Extensive Calcifications

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BlueGinger
BlueGinger Member Posts: 5
edited December 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi, have any of you had so many calcifications in a mammogram that they're too many to even count? In November I had a mammogram and ultrasound to check for cause of pain on my right side. That came out completely normal as well as an MRI that did not show anything abnormal. However, the mammogram showed numerous calcifications on my left side.

Have any of you had a lot of calcifications- if so, how did it turn out?

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

    Hi, and welcome to Breastcancer.org.

    It sounds as though your medical team is being responsive and acting properly to assess what they've found, and that's a great. Anyway, we recommend you to read the article What Mammograms Show: Calcifications, Cysts, Fibroadenomas, from our main site. It reinforces that there are often calcifications that are not cancerous, including some that are especially common among young women. Only your biopsy results will be the decider.

    Waiting is not easy but beware of general searches on the internet as there is a lot of poor and inaccurate info out there.

    We hope this eases your mind while you wait for the results. We know it is a tough time, but everyone here has gone through the dreaded 'waiting' and sympathises.

    Best wishes for B9 results,

    The Mods
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  • alizbeth
    alizbeth Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2014

    I had a mammogram in April that showed a linear pattern of calcifications approximately 4 cm in total length.  A biopsy confirmed DCIS.  It was recommended I have a mastectomy based on the extent of calcifications (4 cm) and due to the fact that my breast size was also quite small.  Pathology following my mastectomy found not all of the calcifications observed were DCIS; however, at least 2.5 cm in that same area were.  They also found two additional areas of DCIS that did not show up on the mammogram.  I had my mastectomy in early June followed by reconstruction.  I had my final exchange surgery in October and am doing very well and overall pleased with the ultimate results of reconstruction.  It is nice being on the other side of this experience, but I was where you are now.  As the moderators said and from my own experience, it is possible the calcifications observed are not DCIS at all.  I hope that will be the case for you.

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  • BlueGinger
    BlueGinger Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2015

    Thank you Moderators. There are so many stories of calcifications, but I haven't seen much with people that had calcifications everywhere. Hoping maybe someone else had the same experience- seeing it all over.

    Alizabeth- I'm glad that your surgeries and recovery went well! Thank you for the encouragement!

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited December 2014

    blue-I did have calcifications everywhere, which did turn out to be DCIS. I had a small invasive component as well and I am doing well and looking forward to the holidays! You are in the hardest time right now, the wondering and waiting. I have found this place to be my strength and am so grateful for everyone on this site.

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited December 2014

    blue-I did have calcifications everywhere, which did turn out to be DCIS. I had a small invasive component as well and I am doing well and looking forward to the holidays! You are in the hardest time right now, the wondering and waiting. I have found this place to be my strength and am so grateful for everyone on this site.

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  • zeynep-a
    zeynep-a Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2014

    I just had a mammogram showing multi calcifications spread over 12 cm are, and on my way to a Mastectomy.

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  • BlueGinger
    BlueGinger Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2015

    Zeynep-a- Did it test to be DCIS?

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  • ShaneOak
    ShaneOak Member Posts: 206
    edited December 2014

    BlueGinger, first of all wishing you the best outcome with all of this. Waiting for the results is hard. Be with people that make you feel loved and keep busy. I too had a lot of linear calcifications that did turn out be DCIS. My breasts were also too tiny to small for anything but a mastectomy. You've found a great place for support because we understand what you're going through.

    Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way. Keep us posted.

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  • BlueGinger
    BlueGinger Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2015

    Thank you ShaneOak.

    My results came yesterday and it turned out benign. Still have to go back in another 5 months or so for another ultrasound. I should be relieved, and in some ways I am, but in other ways I feel really angry and still scared.

    I still don't understand what the cause of the calcifications were and whether it's something that will become a problem in the future or not. I feel angry to have gone through 2 months of worry and painful tests and all the waiting for each of them. My breast still hurts from the core biopsy and it's just a reminder of everything. And then I feel scared wondering the calcifications are going to turn into something in the future and whether they'd catch it in time.

    I should be happy and yet I cry every time I think of how stressful the past couple months have been. I'm so glad it wasn't cancer. I wish I'd never gone through any of this though. It all seems selfish when others are dealing with the real thing. I'm sorry. : (

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  • ShaneOak
    ShaneOak Member Posts: 206
    edited December 2014

    B9 news is really great and I'm so glad for you! This is a hard process and you are entitled to how ever you feel through it. There's no right way, trust me :)

    you should find someone to explain the results to you though so you understand. So happy for your great news!!

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  • BlueGinger
    BlueGinger Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2015

    Thank you ShaneOak. Friends and family are happy and I'm just crying. Makes no sense. Maybe when the physical pain heals my emotions will heal as well.

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited December 2014

    About a year before being diagnosed with breast cancer, I had a uterine cancer scare, which after biopsy turned out to be benign, and for the first month or two I felt very much as you do now. It was like everyone expected the anxiety and worry to magically disappear the moment they said it was benign, but instead I felt angry, scared, and frustrated. Those feelings did go away, but not overnight, so I think what you are going through is quite normal, and you need to give yourself time to recover from what was a very stressful situation.


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2014

    BlueGinger----calcifications are really quite common, when they are large and scattered (macro) they are generally benign, when they are small and tightly clustered or linear, (micro) they are sometimes suspicious. But even then, they can still be benign. If they are found to be benign, they don't turn cancerous. So glad you got good news, it may take a while to sink in and relax, you've been thru a scary situation.

    Anne

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