Calcification and upcoming biopsy

Enthuzimuzzy

I don't know anyone in my family who has had breast cancer so it never crossed my mind. After not getting a physical for a while due to covid I finally went in this January and have been to many Drs since, a mammogram was one of the visits on the list (I'm 41).

One symptom I've had for a little while was a resting heart rate of about 100bpm, another is that of my blood tests my LDH came back high, - always bad....so they did more blood tests and found no explanation from those. Then I get the mammogram and they find something that needs more scans so I go back, more scans, ultrasound, now waiting to be scheduled for a biopsy. Then I correlate the heart rate and blood test with this and it looks pretty grim. Articles all over the place (medical websites not blogs) say that tachycardia and high LDH levels correspond with a high mortality rate in cancer.

I knew there was something wrong, I've been to dozens of Drs over the last year or 2 for stomach issues, ended up needing my gallbladder removed, then chronic bladder issues with no conclusion aside from the gallbladder. Basically I feel like I found out I have cancer when I have a month to live.

I don't want to put anyone through this. I'd rather disappear or die now.

Moderators

Enthuzimuzzy,

Welcome. We're so sorry for the worries that bring you here, but we're really glad you've found us.

First, please do not jump to conclusions! You don't know anything until you have a biopsy and even then, IF it by chance was to turn out to be breast cancer, there are so many different treatment options and outcomes. We know it's a scary time, but try to stay patient until you can get more answers.

And in the meantime, try to stop googling and applying those articles to your situation. The only person who can tell you what the research means for you is your doctors.

Please keep us posted with what you find out, and try to remain positive!

--The Mods

Beesie

Enthuzimuzzy,

As the Moderators said, don't jump to conclusions. In a couple of sentences, you've gone straight from A to Z. That's not how it works and that's not what will happen.

So, some facts.

- Calcifications are extremely common. Most calcifications - something like 95% - are benign. Sometimes though it is difficult to tell from the appearance on imaging whether calcs are benign or malignant. Those are labelled as being "suspicious". When that happens, a biopsy is ordered.

- Overall, about 70%-75% of biopsies are benign. Most biopsies are done to rule out cancer, not because a cancer diagnosis is expected. "Suspicious calcifications" often end up being benign.

- And if the biopsy is malignant? Calcifications most often represent DCIS, which is a non-invasive condition, Stage 0 breast cancer. In fact by some definitions DCIS is not a cancer but a pre-cancer, because it stays in the ducts of the breast and doesn't spread.

- In a small percentage of cases, when suspicious calcifications appear on imaging, some invasive cancer is found along with the DCIS. Usually it's only a very small amount, very treatable. In fact overall, 80% of breast cancer diagnoses are early stage, and the percent would be higher when the presentation on imaging is calcifications.

- You have a high resting heart rate and high LDL. Totally separate issues; high LDL is pretty common (about 20% of women your age) and you should talk to your doctor about the high resting heart rate and any possible associated heart-health concerns. But neither of those conditions have anything to do with finding calcifications in your breast.

So when you say, "Then I correlate the heart rate and blood test with this and it looks pretty grim. Articles all over the place (medical websites not blogs) say that tachycardia and high LDH levels correspond with a high mortality rate in cancer.", you are jumping so far from where you are today, you are making so many assumptions and presuming so many worst case scenarios that... well, I truly don't what to say. You have a biopsy, not a cancer diagnosis. Most biopsies are benign. If your biopsy does find cancer, it is extremely likely to either be non-invasive or very early stage - treatable and with a high survival rate. Saying "Basically I feel like I found out I have cancer when I have a month to live." and "I don't want to put anyone through this. I'd rather disappear or die now." is so far from reality that you are on a different planet. Honestly.

Since you are on this site, take a look around. Most of us here have breast cancer, and are either currently in treatment or previously treated. We are all here offering support and living our lives. The reality of what you fear is all of us; it's not what you are thinking.

When is your biopsy? And do you have a copy of the radiology report that describes the area of calcifications? The way the calcs are described may help narrow down the odds of what you are likely looking at (and hopefully it's a benign biopsy result).

AliceBastable

Can you provide links to sources for those? My heart rate has always been just fine and I've had three different major cancers. That's the first I've heard that.

LivinLife

Hello Enthuzi.....Welcome and deep breaths..... Beesie was right on with all she said and I hope you can appreciate she cared enough to type all of that out.... To ground you further.... I just had (another) heart monitor for tachycardia that's been ongoing for 3 years. I have high LDL and heart conditions dating back 2+ decades and these have nothing to do with my DCIS diagnosis back in July 2020. Even with all the medical stuff I have going on I still work part-time, take care of my home, exercise, enjoy time with family and friends (COVID safe these days), etc. etc. The issues you are talking about with heart and breast health are unrelated and you can live a very long time even if you end up diagnosed with something related to both..... Please take one step at a time regarding the breast health and upcoming biopsy.... see what your other doc (PCP?) says about cardiovascular health, including lifestyle changes which may be a better use of your Google/Bing time really.... Hang in there and please keep us updated on your biopsy....

Enthuzimuzzy

Didn't mean to sound like tachycardia was caused by breast cancer, just that there were just studies about mortality rates and people with tachycardia (and with high LHD) in people who have cancer. So my brain goes to worst case scenario.

