Suspicious mammogram, scared and confused

NatsFan78

Hello, this is my first post here. I am so confused and overwhelmed. My doctor ordered a diagnostic mammogram due to a strong family history and breast pain during my exam. I am 38 years old. After my mammogram, the radiologist came out to talk with me and my husband. She said they found microcalcifications and she was concerned, particularly mentioning the possibility of DCIS. She had already set up the appointment for a stereotactic core biopsy before she came out to speak with me. I was in shock and had never even heard of microcalcifications or DCIS. I didn't ask a lot of questions because to be honest, I didn't know enough to ask. I did ask what she thought the chances were of it being cancer and she said she felt it was about a 40% chance.

I have a copy of my radiologist report but I don't really get much from it. It doesn't seem to have much information about the microcalcifications. When she came out to talk with me she said I had a cluster but my report doesn't use the term cluster it says linear distribution. Here is the wording:

Finding: There are round calcifications with linear distribution seen in the posterior third central of the left breast located 7 centimeters from the nipple. Calcifications are suspicious. Stereotactic core needle biopsy recommended. These calcifications are only visible in the MLO view. We will attempt the biopsy in this position. Calcifications are close to the chest wall. If the biopsy is not possible we will refer her to a breast surgeon for surgical biopsy.

Impression

BI-RADS Assessment Category 4: suspicious abnormality

The breast tissue is extremely dense. This may lower the sensitivity of mammogram.

I got a disk with all my images on it last week. The microcalcifications are circled on it. There are several in a V shape and a few more a little over in a line. They are all very bright and some seem a little bigger than others.

I have been reading about microcalcifications since I received my report. I'm confused because I thought round shape was good, most likely benign, while linear distribution was usually more likely to be cancer. I wish the report had more details. I had the mammogram last Monday and was supposed to have the biopsy three days later on Thursday but the hospital did not receive the order from my primary doctor in time so it was rescheduled for 11:30 tomorrow morning. She said it takes 3 to 5 business days to get the results. I don't know what to think, I honestly did not expect them to find anything. I have two aunts on my dad's side who have had breast cancer, one of them has had it twice and the other also had uterine cancer several years later. Any thoughts or experiences are greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.

gb2115

Hi NatsFan78,

Welcome to the boards. I'm 38 as well, so wanted to say hi. I don't know much about DCIS or calcifications, since I have a different type of cancer and have had very different experiences, but I'm sure others will chime in. I can tell you that a BIRADS rating of 4 is better than 5. I also had issues up front with the doctor not sending the orders right (for the initial mammograms), causing a lot of stress. Sorry you are going through this. It's hard waiting and not knowing.

NatsFan78

Thank you so much gb2115. I spent two hours waiting at the hospital on Thursday before they finally told me to go home because they don't have the order. I hate the waiting and not knowing so much. The past week has felt like a month.

gb2115

Did your hospital hook you up with a nurse navigator? My nurse navigator was very helpful and calming to talk to. There were times where I called her just to vent feelings. It helped a lot.

NatsFan78

I called my nurse navigator last week but she didn't answer any of my questions. She told me she would leave a note for the doctor performing the biopsy to let him know I had questions. I'm happy to hear yours was awesome.

TartletMom

NatsFan, I'm sorry you are going through this. I am in a similar position with calcifications, no lump, and waiting for my biopsy + results. My biopsy is tomorrow too, and I'm both eager to get it done but also scared. I wish you luck tomorrow!

NatsFan78

TartletMom I'm sorry you're in the same boat. I am anxious for my biopsy but scared and dreading it too. I pray we both do well with the biopsy and get good results. Mine is at 11:30 and I was told it takes about 90 minutes.

kkdavis1961

NatsFan78 and TartletMom. I wish both of you good luck. I am also having an excisional biopsy tomorrow. I'm really scared and worried. Mine is at10:30 and they also told me about 90 minutes. Before the surgery they are putting a wire in to mark the mass. Hoping we all have good results.

NatsFan78

kkdavis1961 good luck to you as well. I'm really nervous about my biopsy. I hope it goes well for all of us and we get good results. I hope you and TartletMom will post back after your biopsies. I will be thinking of you both tomorrow.

kkdavis1961

Thanks NatsFan78. I'll let you know how it goes.

mustlovepoodles

NatsFan,  I had micro-calcifications in my left breast for several years. They were biopsied and found to be benign; after that, I just had mammograms every 6 months.  Two years later, we found IDC in the OTHER breast. I mean, I was gob-smacked.  Never did I ever think I'd have BC in the opposite breast!

I hope that your tumor will fall into that 80% of BIRADs 4 that turn out negative. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

NatsFan78

mustlovepoodles thank you so much. I'm trying to remain positive and hopeful, especially since the report stated the calcifications are round. From everything I am reading that is almost always a sign they are benign. I feel like my radiology report is missing a lot of details. Shouldn't there be more specific information about the calcifications, including the size?

I'm a little nervous about having to sit still for the biopsy. I have a lot of back issues and it is giving me a fit this morning, my husband actually had to help me get out of bed.

