should I be worried?

[kjmsrn]

4 years ago I had an incident with a lump that came up in my left breast.  Before I could get into see the doctor, it surfaced and burst at the skin.  At the time, I was also having bloody discharge from my left nipple.  Had a mammogram which showed a small area of suspicion, and a microcalcification. followed by an ultrasound.  They were unable to locate anything on the ultrasound.  Had a ductogram and they again were unable to locate the source of the bleeding.  Saw a breast surgeon and she opted to remove the ducts from the left breast.  Pathology showed multiple papillomas and a fibroadenoma.  They recommended follow up in one year.  Due to multiple other health problems, I went 4 years without follow up.  Recently had another mammogram at a different facility due to insurance change.  After requesting previous films, they called and said I needed to see a breast surgeon immediately.  I opted to go back to mine who did the previous surgery.  Saw her in her office and she said she wanted to do a follow up MRI, but felt this was not anything to worry about.  She said it was the size of a pin head and even if it did turn out to be something could remove it with a lumpectomy.  This was on Thursday.  On Monday (yesterday), received a call from her nurse asking me to come in two hours later for a biopsy (stereotactic needle core).  When I arrived, they did a magnification mammogram.  The tech told me they would not do the biopsy unless the magnification showed up suspicious.  They did the biopsy.  Talking with the radiologist, I found out that she had reviewed my films from the other facility on Friday and found a cluster of microcalcifications about the size of a peanut M&M.  Of note, my father had breast cancer and three great aunts maternal side.  I also had a reoccurence of another lesion that burst several months ago that I had completely forgotten about until reading some of the posts on this site.  Again, the radiologist said that most turn out benign.  Can all of this be related, and should I be concerned?  Also, should I call my Breast surgeon back and tell her about the lesion bursting or should I just wait on the biopsy?

[kjmsrn]

Thanks for your comment.  Just heard from the biopsy and it is DCIS.  Will see the surgeon tommorrow to discuss options.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

Your previous condition of benign papillomas and fibroadenomas may recur on the same or may also manifest on the opposite breast.  Fibroadenomas particularly, can turn up and regress spontaneously in accordance with a person's menstrual cycle.  These fibroadenomas can usually be felt just before you have your menses and would slowly disappear.  I agree with your radiologist that majority of breast lesions presenting like your would turn out to be benign.  However, given your family history, I suggest that you do your screening mammograms and/or ultrasound as regularly as possible.

I hope everything will turn out fine.  Regards.