New Calcifications after DCIS with Lumpectomy and Rads

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Wallen
Wallen Member Posts: 9
edited August 2017 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

In 2008 I was diagnosed with DCIS. After a lumpectomy and 7 weeks of radiation, I was pronounced cancer free. At yearly mammogram in Jan 2012, new calcifications were found. I was told there was nothing unusual looking about the new calcifications other than they were about 4cm outside of the lumpectomy bed. If they had been seen on an 85 year old, they would think nothing of it. Due to my history, they want to do a biopsy to be safe. I'm scared of a recurrence. Has anyone gone through this?

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  • LWA
    LWA Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2012

    Hi, Wallen--

    I have not (yet) but can imagine how you must be feeling. I'm hoping that when they said there was nothing unusual about the new calcifications, that meant they did not fit the profile of calcifications that can turn out to be early stage BC. As you no doubt know, some breast calcifications have about a 20 percent chance of being cancer, while others are not a cause for concern. Hopefully yours are the latter, but they just want to be extra cautious, and I hope that when they do the biopsy, they will be able to confirm all is well. Please keep us posted.

    Linda

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  • Wallen
    Wallen Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2012

    Thanks LWA--



    Yes, the doctor did say that by looking at the mammogram and magnification, that there was nothing there telling them that the calcifications were cancerous. Then again there was nothing telling them that they weren't. She really didn't know what they were, but they were being extra aggressive with the biopsy to make sure due to my history. It's the waiting that's making me crazy....

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  • missymeg
    missymeg Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2012

    I'm going through the same thing...had my lumpectomy back in 2010 (although I chose to not do radiation or Tamox), but they found new suspicious calcifications on my last mammo, a couple of weeks ago. So I'm scheduled for a surgical biopsy in a couple of weeks. (They can't do a stereotatic biopsy due to the location of the cells. Plus, I figure they can just remove the calcifications and do a lumpectomy at the same time, so I don't have to go back for surgery in case the biopsy showed DCIS). Killing two birds?

    These new calcifications were in the same area as the original surgery. They may possibly be benign, said 'could be associated with the scarring from original surgery'. But they won't know until they take them out. It is possible they are new, or they just didn't get them all the first time, even though I had clear margins.

    I will say it is disappointing to have more calc's show up. Sorry you are going thru it too...let's hope for the best, and that it won't keep happening.

    Megan

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  • Wallen
    Wallen Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2012

    Hoping the best for us both Megan. Had biopsy today. Should find out results Thursday or Friday at the latest.

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  • SallyGal
    SallyGal Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2012

    Please let us know what the results are.  I can appreciate your concern.  I just had my lumpectomy yesterday and hope to never hear the "C" word again.  One of my questions for my oncologist is what are the chances of the cancer recurring.  I guess they don't have a crystal ball, but wish they did.  Good luck; just said a prayer for you.

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  • Wallen
    Wallen Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2012

    Got results this morning. Not good. Mainly DCIS but with two early focal points of invasive. Looking at mastectomy. Any advice?

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2012

    Crap.  Not the news that you - or any of us hoping for the best of you - wanted to hear.  

    Having had the radiation before, a mastectomy does appear to be your only option now.  And you will have to have an SNB to check the nodes.  Until the surgery is done and you have all the information about your diagnosis, including the exact amount of invasive cancer and the hormone status (particularly HER2), it's impossible to know what the rest of the treatment plan will be. Hopefully you have just a couple of tiny foci of invasion and no nodal involvement, in which case the mastectomy might be the only treatment you require.  But a larger area of invasion could change that, as could HER2+ status or nodal involvement.

    Well, these results weren't want you wanted but hoping for only good news from this point forward! 

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  • RetiredLibby
    RetiredLibby Member Posts: 1,992
    edited February 2012

    I'm so sorry to hear this. I started to post earlier but didn't want to scare you. I was first dx in 2007 with DCIS. Lumpectomy, re-excision, rads and tamox ... Until 7/2011 when I was dx with a recurrence (maybe a new primary but in the same place, same boob so who knows?). I opted for a BMX with immediate DIEP recon in August. Since I am still pre-meno at 54, I will be having my ovaries out in late spring of this year (Stage II DIEP surgery is in 2 weeks). I opted for BMX because I wasn't taking any chances. The cancer switch is clearly on, and I have a bad family hx .... Maternal grandmother, mother, maternal aunt and sister (who is now Stage IV). Look at your risk factors, get a BRCA test if you haven't had one (after my recurrence I also had a BART), see if you can get an Oncotype test .... I am just so sorry you have to go through it again.



    ETA: And what Beesie said! (waving hi at Beesie). Her advice is always spot-on!


    L

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  • Wallen
    Wallen Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2012

    What's the recovery time after a mastectomy?

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  • RetiredLibby
    RetiredLibby Member Posts: 1,992
    edited February 2012

    It depends on many factors -- uni- or bilateral, whether you have reconstruction and what kind, your overall general health, your age, etc. My recovery was lengthy because of special circumstances (a DIEP, asthma, 20 hours under general anesthesia, free bleeder). My breast surgeon said 2 weeks if I didn't have recon.

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  • Wallen
    Wallen Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2012

    Beesie, what treatment plan did you have after your diagnosis?

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2012

    Wallen, I had a microinvasion - just a tiny 1mm area of IDC - and a lot of DCIS.  The amount of DCIS meant that I needed to have a mastectomy, and the microinvasion meant that I needed to have an SNB.  I had a single mastectomy with implant reconstruction.  I discussed Tamoxifen with my oncologist - the benefit would mostly have been protection of my remaining breast.  My oncologist actually recommended against Tamox given the low absolute benefit and after much research, I agreed.  So surgery was my only treatment. 