NatsFan78

The biopsy wasn't awful. I was seated in a padded chair and a nurse put her arm around me to help hold me still. It didn't hurt, just a slight pain from the needle to numb it. I was told it would be similar to a bee sting but I didn't think it was even that bad. I'm a little sore now but using an ice pack and Tylenol. I ask the doctor for his opinion, he said he was 50/50 about it being cancer. He said he did not see anything that said this is definitely cancer but he said he did see things that made him suspicious that it definitely might be. I am supposed to get the results Friday. I hope things went well for you other ladies today

TartletMom

Hi! I posted an update on my biopsy on my other thread but generally went similarly to yours. I think the seated position sounds more comfortable than laying down - that put a lot of strain on my neck. It's interesting that your doctor was able to give you opinions about whether it could be cancer - I asked mine multiple times and all they said was that they had to wait for pathology - the cells and calcs were too small to see. Was your dr who did the biopsy a radiologist or a breast surgeon? Maybe that is the difference? (Mine was a radiologist.) I will be thinking of you and others who had appts recently while we wait. Sending good vibes to all

NatsFan78

I'm happy we have the biopsy behind us. Hopefully we will get good news Friday. I'm not sure but I think my doctor was a radiologist. They just said he was the doctor doing the biopsy and I never thought to ask. I do know he is an assistant professor at UVA and he looked to young to be a doctor, lol. He was very kind and extremely patient. I ask if they could show me the calcifications before they started because a friend told me this morning the images they have are much better quality than what they put on disk for me. They have a monster size screen too which helped. I had a lot more than I realized and I could definitely see the linear pattern he was explaining. I'm sorry yours didn't give you any information, hopefully you will get a call that it was benign by Friday

marie5890

Nats

Here is a link to the DCIS forum and to a thread made by one of the ladies here, Bessie. It's a very comprehensive run down on DCIS, what it is, what it is not, etc.

From what you have posted, yes, there are some flags of concern not because of the microcals in and of themselves, but the pattern that they are forming. Hang tight.

kkdavis1961

TartletMom andNatsFan78. I had my excisional biopsy surgery yesterday. Everything went good. I don't really know anything about the mass, except the dr said there was no surprises. The dr allowed 90 minutes for the surgery, and I think I was only in there about 45 minutes. I think I slept through the whole thing. The last thing I remember is they scooted me over to the operating room table. When I woke up in my room I felt good. They gave me some crackers and Diet Pepsi. I was able to eat some soup when I geot home and it stayed down. They gave me a pill for nausea before the surgery to Help me. I really haven't had any bad pain. Even this morning. I did take the pain medicine like they told me. But I haven't had any since midnight and it's now about 6 am. I think I'm going to see Ihow I do with out it. They put me in a surgery bra and I have to wear it for 24 hours a day. I'm not sure how long I'll have to check my instructions. I looked at my incision and it's about 2 inches long. All in all it was not a bad experience. Now I just have to wait on the results. I do feel a weight lifted off my shoulder because the mass is gone. Sorry if Im rambling, but wanted to let you know how it went.

NatsFan78

Thank you so much Marie, I will read through that today. I am really sore this morning and still have some bleeding off and on. My breast is extremely swollen but no bruising unless it is under the bandage. I was told not to remove my top bandaid for 48 hours but it is covered in blood. Would it hurt anything to replace it with a new one?

NatsFan78

kkdavis I am so happy to hear your biopsy went well yesterday and you are not having a lot of pain. I have been thinking of you.I hope you get the results quickly and the mass is benign. The waiting is torture for sure.

kkdavis1961

Thanks. I'm just glad this first step is done. Good luck to you too! Keep us posted

gb2115

If the band-aid is covered in blood, you could call and ask them if they would want you to replace it, or instead put another bandage over it.

NatsFan78

I couldn't stand it so I carefully took the bloody one off and replaced it about an hour ago.

NatsFan78

I just received a call from my doctor, he said the microcalcifications were from fibrocystic breast changes and no cancer was present. Thank you ladies for helping me through the past week.

MTwoman

congrats NatsFan!!

gb2115

Great to hear, take care!

TartletMom

Natsfan - I'm so glad you got good news, and I'm glad we connected on this site. While this experience was hard, I felt less alone because of you - thank you! (Hugs)

NatsFan78

Thank you so much ladies! TartletMom I feel the same way. The past week I didn't have anyone to talk to, I felt so alone and scared. Having you to talk to gave me so much comfort and helped me feel like I wasn't in this alone.What a blessing you are!

marie5890

Congrats NAT!!! Enjoy your spring...

kkdavis1961

Just received a call from my BS with the results from the pathology report for my excisional biopsy. NO CANCER. She said that the changes that were seen on my last mammogram and US was due to scar tissue from my biopsy I had in July. Such a relief. I go back March 8 for a post op appt. I'll find out more then. Thanks everyone.

MTwoman

Yay KK!! Great news, thanks for sharing. Nothing like good news before a weekend, huh?

Freya244117

Congratulations ladies on your good results. Go enjoy your lives.