Benign Linear Microcalcifications: Feeling Unsettled

Rowan4

I am 38, and went to the Breast Clinic for the first time last week for a palpable lump on my left breast. The Dr sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound that day, and the mammogram discovered microalcifications in both breasts. However, in the right, there were irregular, clustered microcalcifications in a linear arrangement.

Everyone I encountered in the radiology Dept seemed incredibly concerned. I was scheduled the next day for a steriotactic biopsy on the right side microcalcifications, and ultrasound core biopsy for the lump I was feeling on the left.

I got the call a couple of days ago that all results are benign (yay!). The breast surgeon had me make an appt to come back in a month, and scheduled a Follow-up Mammogram for 6 months.

I imagined that upon getting this news (benign) that I would feel a weight lifted, and could put this all behind me. But I am feeling very unsettled, with many questions:

Does it make sense that everyone seemed so deeply convinced by the imaging that this would turn out malignant? Can I truly rest easy?

And if the microcalcifications were caused by "benign process" why do I need to keep getting checked? Could they suddenly become malignant? And if that is the case, then why wouldn't they want to take them out altogether?

Am I just a ticking time bomb for breast cancer?

Would love to hear from others who have dealt with microcalcifications!

*EDIT: They also said that I have very dense breasts. How might that factor in to all of this?

wrenn

I think this "everyone seemed so deeply convinced" is not clear. Who said what exactly? I think a lot of people think they can tell by facial expressions and I think the biopsy would be more reliable than that. If the actual radiologist came to you and said it looks malignant then I would ask your GP to give you more information to help your worry.

Rowan4

It was what they were saying to me, not facial expressions. They were saying that when microcalcifications present like mine, it suggests malignancy. And just repeated comments like, "we really don't like what we are seeing," and "This may be a God thing that you came in for a lump and this was found," etc.

MelissaDallas

If they had been very convinced they would be saying that the biopsy results are discordant with the imaging and they are not. They set short term follow ups just to confirm stability. Dense breasts or not, they were not too dense to identify the calcifications/areas of concern on imaging. Microcalcifications are just changes that CAN identify something going on in the surrounding tissue. The calcifications themselves are not the issue and don’t turn into anything. Most of us develop calcifications as we age. When they form certain patterns they MAY (but often don’t) signal something else going on.

Rowan4

Thank you, Melissa Dallas! This makes me feel a lot better. So it's reasonable for me to expect things to appear "stable" in 6 months, and maybe not have to keep coming back every 6 mo this?

wrenn

It's interesting that they were saying that to you since it is not really appropriate for "everyone" to be diagnosing or giving medical opinions or offhand comments unless they are specialists and sat you down to explain their judgments. At any right it is not that long that you will have to wait so hopefully you can find something to calm yourself in the mean time. Find some good distractions. :-)

And I would report "them" for causing this worry. They were out of line.

Beesie

Do you have a copy of the mammogram and ultrasound imaging reports and the pathology reports from the biopsies? If not, get them. They will explain what was seen on the imaging and what was found in the biopsy.

As for the 6 month follow-up, that is standard practice after a biopsy. Biopsies are accurate, but they do sample only a portion of the area of concern. As Melissa noted, the follow-up is simply a double check to confirm stability/no changes.

MollyAdelaide

Hi Rowan,

I’m 42 and had my first mammogram in September which showed amorphous loosely clustered micro calcifications. I just had a surgical breast biopsy and it’s benign. Yay! But I totally understand how you feel wondering if you’re “a ticking time bomb”. I found a study which took a retrospective look at 9000 benign biopsies. Of those there were 25 which they were able to find some subtle atypia in. Only one of those cases developed a reoccurance of atypia after 19 years. All the rest had no reoccurrence....This has helped me gain perspective on just how careful they are being and how low our risk is.

Blessings to you