    I found recovery from the single MX to be very easy. I had virtually no pain after the first few hours (and I didn't feel it then because I was on morphine from my operation until bedtime that evening). I was restricted in my arm movements for 6 weeks - no heavy lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, stretching, etc.. I could have been fully mobile sooner but my plastic surgeon warned me that the risk is to the incision (incisions don't fully heal for 6 weeks) and I didn't want to screw anything up.  So I was careful for the full time.  But with one 'good' side, I wasn't all that restricted in what I could do.  And I felt fine - I was out taking walks by the 2nd day after surgery.  I was driving within a couple of weeks - the main issue with driving is backing up because turning your head to check behind you strains your chest muscle.  

    I will caution that although I found the single MX to be easy, I know that there are some other women who have a much more difficult time.  So it really is an individual thing.  

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  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited February 2012

    Wallen...I am so sorry you got this news...

    I wanted to pipe up here.  I had a umx without recon in October.  I had almost no pain.  I was walking down the road 2 days after surgery.  I was showering 5 days after surgery.  I was running 3 weeks after surgery.  I was sleeping on my surgery side about 4 weeks after surgery.  I was driving 2.5 weeks after surgery, but had the same turning to back up issues that Beesie mentioned.  I began PT 2.5 weeks after surgery and was very glad I did because it helped me regain full range of motion and helped me, I think, avoid lymphedema.  There is a very low risk of lymphedema with a snb, but as the women on the LE boards will tell you, it does happen.  I was back to work at 3.5 weeks, but had to take several half and whole days off.

    I have limited sensation across the incision,  but it is steadily increasing.  Now, at 4 months post-op, my energy is at about 90% of pre-op energy levels.  I am a runner, teach full time and have two young children.  Before surgery, I used 100% of my energy, so I have a pretty good measure of how much I have recovered...and it isn't 100% yet, but getting there.

    I am at peace with my new body, as is my husband and family. 

    So...that is my experience with recovering from umx.  I cannot speak to the reconstruction, though.  I wish you all of the best as you go through this next phase.  I am so sorry you have to deal with it.

    Claire

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited February 2012

    I had a option of getting a lumpectomy or mastectomy and it was during my wedding plans, so I thought about lumpectomy to preserve the breast, becoming a new bride, I choose L mast and I was happy with my decision for I am now 18 yrs cancer free(Praise God), your choice but give it lots of thought,  msphil (idc, stage 2, 0/3 nodes involved, L mast. chem and rads and 5 yr on Tamoxifen.  God Bless 

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  • lea321
    lea321 Member Posts: 63
    edited February 2012

    Hi Wallen, so sorry you are going through this again.  reading your post gave me chlls.  I too was dx in 2008 (July) had lumpectomy and 7 wks rads, and the doctor just called me telling me new calcs showed up on my mammo.  same breast.  just can't help but think the worst, and like you said, the waiting is the hardest part.  I don't go back for 2 weeks,  But, if it is cancer again, I will have a mastectomy.  I wish you the very, very best, keep us posted on your progress.

    ((hugs))

    Lea

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  • missymeg
    missymeg Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2012

    Wallen - I'm sorry you got bad news. I was hoping for better for you. I was on pins and needles myself for 7 days waiting for my post-surgery results (had surgery on 2/6/12). I was pretty much expecting it to be DCIS again, but was surprised to find out it was all benign/scar tissue and fibrocystic changes. No cancer this time. The frustrating part is that I had to go through surgery again, and the surgeon basically took half my boob. She removed the 'suspicious calcifications' and also removed a 'dense mass' to be safe, since I told her I did not want to come back for more surgery. Wish there was an easier way for docs to be sure if something is scar tissue or not, without surgery. If it turned out to be cancer again, I would probably opt for mastectomy too.

    I wish you the best in your decision, and hope recovery is fast. Lots of tea, rest, favorite DVDs, and See's Valentine chocolates.

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  • herewegoagain59
    herewegoagain59 Member Posts: 13
    edited August 2017

    I need some advice.I had DCIS in 2015.In 2016 they saw something on mammo had a biopsy turned out to be a fat necrosis..Ok I was relieved..Now this mammo showed thickened skin in biopsy area with some branching in this area this being at the 6 o'clock position then some irregular densities at 4 oclock with branching.so they set me up for MRI with contrast..I am scared.so scared any opinions..I had lump and rads on left breast

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  • aquilegia
    aquilegia Member Posts: 83
    edited August 2017

    Wallen - There's a lot of info on the other forums here about mastectomy, breast reconstruction, implants, etc. It seems horribly scary until the realization sets in that there's no good alternative, then you just have to weigh the options. My only advice is don't let the doctors rush you into a decision - even with some invasive cancer, this isn't an emergency that requires immediate surgery. Take a while to make up your mind what you want to do . And if you have a mastectomy, it's just an unpleasant period to get through, then you will be healthy again.

    Recovery time after a mastectomy depends on what else you have done, and of course individuals vary a lot in how fast they recover. Maybe 2-3 weeks off work for a simple mastectomy, a month or two if you have reconstruction with tissue from elsewhere on the body. I had a DIEP (abdominal fat transplant) and was back at work part time in 4 weeks. That's faster than most, though.

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  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited August 2017

    Wallen - Did you say you had radiation in2008? If so bs may recommend diep due to the tissue damage from radiation. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone out there that may know more about this than I do. I almost had a mx but did lumpectomy instead. Had a few ps tell me they would not use implants on me due to radiation

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited August 2017

    Hey you guys, Wallen had her recurrence back in 2012 :)

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