Calcifications found on mammogram

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Momval1
Momval1 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hi I am a ball of nerves after having received this report from the radiologist.  She recommended that I have a surgical biopsy afte finding a few more calcification spots on my second mammogram. She said that she would not be surprised if it turned out to be nothing but they have to be so careful. The problem is my sister just 11 months older than I was diagnosed 4 years ago and treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy and Tamoxifen.  She is doing fine now.  I am single and feeling pretty lonely right now.  I see a recommeded surgeon on April 6, but I don't know if I can wait that long, I may have to see someone else so I can get this thing going you know ?   I am sorry for the long message just a bundle of nerves thinking about what if and what next.   Thanks for listening.

 Momval1

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited March 2010

    Momval1, the wait for 3 weeks to see a surgeon for calcifications isn't that long of a time. Jan 5, 2005 I had my annual mammogram, a week later I got a letter saying I needed to come in for additional pictures, I think I went in about the 17th to find out I had calcifications. I didn't get in to see the surgeon until the first week of February and had my first biopsy (sterotactic needle) on Feb 13th that showed my calcifications were pre-cancer ADH. After that since I was an established patient of the surgeon, his office would schedule my mammos and follow-up appointments with him within a week.

    If you want a few facts, 75-80% of the time calcifications are a b-9 condition and the remaining 15-20% of the time as a cancerious condition.

    I will be thinking B-9 thoughts for you.

    Sheila

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited March 2010

    Momval, I understand why you are worried - who wouldn't be in your situation? - but it really is a promising sign that the radiologist said that she wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be nothing.

    Calcifications are very common - about 50% - 60% of women get them.  Well over 90% turn out to be perfectly harmless.  Often radiologists can tell just from the mammogram films that the calcs are nothing to worry about; what the radiologist looks for is the size and the pattern of the calcs.  Larger calcs and randomly scattered calcs are nothing to worry about.  It's only if calcs are tiny (microcalcifications) and if they are clustered together or in a linear formation that they are considered "suspicious".  And that's when a biopsy is ordered.  But even for these types of suspicious calcs, most turn out to be nothing at all.  80% of the biopsies end being benign.  And benign calcs don't turn cancerous.  So if your calcs are tested and found to be benign, then you are fine and there is nothing to worry about.

    If you are in the 20% whose calcs turn out to be breast cancer, in the vast majority of cases, cancer that presents as calcifications is very early stage cancer, either DCIS (which is Stage 0 breast cancer and is non-invasive) or early stage invasive cancer.  Both of these conditions are very treatable. 

    But, hopefully you won't have to worry about treatments.  Hopefully - and most likely - you'll fall in the 80% group.  And I understand your concern about the family history and the fact that your sister was diagnosed with BC.  But look at my case:  I had calcs discovered in both breasts at the same time so I had to have biospies of both breasts.  The calcs in my right breast turned out to be early stage BC and the calcs in my left breast turned out to be benign.  So even being diagnosed myself with cancerous calcs in one breast, I still ended up having benign calcs in my other breast.  That was 4 years ago.  I'm now well past my treatment and my left breast has had no problems since. 

    Good luck with your biopsy!

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  • Momval1
    Momval1 Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2010

    Thank you Sheila for the the b9 thoughts. I just picked up a copy of my mammogram and it "shows loosely grouped calcifications in the posterior upper outer right breast". Category assessment: Category 4 suspicious.  After reading your post I do feel much better and will stay the course with the arranged appt.  Thanks for your help!!! and God bless us all during this time.

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