Calcifications

lvv94

I am 47 with a history of female problems for the past 22 years from ovarian cysts to a partial hysterectomy for major polyps and excessive monthly bleeding. My paternal grandmother had breast cancer. A year ago at a mammogram, I was called a week later for an ultrasound as they found calcifications on my right breast. After the ultrasound they gave me a form saying the results are likely benign and want to monitor in 6 months for a diagnostic bilateral mammogram with an ultra sound on the right side. They asked me to come back in 6 months again which I did just recently. This ultrasound was very lengthy with tons of captured pictures. I never ask questions during the ultrasound as I feel scared and do not want to disrupt what the tech is doing. After she finished she said she wants to speak with the doctor. It was the longest 10-15 minute wait. She came back with the same paper. She said the doctor said to come back ion 6 months and repeat the process. I feel unsettled as I feel they are monitoring something I am unaware of. Do they know something I don’t. Do calcifications typically turn into cancer over time? I don’t know if they are macro or micro as I have never had the courage to ask. Has anyone experienced calcifications turning to cancer? How long does this take to happen if it does? I feel like a sitting duck

MelissaDallas

You should obtain copies of your written reports to see what they say. People here could help you understand what the report says.

Calcifications don’t “turn into” anything. Most of us develop calcifications as we age. It is when calcifications form specific patterns or have certain shapes that they can indicate something going on in the surrounding tissue. They are using ultrasound to take a closer look at the area with calcifications seen on the mammogram. Whatever they see they are determining to have a less than 3% chance of being cancer, but for prudence they are looking at it periodically to check that it is stable and that no changes are occurring, so no, it doesn’t mean you are a sitting duck. Apparently whatever it is looked benign and still looks benign. I would certainly ask my doctor the specifics and make them explain. Lots less scary than guessing. I’d want my report so I wasn’t guessing and being afraid. Also, it is good to keep copies of all your breast imaging and reports in case you have to go someplace different in the future, because the new place will want them for comparison.