1 inch Radial Scar w/ Calcification..could it be cancer?

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Dearjaimee
Dearjaimee Member Posts: 16
edited June 2015 in Benign Breast Conditions

Two weeks ago I found a lump in my left breast. Last week I saw my primary physician to get it checked out. She referred me to a breast health and research center, where within two days I had 2 mammograms, an ultrasound, and an ultrasound assisted core needle biopsy.

The results came back benign, and my radiologist told me the lump I found wasn't a tumor, but instead a radial scar covered in calcification. She urged me to have surgery to remove the entire mass so it can be biopsied and made sure that it is not hiding any malignant cells.

I have a consultation with a surgeon next week where we will go over my reports and scans, and schedule surgery to remove the radial scar.

I've tried researching as much as I can on radial scars since it is something I had never heard of prior to last week. A lot of the info I'm reading is very contradoctory on whether radial scars have a direct correlation with breast cancer, if they are a precursor to breast cancer, or if it's something I shouldn't worry too much about.

I'm wondering if anyone has gone through the process of radial scar removal, and what their results were? Did it come back totally benign?

I've read that the average size of radial scars are between 1-2 centimeters, which is somewhat alarming to me being my radial scar is 1 inch-considerably larger than most cases I'm reading about them.

I'm 24 years old, have never had any breast abnormalities in the past, so this is all very new to me. Any information would be greatly appreciated!!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2015

    We aren´t sure that this is helpful, but you may want to review this page as well: Certain Breast Changes. We are thinking of you.

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  • Ddw79
    Ddw79 Member Posts: 533
    edited June 2015

    Yes I recently underwent a biopsy for very same findings. Unfortunately biopsy was not cancer but not benign either . I have a condition called ADH which accompanies radial scar and calcifications. But I am betting that you don't have ADH if try did not see it on initial biopsy. My stereotactic showed it

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited June 2015

    I had a radial scar removed back in 2009. It was discovered during a stereotactic biopsy for microcalcifications. The excisional biopsy surgery was very easy and the results were totally benign. The surgery was less than 30 minutes and hurt less than the original biopsy. I read a lot about radial scars back then and there were arguments about whether it increased your risk of breast cancer or not. I was diagnosed with BC in 2014 but in my OTHER breast. I don't think the radial scar had anything to do with me getting cancer years later in the other one. Best wishes to you.

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  • Dearjaimee
    Dearjaimee Member Posts: 16
    edited June 2015

    Juliecc thanks for sharing your story! I think that's the tough part, reading about radial scars and having such different info all over the place..it's tough to know what is actual fact.

    When I went in to get the lump checked out, they did a diagnostic mammogram on my left breast, but not my right since nothing was felt on that side. Do you think I should get the right side checked out, just to be safe?

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited June 2015

    Your doctor would have to approve getting your other side mammogramed which might be tough. I remember over the years I was denied when I asked my doctor for a diagnostic mammogram instead of a regular one when I felt a lump, or they were sonograming one side and not the other. It's worth asking for if it gives you peace of mind. I thik they don't want to expose you to excess radiaion if it isn't warranted.

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  • Dearjaimee
    Dearjaimee Member Posts: 16
    edited June 2015

    My doctor is the one that ordered a diagnostic mammogram over a regular one. She has diagnosed 2 women over the past 3 months who are both in their early 30's with breast cancer, so I don't think she wanted to take a chance on missing it with me if I had been diagnosed with it.

    I think once the radial scar is removed and biopsied I'll have more peace of mind, as long as the biopsy is benign. It just amazes me that something mimics breast cancer so well on a mammogram! My radiologist thought I 100% had breast cancer after seeing my scans which is why everything has been moving so quick.

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