Small cluster microcalcifications

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sagelady
sagelady Member Posts: 48
edited February 2019 in Waiting for Test Results

Mammo every year. Small (3-4) spots in one cluster. Haf cluster for the last 2 years. This year a couple more in that area. I'm 60 years old. And TOTALLY FREAKED OUT!! I go for stereotactic bx tomorrow. Not worried about the procedure... just the results. They said they will place a marker, is this because they feel it is cancer?

I am totally beside myself with fear. Anybody had an increase in numbers in their cluster and it was benign?

Any positive stories would be a comfort

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    Hello Sagelady!

    Welcome! The biopsy clip is only to mark the spot so they will know that is the area that has been studied when you have your future mammograms. It does not mean that they think it is cancer. I had a biopsy for microcalcifications come back benign. They were “new” so hadn’t changed or grown but the doctor didn’t like the way they presented. As I said they ended up being benign. At the mammogram one year later there was no concern at all in that area. Most biopsies do come back benign. Hoping that yours will too! Hopefully you’ll get results quickly and be able to move on from this. I know that it is very scary to wait for tests and test results. Just remember that the odds are in your favor!

    Hugs!



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  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited February 2019

    Hi Sagelady! I spent 2 years getting mammograms every six months for 3 calcifications, like you. At the first one, the radiologist said that he would be watching to see if they change shape or multiply. He said he is concerned when it becomes a cluster of 6-10 of them. To echo what wigging2000 said, the titanium clip just marks the spot. If it turns out to benign, it will show up at future mammograms to show that the area has been observed and already checked out. You'll see by my signature that I was diagnosed last summer with breast cancer. It was on the other side, ironically. The odds are in your favor; something like 80% of biopsies are negative. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow! Check back and update us when you can.

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    thank you wigging and green harbor...you got me through the night. Went for bx this morning. Procedure wasn’t bad at all. Staff were very reassuring. In fact the nurse in with me had a bx a couple of days ago and is waiting results for new cluster microcars.how she can even work waiting for results is beyond me! Tech that took my post procedure pics said 85-90% of these come back fine. And she was there through the procedure and was looking at my mammo pics through the whole procedure for mammo set up for the bx.

    Now the wait begins.i know them looking at pics is not diagnostic. But made me feel better. Starting tomorrow, I’m sure my heart will stop with every phone call. I’ve already gone to the worse case scenario over and over in my mind. Anxiety over test results has always been a huge problem for me. Because of past history in myself and family, I come by it honestly. Have actually been diagnosed with PTSD for anxiety related to test results.


    Thank you all for your kind support. I spend my time glued to this site looking for positive outcomes. ( better than Dr Google ) LO

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  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited February 2019

    It’s good to hear from you, sagelady. Glad to hear that things went smoothly. I hope you have support from those around you as you wait for results. Hugs!

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  • RowWellandLive
    RowWellandLive Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2019

    Hi sagelady while you are waiting I have a positive story that may give you comfort. I had a biopsy for micro calcifications in 2005 that were benign. 5 years later I had a second biopsy for more calcifications near that same area. Of course I freaked too! Turned out to be benign again, Hooray!! So try not to worry too much the odds are in your favor.

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    thank you rowwelland live.... your story has given great comfort💕I will bookmark and re-read when the anxiety creeps up waiting for the phone to ring.😊

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    I am so glad your procedure went well and that it is over!!! I hope you get those results very soon so you can move on from this! We are here for you!

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    Thank you wigging.... what a wonderful group of supportive friends. Couldn’t get through this with out all of you💕

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    So as I wait for " the phone call", here is what goes through my mind. Would they all sooner if it was benign or if it was malignant? The longer I go without a phone call is this a bad sign? What is the normal time frame for getting results if they are negative?

    As you can see, my mind is playing all kinds of scenerios. I am a hot mess !

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    Did they give you a timeframe on when to expect results? If not, I would call and ask...yes...I am an anxious worried waiter too!

    They are not going to call any sooner or later with a result...it’ll be when whoever it is that has your results gets around to it, sadly. I will tell you that I waited over the weekend for a benign result and about 24 hrs for a cancer result. But who knows why that happened. I also pretty much knew on the cancer result beforehand.

    Hang in there. I would call and ask when you can expect results if you don’t know that info already.


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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    Thanks Wigging... they said usually 24-48, but at least be by the end of the week.

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    Had my stereotactic biopsy on Monday morning. It's now Wed afternoon. I haven't heard anything. Does this mean they are doing further testing? The tech told me ( I think) 24-48 hours. " you will definitely have them by the end of the week". so now it's been 53 hours and I'm already going to the dark side !

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    Sagelady-no, it’s very unlikely that they are doing additional testing. I think you should call. Don’t go to the dark side!


