Wife has single cluster or microcalcifications. Worried sick :(

ConcernedHubbers
ConcernedHubbers Member Posts: 14
edited August 2017 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

Hi all. This is my first post here. Yesterday, my wife received word that there was a .8cm cluster of calcifications in he breast. We managed to get a more detailed MRI the same day and they said they want to do a biopsy. The biopsy isn't until the Thursday after next (Aug 10th).

My wife has a family history. Both her mother and her grandmother had cancer. Her mother beat it twice.

I know there's a good chance it's b9, but the anxiety is gut-wrenching. I'm researching obsessively, which is not helpful. I'm already mentally in the future imagining her passing away. I'm trying desperately to stay in the present and not catastrophize. Any significant others relate?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2017

    Dear ConcernedHubbers,

    Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that these changes in your wife's breast have brought you here but glad that you reached out. While you have posted in the right forum for those who are caregivers, the fact that your wife doesn't have a breast cancer diagnosis yet leads us to suggest that you might be better posting in the Not Diagnosed but Worried Forum. Your concerns seems better suited there and more likely to receive a response. Let us know if you need any help or if you want us to move this for you. The MOds

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited August 2017

    The good news is calcifications are usually considered pre-cancer. Lumpectomy and more frequent mammos are usually the treatment of choice possibly in combination with anti-hormonal therapy. Either way the biopsy goes, genetic testing should be seriously considered especially with the family history (and should be covered by insurance). Taking care of things prophylactically (anti-hormone therapy or even mastectomy)may be an option to put on the table if it comes back positive.

    The biopsy will definitely tell you more...they will need to make sure there isn't any small cancer hiding in the calcifications. MRIs are more sensitive too and so it's a good thing her doctors have chosen to go down this path. The other piece of good news is that if the biopsy comes back positive for cancer it will likely be early stage which has typically better outcomes. I hope all goes well with the biopsy and the pathology. We are here if you or your wife need us after...

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited August 2017

    Actually, most of us develop calcifications in our breasts as we age. It is only when they form specific patterns that they MAY indicate underlying breast disease. Calcifications themselves are not benign or not benign (or pre-cancer). It is the surrounding tissue that is the concern. Most biopsies come back benign, It is way too early in the process to be worried sick.

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited August 2017

    So sorry you are here worried about your wife's breast health. I agree with MelissaDallas, there are patterns of calcifications that are more typically "normal" or malignant, but the biopsy will give the definitive answer as to what is going on. 70-80% of biopsies end up with b9 results, so this is too early to "imagining her passing away". Try your best to take this one step at a time. I do know that is made more difficult by the family history, and Lula is right, getting genetic testing may help better understand your wife's personal risk for bc. Good luck for b9 findings!


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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited August 2017

    The original poster said his wife's mother and grandmother had cancer. He didn't specify at what ages or what kinds of cancer. not much information to be recommending genetic testing for

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  • ConcernedHubbers
    ConcernedHubbers Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2017

    Sorry for posting in the wrong forum. I thought this was for family of people at any point in the process.

    Thanks for the feedback and support, everyone. My wife has a very strong family history and just did her genetic testing today. The shape of the microcalcifications is a .8mm cluster, which we were told is suspicious enough for a biopsy. Birad-4.

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  • Shellsatthebeach
    Shellsatthebeach Member Posts: 316
    edited August 2017

    I had a biopsy due to microcalcification many years ago. Two doctors looked at it and said they didn't like the way it looked. Darn scared the heck out of me. Ended up being fine. They were most likely due to breastfeeding in the past.

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