microcalification breast cancer

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vonboldt
vonboldt Member Posts: 2
edited October 2014 in Just Diagnosed
microcalification breast cancer
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  • vonboldt
    vonboldt Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2014


    Hi   Just new to signing in.  I am wanting information & thoughts on question to ask the doctor/oncologist about microcalification cancer.   My daughter just had a lumpectomy.  The biopsy came back with the edges all clear.  The way the surgeon told her was that the surrounding cells are still considered "pre cancerous".    She doesn't understand this & neither do I.   Is a recent single mom & as many people are--at a loss for words when you hear "surrounding cells are still considered pre cancerous"     She worries now she should have gone for the radical mastectomy rather than the lumpectomy.  Would not the MRI have shown other cells as pre cancerous?  The spot that  removed was either pre cancer or cancer & in the end was cancer.  Is it possible for the radiologist to tell that the other cells are NOT cancer at this time?  I have been searching & searching the web & have found nothing that satisfies me.  Can anyone give me some help or questions my daughter should be asking the oncologist?  She is 48 yrs old.

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  • new_direction
    new_direction Member Posts: 449
    edited October 2014

    hi sorry you are here and sorry for your daughter.

    It sounds to me as if they got "it all" when you write the edges were clear. Then it's just confusing why the surgeon is talking about remaining pre-cancerous cells.

    Maybe the surgeon was referring to the MRI which may have shown microcalcifications - these are rated on the birads scale I think the birads 1-3 is normally considered benign, while 4 could be pre-cancerous (ductal carcinoma in situ) and 5 are likely malignant. I would ask if they didn't remove all the breast tissue which had microcalcifications - and if so why not.

    The diagnosis of cancer can only be made from a biopsy so from the MRI alone they can only talk about what is likely.

    Could it be that what they meant is that there likely is "invisible" spreading of the cancer in form of either single cells or small cell clusters which are still too small to be seen on imaging - and therefore the reason why many treatment plans still contain chemo although there are clear margins?


     

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2014

    Calcifications aren't cancer. You generally (there are other kinds, but these are the most common) have ductal or lobular cancer. Calcifications in particular patters are clues on imaging that cancer might be present, but the calcifications aren't the cancer.

    What the doctor is discussing is that though there are clean margins for the cancer, there is either atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia (most likely) cells in the margins. These atypical cells are regarded as a high risk condition for developing cancer or sometimes a precursor to cancer. 

    ADH & ALH are not normally visible on any kind of imaging. They are generally found as an incidental finding on a biopsy or during a surgical biopsy.  It is not at all unusual that someone who has developed cancer would have these cells. 

    She should just ask her doctor what kind of atypical findings she has and what the recommended treatment is. I would think whatever further treatment she has for her breast cancer would address this, as the cancer "trumps" the atypical cell findings.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2014

    Hi vonbolt, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us!

    You may also want to take a look at the Breast Cancer 101section from the main site, which is designed to help you sort through all of the information on our site to find what is more relevant to you right now.

    Also reliable information on DCIS—Ductal Carcinoma In Situ where you'll learn about symptoms,
    diagnosis, treatment, etc.

    The surgeon may have been indicating that although the margins were clear, which is very good news, that a course of radiation therapy is needed after many lumpectomies. After reading here, you'll be better armed to ask quality questions as "knowledge is power" and the more your daughter understands, the better will be her ability to make critical decisions regarding her treatment.

    We hope this helps! Your daughter is lucky to have concenred family behind her at this time.

    The
    Mods

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