Microcalifications - can it be cancer other than DCIS

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zparrot61
zparrot61 Member Posts: 6
edited August 2015 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi -

I just had my diagnostic mammogram and was given BIRADS 5. I have microcalifications in a cluster that were not present on a previous mammogram.

What I seem to be reading is that microcalifications are DCIS. Is it possible for the microcalification results to be more invasive cancer like Stage I-IV?

Thanks so much.

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

    Welcome to you zparrot61,

    We are sorry that you are experiencing breast changes but glad that you reached out here. Are you scheduled to have a biopsy? That would give you more information. While you are waiting to hear from others you may want to check out this link to What Mammograms Show. The following is information from that link, "Groups of small calcifications huddled together, called "clusters of microcalcifications," are associated with extra breast cell activity. Most of the time this is non-cancerous extra cell growth, but sometimes clusters of microcalcifications can occur in areas of early cancer. Keep us posted on what you learn. We are hoping for a benign result for you.

    The Mods


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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited August 2015


    Hi zparrot61,

    The short answer is yes. Look at microcalcifications as a possible by-product of cancer activity. However, you need a biopsy to 1) rule out or confirm cancer, and 2) if cancer, see what type and extent. Of course, more testing would be required to get a more accurate diagnosis if biopsy results are malignancy.

    Good luck and I hope your your biopsy will turn out to be benign.

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited August 2015

    Hi! I had suspicious microcalcifications and a birads 4 rating. My biopsy revealed no DCIS, instead it was a Stage 1 ILC with LCIS, so it is possible for the biopsy of microcalcs to find invasive cancer. I will say that the doctor was surprised with the result...they were expecting DCIS.
    Good luck on your biopsy. Expect the best result, not the worst.
    MsP
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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited August 2015

    I too had a cluster of microcalcifications and was Bi-rads 4b. While I had extensive DCIS, I also had a small amount of IDC, and some microinvasion of my DCIS. So it is possible. Remember that many biopsies however are benign. Good luck and I hope you get good results.

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  • Ddw79
    Ddw79 Member Posts: 533
    edited August 2015

    I had microcalcifications show up on Mammogram last winter with birads 4. I had stereotactic and then surgical biopsy . The dx at that time was ADH so not yet cancer or DCIS

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2015

    I had microcalcifications seen on mammo, given a BIRADS 5 (i think they thought it was invasive bc or at least DCIS), it turned out to be LCIS. Microcalcs that are tightly clustered or linear are more concerning, but even they can turn out benign at times. Praying you get good benign results.


    Anne

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited August 2015

    I had micro calcs and was pure DCIS. Although it was much more extensive then they thought at biopsy time.

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  • DSW1976
    DSW1976 Member Posts: 118
    edited August 2015

    I had microcalcifications birad 5 last sept . Biopsy confirmed IDC . BMX confirmed IDC and DCIS. Good luck. 

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  • RosieMjdtrt
    RosieMjdtrt Member Posts: 30
    edited August 2015

    Hi parrot,

    Sorry you are at this difficult stage... The waiting stage. This is a great place to not only educate yourself, but to help kill time too. I had calcs that were DCIS. MRI suggested possible invasion but it couldn't be confirmed until lumpectomy. Sure enough, invasive tumor was found. I hope it turns out benign for you. Sometimes a DCIS diagnosis is more confusing to approach, so follow a treatment that you are most comfortable with.

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  • zparrot61
    zparrot61 Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2015

    Thank you all for your responses. It is helpful to hear from other people. I had the biopsy and they found another cluster so took an sample from that area also. I get the results today. Waiting is the worst.....

    Thanks again for your support. I will keep you posted!

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  • zparrot61
    zparrot61 Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2015

    Hi all - Received diagnosis. Both biopsies came back positive for DCIS. Now I need to start looking for a surgeon and team in the NYC/NJ area!

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited August 2015

    Sorry for the news zparrot. 1st step is to find a medical team you trust. We will all be here to support you.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited August 2015

    as scary and overwhelming as it may seem it gets easier once treatment starts.

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited August 2015

    Six months after my first mastectomy, I also had a BIRADS 5 because of microcalcifications in my remaining good breast. Because I was so asymmetrical and in pain from the back, shoulder and neck muscle issues from the asymmetry and wanted as much of a reduction on the other breast, I opted to go straight to having a simple mastectomy .

    All the slicing and dicing only found evidence of benign tissue as common in an aging breast.

    Hoping for the best for you.

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