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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Calcium deposits cause of atypical hyperplasia?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Calcium deposits cause of atypical hyperplasia?
by Allison, Aug 10, 2001 12:00AM
My Mother has already has surgery to remove areas of atypical hyperplasia. Now, after the latest mammogram, the doctor wants another needle biopsy. He is concerned about areas of calcium deposits in the breast tissue and stated that this is what "caused" the previous hyperplasia. Can you supply any info on the topic of how calcium deposits relate to atypical hyperplasia?
thank you
thank you
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Aug 10, 2001 12:00AM
Dear Allison, What the doctor is most likely referring to are microcalcifications. Microcalcifications are actually very fine specks of calcium that light up on a mammogram. Sometimes they can be an indication of cancer or precancer. These can be clustered together or scattered over a larger area. If they’re very tiny and tightly clustered, and there aren’t a whole lot of them, they’re more likely to be precancer. If they are scattered all over they are more likely to be benign (non-cancerous). Microcalcifications tend to cluster around an abnormal area, this is why a biopsy is generally recommended when a “cluster” is seen. How the microcalcifications are clustered and the area over which they are clustered helps the surgeon to determine the type of biopsy to be done that would yield the most information.
I'm a 43 year old female, with no family cancer history. I have very dense breast. Since 1993 I have been getting Mammograms every 6mths. I have skipped some months. Anyway, I was told this by a past radiologist that read my films. "You have small Calcium deposits, that do not increase nor decrease and are always in the same places." "The reason why you have to get this test every 6mths is because they are watching the outer edges of the deposits." This was 2 years ago I was told this.
Just recently my breast became very sore, and it was time for my Mammo. I made an appointment. The nurse practitioner felt a lump different then the other ones. My mammogram according to the radiologist said, "I have a few cyst or calcium deposits clumped together." He said. "some woman live with this all the time." He ordered no other test, he wants to wait to get my other films to compare, but he said he didn't see anything to be worried about. After reading this post, which seemed to fit me, what can I do? What questions can I ask to get these military doctor’s to investigate, or should I even worry?
I do not drink caffeine hardly at all. Right now I have to have a heating pad to deal with the pain. My breast are swollen. No discharge, breast look normal in appearance. Thank you for any advice.
Lera