Fibroadenoma With Calcifications.

healthwis

My clinical history: Left Breast UOQ elevated calcifications R/o DCIS. Treatment was not recommended at the time. Should I be concerned over this?

BLinthedesert

Fibroadenoma is not cancer, nor is it in itself a risk for future cancer.  The only thing that is worrisome about fibroadenomas is that they can hide future cancers that may arise.  The microcalifications are probably due to the fibroadenoma, so again, they themselves are not worrisome.

I think that you shouldnt worry -- but you should continue follow-up with yearly mammograms, and they will likely compare future mammograms with this one, to make sure that nothing is changing in a way that would indicate malignancy.

Good luck!! 

CTMOM1234

When "something" was detected on my very first mammogram (40), I was sent for an ultrasound and it was confirmed to be a fibroadenoma (shape, mobility classic fibroadenoma). Every 6 months I have an ultrasound and no changes, and to this day it still resides, no concerns about it at all. I am a big believer in not looking for trouble and sleep fine at night with it there, but I have read others say they just wanted theirs out and felt better even after having surgery -- I've also read that fibroadenomas may come back, another reason why I agreed with my drs to just leave it be. They are completely benign, and I never worry that mine is hiding a problem, I am very well monitored with ultrasound and mammography.

However, I was told back then that it most certainly may be a precursor, that there's "activity" and such cell divisions, growths, abnormalities, whatever you want to call it, does correlate down the road with bc. And sure enough, several years later a routine mammogram picked up micro-calcs and a stereo biopsy led to a dcis diagnosis in that same breast. Not sure how related the two are, they are completely in different locations, but at least for me, having the fibradenoma alone is not an issue at all and requires no actions -- if it had been near the lumpectomy region I'd have asked to maybe take care of it, but it is in a completely different region and has actually gotten a little smaller.

Wishing you the best. 

rozem

i had a fibroadenoma when i was 28 years old, had it removed because i was not comfortable with the "wait and watch" scenario that was proposed by my doctors

fast foward 14 years i develop a breast cancer in the EXACT same spot the fibroadenoma was, my lumpectomy scars are one on top of the other from the 2 surgeries.  I have asked my team if there is any correlation.  They said no, but obviously my breast makes "stuff" and it was just a matter of time (and age) when the likelyhood was that another growth would appear and not be benign (in my opinion, not that of my doctors).  This is not meant to scare you but i wished i had known then what i know now and i do agree with CTMOM34 that they could be a precurser to bc -

Beesie

I had two very large fibroadenomas, one when I was 16 and one at 20.  I developed BC 29 years later - in the other breast. 

Most of what I've read suggests that if you have normal fibroadenomas, there is no increase in breast cancer risk.  Complex fibroadenomas - those that contain cysts or calcifications - may increase risk very slightly.  But even then, the increase in risk is very low. 

Jamie0712

Had a lump & bloody discharge when I was 19, did lumpectomy was fibroadenoma. I had more lumps after but when I was 21, one lump started growing fast and become big, so even though it is benign since growth (I have smalls boobs to begin with) I had another lumpectomy, fibroadenoma. Still had other lumps, finally again this past July (I'm 22 years old now) had another lump growing fast and big. My original dr (not breast specialist) stated should just watch and wait. Got second opinion from breast specialist, got another lumpectomy & now diagnosed w DCIS. Oncologist says options is another lumpectomy w/ rads or mastectomy. But suggests mastectomy since I've had multiple breast lumps/issues at young age. I always asked before to my dr's about possibility of beast ca, they said shouldn't worry, and fibroadenoma can be normal for women my age because hormones... I also read fibroadenomas doesn't necessarily increase your chances but every case/woman is different I suppose

BLinthedesert

Follow-up mammograms (where they compare this years with next years) will be able to detect subtle changes that may indicate a change that is not "normal".  

Regarding fibroid adenoma and breast cancer risk, I am attaching two links.  Both of these links have been updated (to reflect the most current literature) within the past 2 months. 

http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/FindCancerEarly/WomensHealth/Non-CancerousBreastConditions/non-cancerous-breast-conditions-fibroadenomas

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-risk-factors

I did have a bunch of "proliferative lesions" (radial scar, sclerosing adenosis, and ADH) in the tissue surrounding both of my DCIS foci -- as well as a previously undetected fibroadenoma in my lumpectomy tissue.  I think that having these benign tissue actually made it easier for them to find DCIS -- because the lump they found on ultrasound was likely one of these benign things, and the DCIS was peripheral to these tissue.  The reason I point this out is that the one good thing about having these benign tissue things is that they are more likely to pay close attention to your follow-ups and any changes will be detected earlier rather than later.  

Good luck to you!! 

Terry2

Im 32. I was diagnosed w a 2.6cm complex fibroadenoma 9 months ago in my left breast. It has no definite lines and has calcification. I have three smaller ones on the same Breast. It is so painful that I can barely stand to touch it. I can barely wear a bra or lay on that side. The pain doesn't subside. I had a biopsy done 9 months ago that confirmed it to be a fibroadenoma. It made me feel better knowing what it was.

Recently I started having a brownish color sticky nipple discharge, more pain, and burning. I was worried and went in for my follow up ultrasound. They seemed to not be worried about it and said that everything looks normal. The pain is "hormonal". But why is it every day, not just around my period. I can't help but feel like something is wrong. The pain radiates into my breast bone and my left upper part of my back. Could the biopsy be wrong? I can't help but worry. I'm weak, tired, dizzy, I've lost 15 pounds in the past 6 months. I shouldn't feel like this. I feel like I need more answers and I need to speak up since I see other people having pain as well.

PRenae

2002, I was 40, had a fibroadenoma about the size of a dime removed upon my doctors advice. A couple of weeks later, I had a follow up mammogram which revealed THREE In Situ ductal carcinomas and the doctors missed it. A tear and a half later I had a second mammogram (age 42) at a different facility and the doctor showed me the cancers from the first mammograms. Further testing was started, and surgeries were performed, my surgeon told me this was his most complex case he ever had. Anyway, it too THREE surgeries to remove all five cancers, they found two more cancers. Had I not had that fibroadenoma removed, I wouldn't have found the cancers until they had grown into lumps which would have made the process of surviving much more difficult. Now, I'm 53, and am having a fibroadenoma about the size of a nickel, in the exact same place on the opposite breast, removed this coming Tuesday, June 16, and however dreaded, I will not be surprised if they find cancer then or later when we do a follow up mammogram. Back in 2002, a doctor I consulted with out of Little Rock, the same doctor who built the first MRI Mammography, told me that if I had cancer in one breast, I would almost definitely have cancer in the other, sooner or later...this, because there was identical changes in each breast, activity in breasts often mean trouble, and if something shows up in a mammogram or ultra sound have it removed because CANCERS DO HIDE BEHIND THESE THINGS, I"m not shouting, lol, just trying to call attention to this part of my post. May God bless you all and take your health seriously, please.

Moderators

Hi PRena, thank you for posting and welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry that you have to be here for this reason, but really glad you found us! We're sure that sharing your story you're helping others make their best decisions.

Best uf luck with surgery on Tuesday. We'll be thinking of you, let us know how it goes!

The Mods