Depressed

Oh, velle, that does stink! I'm so sorry. There's not much I can say. I had two areas of DCIS and I needed a MX too - definitely not what I wanted. But I was lucky that both my areas of DCIS were discovered at the same time. I'd be venting too (well that's the polite word for it) if the second area had been discovered just after I finished treatment.

The best I can do is send lots of ((((HUGS)))). You will get though this. But for now you have every right to vent and every reason to be ticked!

Wow Velle, what an awful thing for her to say, and on top of that, you hadn't even had the biopsy yet. You were probably in shock that you had to have another biopsy on that side, and that's what she said! So sorry that you are headed to mx. I don't have any answer either, as to how the area either could have been missed or how it could have developed so rapidly (from June to October). The only thing I can say is that sometimes DCIS doesn't show up on imaging, and you are right, the purpose of the radiation is to zap the remaining stray cells, so there shouldn't have been such an early recurrence/new primary.

Hugs to you!!

Hang in there. We are all hear to support you.

Velle, I am so sorry that you have experienced such crass "professionals", I am currently sitting here recovering from a BMX because on my one year cancerversary, another cancer was found in the other breast. I am depressed, tired of looking at drains, and angry that I did all the things I was supposed to do an still developed cancer again. The nurse navigator at our breast health clinic is a very nice person, but I so badly wanted to correct her when she told me..."that cancer is now gone...it has been removed and you are free of it". No, I believe I will have this demon around for the rest of my life. It may not have my breasts any more, but I am certain that it will find somewhere else to surprise me next year.

Yes, you should complain all the way to the top about the radiologist. He/she was way out of line to make a comment like that. One thing cancer has done is bring out the angry fighter.

I wish you positive energy and hope you can make a decision that you are comfortable with. ((HUGS))

Corky - not Velle, but I can answer your question. Yes, there are different types of calcifications and what makes them suspicious or not is size, shape, and pattern. Most concerning are tiny ones that branch in lines (following ducts), clusters can be a problem too (what I had). Larger ones scattered evenly throughout the breast are not usually cause for concern.

My mother too had calcifications for >20 some years before being diagnosed at age 75 (a month before I was!). They saw a shadowed area that turned out to be IDC, but while they were doing the biopsy, they decided to check a different area of calcifications that were very mildly suspicious (without the other concern they might have waited and watched with those) and that turned out to be DCIS.

velle, I'm glad that your doctor is had a talk with the radiologist. She overstepped in a big way and made matters worse. Very unprofessional. I wish you the best on the next leg of this journey.