Questions about Mammogram Expert Help!

Anxiousworriedmama

Hi please move this thread if it is the wrong place....I am going in tomorrow for a second diagnostic 3d mammogram w/spot compression and ultrasound on my left breast because a small nodule was seen (on last week's 3d) with clusters of microcalfications. My question is: Are there other breast cancers that could have microcalcifications or is it usually "likely" DCIS? I want to be prepared and from my research online, it seems most of the cancers with these characteristics are DCIS. Can someone please put my mind at ease? I posted in another thread yesterday and didn't receive a lot of support...Thank you.

exbrnxgrl

Hi,

None of us are medical experts here. We do have one member, djmammo, who is however and his replies are quite helpful. However, even he can only speak in generalities about your situation. Hopefully, your diagnostic mammo will provide some more answers. It’s good to be prepared but until you know exactly what you’re dealing with you may end up with a lot of speculation and unneeded worry. Take care

MinusTwo

Anxious - once you get your report, if you have questions you might post it on the thread "interpreting your report", but as exbrn says, the answer basically is - no way to really say yes or no to DCIS or not. We are all different so it's hard to generalize.

Call backs are extremely frequent, especially now that docs are using the 3D mammo machines. I had a call back every single year for retakes, spot compression & ultrasound for 40 years - really, no kidding - 40 years. Everything was fine until it wasn't.

ALso I'd be surprised if the radiology tech will tell you what he/she finds. Try to find ways to distract yourself while you wait for a call from the doc - binge TV, shopping, gardening, etc.

Anxiousworriedmama

Thanks minustwo...The tech from imaging actually called an hour ago to confirm my apt. tomorrow and I took more notes. They said there was a possible small nodule (what does possible mean!?!) The report said no suspicious calcifications although I had one cluster of microcalcifcations....I know. I can't relax and am a basket case. This is because my sister is currently going through breast cancer (otherwise I wouldn't be googling and bugging this site or the techs). Anyway another bad thing, they said the radiologist was going to be on call tomorrow and did not like to talk to people and preferred to just do his report. I said, they had to explain my situation and I needed to talk to him...this whole thing is frustrating...making me wait 6 days and then if the radiologist doesn't come out tomorrow I'll have to wait another week...

MinusTwo

anxious - you can be sure the radiologist will transmit the report to your doc. If he/she is not going to be there, call your doc & make sure you can get the results from them.

However from what I've read on this site, most people do wait a week or even two before getting results. Hang in there.