New microcalcifications found, stereotactic scheduled 😕

Lynette73

Hi,

just looking for advice on this procedure. My last biopsy in 2012 was ultrasound-guided. I don't know anyone who's ever had a stereotactic. So I'm just looking for advice. for those of you that have had one, is there any information or advice you can pass along? How long did you wait for your results? The same radiologist that read my mammogram will be the one performing the procedure. They found another cyst in the left breast and these new microcalcifications.

Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated!

shadylady1

Hi Lynette! I had the same thing after radiation and while on Tamoxifen. My radiologist watched them for a year and I was checked every 6 months. She thought the calcifications were damage from radiation. When they started growing, she biopsied them and it was nothing. It's just using an X-ray or 3d imagery rather than ultrasound. I have had both. Not much difference but it can be due to the location of the calcifications. Wishing you the best! Praying for benign results!

suzygirl

Your mammogram report looks almost identical to mine of July, 2013, and I too had stereotactic biopsies of both locations of the suspicious micro calcifications. I hope you were given a pamphlet describing the procedure, which is done with you lying on your stomach, with your breast hanging through a hole and the radiologist working from below while checking locations with x-rays (they take LOTS of x-rays). If you didn't get a thorough explanation of the procedure , try Googling it and you will find out the details. My HMO assigned an assistant to stand by me, to hold my hand and to rub my shoulders and generally be reassuring during the somewhat lengthy biopsies (a total of 16 cores were taken). You will be given epinephrine and lidocaine (like for dental procedures) before the core needle punches and I don't recall it being particularly painful -- just uncomfortable lying still, face down. You will be given an ice pack to stop any bleeding (one of my sites bled quite a bit, the other virtually not at all) and to hold down swelling. I had a very, very unusual after-effect. While sitting up waiting for the bleeding to stop, I began to feel faint and started to shake uncontrollably. The nurse said it was a reaction to having had three injections of the epinephrine. I spent a very uncomfortable two hours until almost instantly I went from shaking/trembling to feeling absolutely normal. Which leads to my biggest piece of advice -- TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU. I had underestimated the impact of the procedure and because I had driven myself I couldn't be released until I was fully recovered. I was told three days later that one site was wholly benign, the other had atypical ductal hyperplasia (high risk). I eventually ended up with an excisonal biopsy of that site which then uncovered invasive ductal carcinoma. I then had an MRI followed by two ultrasound and MRI guided biopsies of other suspicious findings. Unfortunately I had a final diagnosis of bilateral Stage 1 invasive cancer (neither tumor was visible on a mammogram) accompanied by very extensive DCIS. I had bilateral mastectomies . I thought the MRI and stereotactic biopsies were quite similar, but both seemed considerably more complicated than the ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy. For you, I hope BOTH of your suspicious sites turn out to be benign, which statistically they do 80 percent of the time!

Lynette73

Thank you shadylady1 and suzygirl for taking the time to reply.

My bestie is taking me to the appointment Thank goodness. The hospital then I'm going to, actually uses a mobile biopsy clinic, it looks like a giant RV!

The presence of a new cyst isn't as worrisome as these new calcifications. Knowing that ADH was found in both breasts 2 years ago also is concerning, as I wonder why these cells are continually changing.

I will keep you posted!

RaiderGirl

suzygirl

In reading you post I have once again confirmed how very unique little snowflakes we all are.

I just had a stereotatic wire placement prior to surgery. I could not have a biopsy for several reasons . I was sitting with my left breast squeezed in the mammo machine. In the past I was lying down as you were. After the wire placement I was driven to the hospital and a excision of the "suspicious area" was done.

I too was given lidocaine , the pain however was unreal. I had others before and nothing hurt like this. I too starting shaking and nearly fainted. The RadMD said that I had thick scar tissue that resisted the procedure. I want to erase the feeling from my mind forever..

Anyway, I now await the final pathology.

I keep repeating "its nothing until its something"

I read your entire post and admire your courage. I send you a gentle hug