Scattered microcalcifications after re-excision... ugh

CrunchyPoodleMama

Hi, girls... I had a mammo this morning to follow up on my re-excision from May.

I'm crest-fallen because there are a few micro-calcifications still. The doctor said he can't say whether it's DCIS or incision-related etc. 

He gently suggested I reconsider doing a mastectomy (which I haven't wanted to do unless I HAD to), or he could biopsy the microcalcifications.

I don't know what to do. I *want* to go forward and have a baby since that's the most important thing in the world to me, and get monitored after the baby is born and see what the deal is... but obviously if there's a large chance this is more DCIS, I'm not going to take any chances.

Do microcalcifications ever happen after a lumpectomy/re-excision that aren't DCIS?

These look very different from the ones that showed up after the initial lumpectomy. Those were clustered and it was obvious even to me that they were DCIS. 

These, those, are barely there at all and are scattered, not clustered. All six margins were clear with the re-excision. The doctor would like me to decide what to do in the next week. Ugh.

CAROLMARIE427

I had a mastectomy for DCIS, but I just wanted to let you know that there were lots of other calcifications that were in my mammo that were just that-calcifications.  Not all calcifications are DCIS, esp. when they are isolated.  If I were you, I would biopsy them first before thinking of a mastectomy.  You may be having surgery where it could be nothing.  I am sorry that you even have to deal with this again.  Think positive.... Hugs

CrunchyPoodleMama

Thank you for your reply!

Funnily enough, as I was clicking to post the above, I realized I want to have them biopsied. That way I'll KNOW whether going forward with mx is the right thing... it will clear up any doubt. I'm so glad to hear you say that as well.

catherine1028

I would get it biopsied as well. I've heard of many cases where scattered calcs are benign and normal.

CTMOM1234

Think you are doing the right thing to not "put the cart before the horse." There are so many posts on these boards about calcs. being absolutely nothing!  Of course, once we've had a DCIS diagnosis after micro-calc. clusters detected (I'm in that group, too), no one looks at us the same and puts everything on heightened alert. While I'm absolutely happy to detect things as early as possible, I do long for the olden days when a mastectomy wasn't so readily proposed.

 Good luck with the biopsy.

CrunchyPoodleMama

Thanks so much for your input!!

AmyD

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/health/20cancer.html?_r=1&hp

New York Times article worth reading. 

CrunchyPoodleMama

Amy - THAT is a scary article. (and it makes me wonder about the flip side... how many women who actually have DCIS are getting misdiagnosed as ADH or other benign condition??!)

I've heard great things about Dr. Lagios, one of the experts quoted in that article, and have thought about getting a second opinion from him. In my case, at least as far as what I've had done to date, I have no regrets even if somehow my huge lump was mistakenly diagnosed (which I doubt)... I wanted that lump OUT of me at all costs. Of course, with such a tiny speck of microcalcifications this time, I will probably seek a second opinion from Dr. Lagios if mastectomy is recommended.

THANK YOU!!!