Callback resulted in a referral for biopsy of calcifications?

Jossy2

Hello all,

I posted here last week about a callback after a mammogram finding of a nodule and some calcifications (which I have had for years). So I went for my diagnostic mammogram and left breast ultra sound (where they had seen the nodule in the routine set). Today the nodule was no longer visible; after many mammogram shots and repeated US scans they could not see it. However, they said the calcifications in my right breast should be biopsied because they formed a pattern. I was very upset. I am 65 years old, had three children al of whom I nursed for extended periods of time, and I had my first child at the age of 23 ----- All of which were supposed to lower the risk of BC.

My right breast was somewhat troublesome while nursing and at the age of 26 I had a hardened cyst removed surgically. Years later I had an infected cyst aspirated in that breast. Couldn't those calcifications be due to those things? Anyway the nurse told me that in this breast center, almost all call backs undergo biopsies, and that they were booked solid for two weeks! Moreover she reiterated that they would be biopsying the calcifications themselves. There were no masses or nodules.

I am feeling kind of "betrayed", if that makes sense! Here I have lived most of my life eating healthy foods, exercising and I just lost 32 pounds on the DASH diet and am now actually a bit underweight.

What can I do so I am not living on the edge for two weeks?

Thank you for listening; I have no one else with whom I can vent....

Jossy2~

ctmbsikia

Hi Jossy-sorry you got a call back. Keep in mind a lot of biopsies result in something benign. May I ask what your Birads score was on the mammogram/us? That would also be an indication of benign vs. a cancer.

I can only suggest to keep busy living the good life you've been living!! Can you call up a friend and say hey, let's go...….wherever you like to go.

We're here for you to vent. Come on off the edge!

ctmbsikia

Also- if you don't mind me sidetracking here. I often wondered why they ask about age at 1st birth, whether or not our children were breast fed, yet they never asked about if we used birth control, which hello? is hormones. I never understood, and I never asked why that is?

AliceBastable

I got asked about birth control and hormone use, because it's in my oncologist's original notes.

Jossy2, you wrote

"Anyway the nurse told me that in this breast center, almost all call backs undergo biopsies, and that they were booked solid for two weeks"

So what would be worrisome about that? It sounds very routine for that place.

Jossy2

Hi Ctmbsikia,

Thanks for the kind words....I did not ask what the Birads score was.....now I am worried about that! Are they always accurate?? Oh dear.... I was told by the radiologist that I could talk it over with my doctor but she (the radiologist) recommended a biopsy of the calcifications. I kind of interpreted that as maybe they were not so sure.... but that could be wishful interpretation on my part.....

And yes, why don't they ever ask about those birth control pills?? I never understood that either...Thank you again!

Jossy2

Hi Alice--- Yes, the nurse indicated the biopsy was their standard of care for callbacks BUT when I was first called back she said "Oh, most of our callbacks just go on their way", or something like that...

I don't believe her.

What is annoying is the two week wait.... One week is mandatory because I take vitamin E and a baby aspirin..... This i understand. Oh well....

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Beesie

Jossy, sorry that you have to have the biopsy.

You said "Years later I had an infected cyst aspirated in that breast. Couldn't those calcifications be due to those things?".

Yes, absolutely, there could be many benign causes for your calcifications. Most women develop calcifications and most calcs are benign. Being sent for a biopsy doesn't mean that your calcifications represent cancer or even that they are likely to be cancer; it only means that from the appearance on the imaging the Radiologist is uncertain. Biopsies are recommended for anything that the Radiologist assesses to have a 2% or greater chance of being cancer. Overall, only about 30% of BIRADs 4 biopsies turn out to be cancer.

So don't assume the worst. Yes, the biopsy might find cancer. If it does, given that the issue is calcifications, it's most likely either DCIS (a non-invasive cancer, sometimes considered a pre-cancer) or an early stage invasive cancer. But it's a lot more likely that your biopsy result will be benign.

Good luck!

Ingerp

Conventional wisdom during this waiting period is to distract yourself as much as you can. Go out to a movie, binge watch something on Netflix, watch some mindless TV. The two weeks will pass and you’ll get your biopsy. Time to work on your patience.

PurpleCat

I sympathize. Waiting is torture. When I was waiting for my results a cancer survivor friend told me "you don't have cancer until they tell you you do, so don't waste any non-cancer days in thinking about cancer." Very, very hard to do, but do your best to throw yourself wholeheartedly into all the things you normally do and enjoy. I've also found myself feeling the calmest during my busiest moments in a very customer-service oriented job. Focusing solely on the customer and what they need completely takes my mind off what's going on with me. I hope you get good results!