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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    Oh Wiggins... you are such a comfort to me right now. I don't think I can call. Just to paralyzed with fear. Is Monday to wed afternoon unreasonable for a benign result. Has anybody here waited more than 2 working days for a result?

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    it’s not an unreasonable wait. I’m just an anxious person and HATE that trapped feeling of waiting for a phone call.

    Remember...most biopsies are benign!


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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    Thanks wiggin (((hugs))) for being sooo supportive !!

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  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited February 2019

    The waiting is the absolute worst part! Monday to Wednesday isn’t unreasonable. I know you’re scared, but I wonder if you’d feel better if you try calling yourself, maybe with a family member or good friend there to hold your hand? Whatever happens, there is lots of support on this site. Sending a big hug! <3

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited February 2019

    I was told 3-5 business days for the result of my stereotactic biospy for 'new' but suspicious calcifications - which means I may not have answers for a week! So I'm right there waiting with you. Hugs and best wishes that all comes back normal for you!

    Incidentally, in an unrelated benign biopsy from the other breast last year, it looks like pathology report was completed in 2 days but I think my dr waited to call me until the radiologist had also looked at the pathology report and indicated that they agreed the pathology report was 'concordant' with what they saw on imaging (so it took me a week to get my results that time, too).

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    thanks greenharbor and Pegasus ... I took a Xanax so not vibrating so bad right now. I figure I’ll give it until tomorrow after work. Then see how I feel about calling. I’m torn between wanting answers and not wanting to know.

    I keep reminding myself everybody seems to think most of these are benign. Hoping I’m lucky at gambling LOL. Being 60 not sure how that plays into cluster micros. Maybe that lowers my benign chances. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.


    Thanks everyone here... I am so happy I found such a knowledgeable supportive site. Simply by chance. Googling of course. But now I stay off google and just lurk here

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    oh and Pegasus... 🙏 for your benign results as well. Maybe it’s a sign of good luck that we found each other. My other sign on and the name of a business I had and the name of my dune buggy are Pegasus. Also took a drug Pegasus for hep c from a childhood blood transfusion,... it cured it ! So if you believe in omens maybe this is one

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    image

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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited February 2019

    Yes sagelady, I do think it is a good omen! For both of us! Thanks for sharing. And I LOVE the dune buggy! :-)

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  • RowWellandLive
    RowWellandLive Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2019

    sagelady I too am a nervous wreck worrying waiter when it comes to results. Just call them in the morning. I bugged my nurse navigator and they got my results back to me quickly. Recently I had another scary scan, not breast related, and I made sure to let the nurse at my Dr office know to call me ASAP when results came in. It's OK to be a pest!!

    Good luck and make sure to keep us posted. You too pegasus.

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    well got my results DCIS. Have to go for an excisions biopsy/ lumpectomy what ever you want to call it. And I’m not sure what else.

    Not the news I wanted.... but it is what it is

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    sagelady-

    Well I am very glad that you have results but very sorry to hear that they have found DCIS. I had DCIS along with IDC and LCIS. It is so good that they found it so early for you. There is a whole topic board here on DCIS and you will learn so much there. I hope they get your procedure scheduled quickly. There is also a topic board for surgery. I joined the monthly support group for when my surgery was scheduled and those ladies were/are amazing.

    One thing you know is...you are not alone! There are so many of us here who know what you are going through. Stay off google and stay right here...we are a smart group here!!!!

    Sending gentle hugs-

    Wigging


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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    thanks Wiggins... they said by bx it was very small. Stage 0. But this mean they May find IDC/LDIS like you when they do the lumpectomy? Have me something else to think about

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  • Wigging2000
    Wigging2000 Member Posts: 295
    edited February 2019

    oh man I didn’t mean to scare you! My DCIS/LCIS was found after the IDC. It showed up on an MRI. My IDC was the thing found on mammogram/first biopsy...I had a 1cm mass. You don’t have a mass. I had a mass in addition to all the DCIS around it. So sorry to have scared you! I know you don’t need more worry than you already have.


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  • pegasus68
    pegasus68 Member Posts: 73
    edited February 2019

    Oh sagelady, I'm sorry they found DCIS - but I'm also glad it is not worse. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you move forward with your treatment. Hugs!!!

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  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited February 2019

    Sagelady, I also had DCIS along with my IDC. (I didn’t know about the DCIS until the full pathology report was back.) I know this isn’t result you were hoping for. In a weird way, I felt better once I met with my surgeon and my oncologist- I at least knew what the plan was. Wigging is right about Dr Google. Remember that we are here for you if you need us!

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  • sagelady
    sagelady Member Posts: 48
    edited February 2019

    did you get your results yet Pegasus? 🙏🙏🙏 for B9

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