Clustered pleomorphic micro calcifications

The testing and waiting is the hardest part. I had to do a lot of waiting, so I had no choice but to let go of the worry. Like April mentioned the majority of biopsies are B9. And those of us who fell into the 20% make it through treatment just fine.



It's overwhelming, I know, but you have a wonderful group here to lean on while you get tested. We all understand the roller coaster of emotions you might experience.



Best of luck and I'm pulling for you to get B9 results!

Just to back up what Annette has said, my sister had the same thing, Birads 4- she was called back, thoroughtly examined, imaged and biopsied and fell into the 80% who have benign results. They still keep a close eye on the area but she is fine. She doesn't post here because she is fit and well and getting on with her life. I am just one of the B9 ers who likes to come back and give a little support where I can. I hope this helps.

So excited for you Sue! Nice of you to stick around and offer support to others!

Isellrejer, so very very sorry that you got this bad news. I have the same diagnosis as you do, but opted for lumpectomy since it is so very early. Gonna start rads on 4/22. Please read all about DCIS (there is a post by Beesie) before making your decision. It is a very personal one and you may be reacting out of a knee jerk reaction. Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best. Lumpectomy v mastectomy has a very similar recurrence rate and there are many years of data to draw from. Hugs and so sorry you got the bad news!

Alwayssmiling, congratulations! You hit the jackpot this time. YAY!!!!!

Isellrejer and april485, I am sorry you have to go through this.  I wanted to thank you, and everyone else, for your posts on here.  Best of health and healing, and best of surgeons to both of you.

I had a pleomorphic microcalcification cluster, followed by stereotactic biopsy.  

I have no history of any breast or ovarian cancer in my family - not even cousins' cousins. So when I got the call that they needed more pics of my left breast, I just thought they hadn't gotten a clear picture the first time.  Then when they took so many images, and lots of close ups, I started to worry a little.  Next was the ultrasound, and I asked if the radiologist could show me my pics.  She did, and I was told about the microcalcs and they scheduled the biopsy.

I went home and promptly started researching.  They didn't give me a BI-RADS rating, but the "pleomorphic" suggested to me it was either a 4b or 4c.  I tried to not research anymore, and tried to keep my head in the right place.  I found myself making stupid mistakes, getting zombied out, etc.  So I went back to the computer and armed myself with knowledge.  This site (and others) has been very helpful.  I was armed with the knowledge that most likely I do not have cancer, but if I do there is support and options. And the likelihood of a complete cure was very high, even without chemo.  I recommend this site and those targeted at radiologists.  Most lay opinion sites are not really good sources of info, but may offer support.  If they don't make you feel better, don't go on 'em!

The biopsy process was a bit difficult, as I also have DJD in my neck.  I brought an ice pack for my neck, requested extra help positioning, and also brought vicodin.  It was, for me, very uncomfortable.  Without my neck problems, I think it wouldn't have been much worse than going to the dentist. 

But the absolutely worst part was the waiting, the not knowing.  My husband went with me to my ARNP visit yesterday to get the results.  At that point ANY news was welcomed, just so long as I could know SOMETHING.  I think I slept for about 20 minutes the night before.

I was pleasantly surprised with B9 results.  My ARNP had some questions about the type of cellular changes.  They are definitely benign and no hyperplasia was mentioined. I felt great, but I also felt like Rambo with 2 full bandouliers of ammo and lots more strapped to my belt.  All ammo'ed up and no one to fight! So we went to breakfast and laughed about it.

I know there are ladies reading this that are going through the same thing.  I hope you do have a partner or friend you can talk to, and that you have fun things to keep you busy while you wait.  The chances are very good that yours is also benign - 80% are.  Even if it isn't, the ladies on this site are a good source of support.  The cure rate for cancer that is found this way is close to 100%. 

And as far as lumpectomy/mastectomy decision goes, that has to be a very individual one.  There are pros and cons to both, and even after 2 weeks of study and worry, I really don't know what I'd do.  My sympathies to women making that decision. 

lsellrejer....So sorry that you are in this place.  I was also in that 20% who's calcifications turned out to be DCIS.  I hope that your surgery goes well and that your reconstruction and recovery are easy and quick.  I, too, am expecting a grand baby (my first!) this year and I am so grateful that all of this cancer stuff is behind me.  I had my yearly MRI to screen the breast that I kept this week, and all is well.  I had my son's wedding to look forward to the year that I had my dx. and surgery.  It helped me to look forward to such a happy event and helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Good luck to you and I hear that grand babies are the best medicine for whatever ails us!!

New member -- radiology report today for my mammogram call back states Pleomorphic microcalcifications BI RADS4.. etc etc.  Biopsy next week.  I turned to the University of Google for info (bad, I know!) and found this group... which I can see is a safe place to be for information.  I'm 47 yrs old -- with no family history of BC, just fibrocystic breast disease (all women on my mom's side).  While that was giving me some level of comfort before my mammogram today, I know the reality is that BC can pretty much strike anyone these days.  The reality is also that the stats are good... so no pity party here.    I do want to educate myself though. This is all new territory for me.  Can someone explain to me what hormone receptors are and what that's all about?  I've seen it mentioned everywhere here, and would appreciate some insight. 

Pesky- I was diagnosed with exactly the same this week, 42, and also waiting for biopsy. The radiologist said it is highly likely benign, but that there is a chance it is DCIS, more likely if the clusters followed a ductal pattern, which mine didn't. I am still in freak out mode, mostly because of high risk background. He also said that the fibroandenomas (from my fibrocystic breast disease) can cause the calcifications and since I'd also had two lumpectomies, they could be caused by the scar tissue.. No knowing until the biopsy, so just have to tough it out...We'll keep our fingers crossed for good news!

Thanks for the info on hormone receptors (Moderator)!  Very helpful!   

idontlikethis3....  (love your name- lol)   Thank you for sharing your benign results.  It does give me hope... and I'm feeling a bit "funky" right now.   The thyroid biopsy hurt (the lidocain shot was awful) ...   can anyone just say one way or the other if this biopsy is going to be awful?  LOL  Maybe put it on a scale of 1 - 10.  10 being med-less childbirth and 1 being a thumb jab for a blood test....   any advice on how to have an out of body experience so I won't even know I'm there? That'd be good...  LOL

Mine wasn't bad I did feel a hard jab nothing unbareable thou ! I did have 2 glasses of champagne too before i went lol just to take the edge off !!! Good luck to you

Of course you are scared. We all have been. Better than 80% of biopsies are benign, so fingers crossed for you. The waiting is the worst, so here's hoping you get your results quickly.

I've had two excisioal biopsies prior to this, that ended up being lumpectomies for fibroadenomas. The second one was more uncomfortable, but not that bad, probably a two-three...