understand any of this and I am letting my worries get the best of me , I am just gonna wait and see what the biopsy brings to the table ... just Angry....

francksgirl

it's called Klonopin also called Clonazepam......never heard of it before either. My doctor told me it's like a mix of valium and xanax...and it last longer. The xanax kinda works for me, but in the morning I would shake uncontrollably like a damn leaf until the xanax would kick in again. I have just quit smoking too, which is just really awful for me right now!!!! So, I'm kinda a train wreck. These pills are helping with my anxiety..........One week from today!! UGH.....just want it here already so I can be done!

Lifeafter

That's what Klonopin is? I didn't know that. I've taken that before a long time ago. I don't remember how I reacted to it.

Lisamarie - I've heard that about LCIS too but I would hate to repeat that about it though. I don't understand how the threat of that is different from DCIS. They make it sound like it's no big deal. I know I get mad when there are some, even on these boards, that make light of DCIS and it's infuriating. I was in the same boat as you researching like mad and not understanding what I read and worried about it all. It's hard to not research though. I will be thinking of you, hoping there is nothing else going on. Stay strong.

Michelle

kennelmom

So I had my consult today...The examined me asked a lot of questions..I was very surprised tho that they didnt have all of my reports in my file only the last one.  I let them know about the pain in left underarm and Dr felt a tiny something there but not sure what it is.. they were very sweet and reassuring.  My biopay is sched fot 2-13-12 ...  thats fine it will be only my wine and I for Valentines Day..LOL.. I have to go back for results on 2-24-12..They dont cal..So much waiting!!!!  Omg..  Nothing I can do.  I am actually also waiting on biopsy results from my cervix cuz my pap was abnormal and they dod colcosopy..I get those 2-16-12..WhooHoo. I try to watch a lot of comedy so Im laughing.  And keep telling myself that the odds are in my favor..

Laura

Have a good weekend:)

cycle-path

Regarding LCIS -- I'm only answering this because no one else has, as I'm anything but an authority. I hope someone else will fill in or correct what I say. 

While my understanding is that LCIS is also cancer, it's apparently not always treated as cancer. Perhaps that's because it doesn't have a tendency to harbor or incubate invasive cancer the way DCIS does. A lot of doctors will still remove LCIS, but some want to leave it alone. Possibly it depends on the size. Maybe a large one gets removed and a small one is more likely to be left alone?

So that's my very qualified and tentative answer. Basically the docs just don't worry as much about the future behavior of LCIS the way they do with DCIS.  

Beesie

I'll add to what cycle-path said about LCIS.  Although the names "LCIS" and "DCIS" are similar, the two conditions generally act very differently and that's why they are treated differently and thought of differently. 

With DCIS there is a risk that over time a DCIS cell might evolve to become an invasive cancer cell.  It's the very same cell - the only difference is that rather than being stuck in a milk duct, the cell has acquired the ability to break through the wall of the milk duct and thereby become an invasive cancer cell.  What this means is that any area where DCIS is found may evolve to become an area of invasive cancer.

LCIS cells, on the other hand, usually do not evolve to become invasive cancer.  The LCIS cell itself is not usually harmful.  However a diagnosis LCIS indicates that there is a greater possibility that breast cancer may develop, not necessarily in the area where the LCIS is, but anywhere in either breast. The exception is Pleomorphic LCIS, which I believe acts more like DCIS in that it presents a risk that those very cells might become invasive cancer cells.

This is why DCIS is treated as breast cancer, because it is the DCIS cell itself that might become an invasive cancer cell and therefore must be removed. And this is why LCIS is considered a high risk condition, because the risk associated with LCIS is more general and is not specific to the area where the LCIS is found.  A few years ago there was a lot of talk about changing the name of LCIS to Lobular Neoplasia but I don't know if this was ever 'officially' done.

Hopefully someone like leaf or awb will come by with more information or to correct me if I have misspoken.  

Gakster

I too had two clusters of microcalcifications in my right breast tested by stereotactic biopsy today.  I have been keeping pretty calm and even keel up until today after the procedure.  Now my worry seems to have increased maybe because I know the final results are looming on the horizon?  And is it typical for the women's centers and/or doctor offices to want to give the results in person whether benign or not?  For some reason when she scheduled a time for me to return on Wednesday, it made me more nervous.  And I never asked about my BIRAD score and it was never offered to me and that makes me a bit nervous as well.  Waiting is the worst. 

marie5890

Gakster,

First, every facility and/or doctor is different on  how they give results. It sounds like your women's center has a policy of wanting to do it face to face regardless of what the results show. So dont read anything into that. It's just how they chose to deal with their patients.

As for the rest, just try and keep busy until Weds. Hang in there. And yes, waiting is the worse...