This was one of the articles medpagetoday.com/cardiology/arrhythmias/77675

Enthuzimuzzy

I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond and make me feel better. I know many of you are diagnosed and I posted in this forum specifically because I didn't want people who were diagnosed to feel like I'm trying to get attention or be dramatic (rather than post my worries to diagnosed forums/reddit). I spent the morning crying but you've all definitely helped give me some perspective and calm down. I don't have anyone to talk about this with, and I don't want to scare family, so I appreciate you're responses! ❤️

Some of the tons of Drs I've seen in the last month+ were heart drs. I've had ultrasounds, EKGs and a wore a heart monitor and they have no answers (just a lot of bills). The LHD levels are 46 out of a max of 40 I believe, and no answers for that either, but I didn't mean to imply they were both caused by cancer but they can apparently be negative factors regarding cancer treatment ( high LHD is directly related to "liver disease, heart attack, anemia, muscle trauma, bone fractures, cancers, and infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, and HIV."). Just that finding that those can complicate breast cancer treatment so i felt like all these undiagnosed problems could make matters worse.

I also have slight anemia (since I was a child so not related to my diet) but that doesn't explain the LDH after further testing. If high LHD is normal for 41 no one has told me yet til now, my PC didn't know anything and had to ask the hematologist what to do .

As far as lifestyle, all my blood tests are great nutritionally and cholesterol levels are great. My weight is normal for my stature, low bmi, I've been vegan for over 10 years and vegetarian before that, never smoked, don't drink much and we go hiking every weekend, both days (though between my tachycardia and *exercise induced asthma I never feel any stronger breathing/heart wise) *might be heart and not asthma, no one seems to know for sure.

They called this morning to schedule the biopsy for next Tuesday, yay for promptness . They didn't give me access to the images but the calcification mass looked large to me when I watched them scan. I know I read that larger clusters can also go alongside cysts which I apparently have as well. It just seems strange to have so many undiagnosed problems. I'm riddled with little lipomas and tumors that have to be biopsied or removed regularly, so I feel like I'm just waiting for what feels inevitable sometimes.

Enthuzimuzzy

Bessie, I appreciate the response! being scared about something someone doesn't know much about yet is what it sounded like this forum was for so it seems like venting is appropriate here if anywhere. It's not far from reality in someone's head who hasn't spoken to anyone about it and has only online studies to help. Drs have given me nothing but "I don't know" about my heart, anemia, bladder and LDH levels all month, then them finding something that can be cancerous...it is not a big leap or far from reality at all to me with the information that I have. So be patient with people who are still learning I guess, we all have our own threshold of what is terrifying at this moment and this is mine. If I'm diagnosed, I'll have a new threshold.

I'm not sure why my disappearing is far from any reality. I have no kids, little close family and I've done it before. I'm as likely to do that and spare everyone I know as anything, we all have our own stories and realities.

And please don't think I don't appreciate your response, I have learned a lot from you already, but I also don't think it's necessary to belittle my fears. To me they are valid (as all peoples are to themselves). That may be how you comfort but it feels more like a slap on the back and 'youre being silly' than a "I understand your fears but I feel you've jumped conclusions because...". And that is why I would never tell my mother about anything, because my entire childhood was "get over it" and "your feelings are not valid". This is a thread for people who are scared and not to be compared to people who are diagnosed and have bigger problems.

AliceBastable

There's a difference between being supportive in a practical and positive way, which Beesie and LivinLife and I (and others) do for anyone who posts, and enabling someone to give in to their worst fears, which is what you seem to want.

tntnsd

Hi Enthuz,

I was recently diagnosed (right on New Year eve 2020); to some degree, I still remember how scared it was and how my mind kep expecting the worst. I came to this board, got helped to understand the disease more clearly. While going through that, never once my feeling got dismissed and compared to others who had been in this path. One wonderful lady even passed on this wisdom "Someone elses' suffering does not negate your own nor does it invalidate how you are feeling." I wholeheartedly hope you can find some strength and support to get through this. Please take good care of yourself. One step at a time.

Beesie

Enthuzimuzzy,

I was not belittling your fears. Your fears are real. Your feelings are valid. I understand that and I am so sorry that you are so scared.

What I was explaining is that the reasoning behind your fears is not based on reality. That's very different. I was challenging the information that is making you so scared, and I was providing you with factual information about calcifications, biopsies and breast cancer, with the hope of alleviating your fears, at least a bit. My suggestion that you look at those of us here with breast cancer was not to suggest that your feelings aren't valid because others have bigger problems but was to show you that life goes on after a breast cancer diagnosis.

My intent was certainly not to upset you so I will delete my previous post.

LivinLife

I'm glad you take such good care of yourself Enthuz! That will help a lot as you move through the process. Your high LDL could truly be genetic - that's the case in my case - just means all the more important you're taking good care of yourself and continue doing what you're doing. And the others are right about validating what you are going through! Really important, esp. the self-validation b/c others often will not be able to step into your shoes esp. if they haven't been through something like this or similar. Please try to stay grounded in where you are now too though - the worrying ahead is living too much in the future and may not even be how things turn out. If indeed though you end up with a cancerous or precancerous condition good self-care, support and more accurate info, etc. will help you get through whatever you need to get through and you will be able to do it! Lots and lots and lots of examples on this site - even if it's not always easy. Try to be where you are now tho.... the waiting is soooo difficult....

Best with the biopsy Tuesday and please check back in! We care which is why we're trying to help you keep your feet on the ground : )