On a positive note...

Hi,

A few weeks ago my wife went for a screening mammogram in our rural town's annual mobile van. She's just turned 43, no history of breast cancer. Two days later called for a return visit for re-imaging. Now, I'm not the best at this sort of stuff. Venomous snakes, bush fires I can handle, but this got my good old health anxiety ringing it's own bell.

So...after a week of worry (from me!) she goes back and has the re-image. Technician said they always ask ladies back if it's their first mammogram. She conducts the scan and she points out the area they wanted to magnify. She described it as looking at the night sky! However the area they wanted to look at had a cluster of micro calcifications and she was called and was asked to have a biopsy the following week.

Now...this sent me bananas! I'm so lucky because my wife was so calm and collected and was more concerned about my well-being, which only compounded the situation. My first reaction...right, onto the Net and Googled micro-calcifications...my normal MO in these situations. You betcha...80% of cluster micro calcifications are benign and those that aren't are pre-cancerous or early stage DCIS (a treatable, non-invasive form of the condition), yet I wasn't convinced.

The more I read online, the more I started convincing myself it wasn't good. I think when I read this stuff I was actually scanning for the word cancer. I would stop, read and find some way to apply it to our situation...that my wife had cancer.

Biopsy results showed all clustered micro-calcifications were benign.

The Breastscreen clinic stated they are actually watching a UK study on clustered micro-calcifications in woman. Regularly monitoring patients to study the potential medical implications this condition may present.

My moral is, after this extended ramble...I was worried sick, and I mean sick for 4 weeks, abusing Dr Google for his heartlessness convincing myself of the worst.

80% of clustered micro-calcifications are benign.

Those that show a change are generally pre-cancerous or DCIS (non-invasive form) and can be successfully treated. I hope this post eases someone's anxiety, because when it was happening to me I would've loved to read this!

Geez...you ladies are strong!