microcalcification questions

hey,hey, hey... its a party here!  I just got the word!  I am officially part of the group.  All I heard was DCIS and then "waaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaahhhhh"  yep cancer but... the good news is ...... I get to stay in the group!  (will cope better tomorrow, crying now) 

Greenmonkey - Check out my sig line.  DCIS, high grade, multi-focal...here for you lady!

Michelle

Har1old, when I had my stereo biopsy, they did 10 samples. This is to guard against not finding "it" in a single sample when the target seen on the mammogram film is small or spread out. The dr said some places only do 5-ish but the chance of missing it decreases the more specimens they do. It's definitely not something you would do for kicks, but it's a relatively short lasting misery, and the difference between 4 or 5 and 10 wasn't that much worse. Some stabs hurt more than others, but it does end. Some people are lying down, others sitting up. I think the position depends on where they need to sample, according to what the mammogram image told them. I was leaning on my side with the table at about 45 degrees, and my breast diagonally into the machine so they could sample from the bottom corner. I was worried about whether I would be able to lie on my front for my massage appointment the next week, but it was not an issue.

GreenMonkey, sorry you're joining the catstir club.  But DCIS is the best news of the bad news.

francksgirl DCIS is not invasive by definition. I wanted bilateral mastectomy for the reason you say: get out while the getting is good. Everyone has their own situation, and I'm not a young newlywed but I don't miss my nipples, and I needed the peace of mind way more. However, they do various things to recreate nipples and you should talk to the reconstruction surgeons to find out your options if that's your only sticking point. 

I'm currently waiting for a second opinion.  My path report said their were cancerous tumor cells in my lymphnodes that were removed.  I was never told.  Long story.  So I'm seeking clarification on this and my treatment optinos and follow-ups.

My left breast was prophylactic.  Clear margins were not possible with the lumpectomy and partial mastectomy on my right.  I had to have a full mastectomy.  I chose to have both taken.  I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life with mammograms every 6 months to check the other.  I wasn't able to have nipple sparing.  My understanding is that it depends on where the clusters are and how big.  Mine branched out all over my breast.  Plus I'm told they can't guarantee where the nipple will end up and it may end up not being able to survive anyway.  No thank you.  Take the damn thing. My decision, for me was a no brainer. I will be 41 in March, I have to nearly grown children (20 and 17) and I'm single. I'm at a point in my life and have been for awhile that men kinda of annoy me right now. I have too much drama raising my girls.  Even though I'm at a point now that I will soon be 'free' of my child rearing days, if someone comes along great, if not that's ok too. But I'm not too caught up in the what am I going to look like and what about sex. I just want to be healthy again.

I don't really have any feeling in my chest.  I do have some nerve regeneration going on.  That's kinda wierd.  You touch a certain area on my chest adn I feel it in my arm, not the chest.

With that said, I will be having nipple reconstruction.   If I do get into a relationship again, I think it would be easier on the guy if I were at least 'normal' looking to the eye.  I'm sure guys would get a little wierded out at first if they feel like they are feeling up a naked barbie doll boob! lol

But francksgurl, it really will depend on what grade you are and how big the area is and if it is multi-focal.  So you still have options.  A lumpectomy may be all you will need to get clear margins.

Good luck and keep us updated!

Michelle

I saw just noticed that Michelle!!! we're practically twins!!!

Hi GreenMoney, sorry to hear you have the big C but you are very lucky I'd trade places with you.

Hope your hubby keeps his job, my hubby has lost his job twice in our marriage. Thank god he works for himself now.



Alison

Mine is bloody scary, I was shocked at being stage 3 I thought I'd be like you. Never mind I can't change things so I better get on with it. Start chemo and cold cap tomorrow 3pm. Help........

I love that Marie!  "kick the bastard to the curb"  

Alison .... it is all so scary and I will listen ... to you, to Marie, to everyone here.  I'll listen if you need to vent.  I'll listen if you need advice.  

I promise not to focus on ME but rather on US. I want to be there for you, all of you, and I want you to be there for me.   

sending love.... in a super big way!  Monkey ME

Im obviously across the pond, but Hello Ali. Sending you good thoughts and Happy Birthday to Sarah!! 

It's still sh*tty, though. Having to stay that late into the night? Damn. Are you alone? 

Yes I have (I am assuming you mean Shannon). She is gifted in being soooo real and having it show up in her writing, isnt she.

And she laces the bad with a gritty smile that leaves you smiling even when life is stinking.

Is he munching on good chocolate? I love good dark chocolate. A lot of the chocolate we get here in the States is awful if you ask me. Poor quality and waxy. Give me a good European chocolate any time any day. 

My mother had a mamogram two weeks ago which found calcium.  She then

had a second mamogram, a diagnostic one, a week or so later that showed clustered microcalcifications.   She now has to have a biopsy.

My question:  I have found conflicting information on the Internet about this -- some sites say that 80 percent of all biposies of clustered microcalcifications are benign, but other sites say it's just 65 percent. 

Please help clarify.  What have you found/read/heard?

Hello My New Best Friends!!!  

 I started writing to deal with my son's suicide, now I'm writing about my cancer.  But I'm a nut and silly stuff always happens to me so somehow, humor gets mixed in with all that.  Thank you for reading!  It feeds my ego BIG TIME.

 Alison!!! I finally fell asleep and had a dream I was in the chair next to you in the hospital, waiting for you to wake up.  I wanted to suprise you.  You were drooling (just a bit) but you looked peaceful.  I was amazed that you looked so pulled together - makeup in place, hair combed - (like you do in your picture).   Then the phone rang in your room and in reality and I woke up.  

Happy 16th Birthday Sarah!  guarantee you it will be a birthday she will never forget.  Mine just turned 21 so she no longer has to hide the fact that she drinks.  

 I hate waiting to... this is one big waiting game isn't it?  

I'll keep checking back to see how you are doing.  So let us know when you can.  Know we are all pulling for you!   MonkeyLove!!!  Shannon  

Well I'm still here and they are starting again. They have tried 6 times to find a vein. The first one was wasn't right. Have Found one in my inner arm what a shit tthis is. Had cold cap on for two hours now and still no chemo.

Ali,

Do you have the option of getting a port put in? That hunting for a vein to find for chemo is really is an awful experience. If you have the option for a port, seriously consider it. It sounds scary at first, but it will make the chemo part of the journey less "frightful and traumatic" (if thats really possible) if the adminstration goes more smoothly.

Think about it.  

GreenMonkey,

My understainding is it would say "infiltrating" or "invasive" if the DCIS had passed through the duct wall and it would be IDC and not DCIS.  Intra means inside of....as inside the duct.

Good luck with your appointments.