A related discussion,
breast changes found in mammogram was started.
You are more than welcome and thank you for the update.
I am happy to know the biopsy went so well for you! :)
We'll certainly keep you in our thoughts and prayers ...
Waiting with you and hoping for BENIGN results!
I had my Stereotactic Breast Biobsy yesterday morning. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. After my breast was numb, I did not feel anything I would really consider pain. Felt some pressure and odd feeling when the vacuum assisted device was inserted and moved around. I think they took eight tissue/calcification samples, and inserted a titanium clip in the area they are concerned about, (for future reference). The hardest part for me was lying very still during the entire proceedure, which took 45 minutes to an hour; and of course the waiting for results. The Radiologist said that my Gynecologist should have the results tomorrow, (morning, I hope)!
I am somewhat concerned that the technicians seemed to be having a hard time locating the area that they wanted to biopsy, but seemed to work through that. Also, they had a computer glitch that neither of them had seen before and they had to have someone else help them with that. In the end they checked the area with the Radiologist and he thought they had the right area. The Radiologist also had a hard time inserting the clip. I don't know what the deal was... think he was having a hard time getting the device to "let go of it"? They did do an additional mammogram to verify placement of the "clip". I hope these difficulties won't cause me to question the results...
Want to let others know that I found some helpful information about the proceedure at RadiologyInfo.org (http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbixr)
I will post when I recieve the results.
Thank you all so much for your information and support. I can't tell you how much it means to me. Please keep me and others in your thoughts and prayers, and I will do the same...
Just wanted to reassure you that japdip and zouzi are absolutely right in telling you that most biopsies come back benign. Zouzi's responses to your questions about the pain in your armpit, nipple and gyn issues are also correct and should be reassuring. Of course, your doctor is the best person to answer all your questions, so don't be afraid to ask whatever you feel you need to know. Again, try not to get ahead of things and worry about what you can't change and don't know yet. We're all pretty good at dealing with whatever comes our way and I'm sure you will be, too. Of course, I'm also hoping you have an easy biopsy on Monday and get benign results.
Our thoughts and good wishes are with you,
nc
Hi,
Calcifications are quite normal in breast tissue and they are not harmful. Only the ones that grow in a cluster are suspicious because they sometimes cluster around a mass.
Calcification can be caused by many benign conditions such as calcifications in a dilated milk duct,cysts,fibroadenomas, infection(mastitis)or just skin calcification.The only suspicious findings detected on your Ultrasound (BIRADS 4) are the loosely clustered (grouped) calcifications that need further investigation..
Please don't worry,we have heard from so many women who had suspicious clustered calcification,that turned out benign when biopsied and I hope it will be the same for you too.
According to the report,the cysts in your right breast are benign (BIRADS 2)
An inverted nipple is not that unusual and it's not necessarily a sign of breast cancer...There are several things that could cause an inverted nipple,for example,an inflammation or infected ducts in the breast,a benign tumor or a cyst etc..
I don't think that your Gynecological Problem has anything to do with your breast calcification.Also the pain in your armpit could have been caused by the transducer pressure on some nerves during your Ultrasound procedure.
Of course we'll be praying and hoping that all goes well with your biopsy and wishing you benign findings!
Good Luck!
Sorry to post again so soon, but was just trying to read some posts about stereotactic needle biopsy and it brought some questions to mind....
1. The technician who did spot compressions told me that the doctor would be talking to me after I had the ultrasound done. But then they apparently changed their minds and just sent me straight to the person who scheduled the stereotactic tissue biopsy.
2. My right breast nipple was inverted most of the time... until recently. I did loose about 40 pounds (was at about 197 pounds and am now at about 155 pounds). I wonder if this could have caused the change. I wasn't concered about it because they always told me inverted was a slight concern and now its not...
3. I am 52 and periods stopped about 2.5 years ago. I had bleeding on three separate occasions early this year. My gynocologist performed a uterine biopsy which came out fine; but now I'm wondering if the two are related????
If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know.
Also, please keep me in your prayers as I will keep others on this site in mine. Thanks again for all your help and support.
Had breast ultrasound and magnificaiton views on Thursday, Reort says, "Digitally acquired ture lateral and spot agnified CC and true lateral view of the right breast were performed.
Findings: Scattered punctate calcifications throughout the right breast are unchanged. Hoever, loosely grouped calcifications are redemonstrated at approximately the 11:00 position posterior depth that continue to appear suspicious on spot magnificaition views. There are no additional findings.
Impression: Concerning clacifications on the screening mammogram are redomonstrated on this exam and continue to demonstrate suspicious charateristics. Stereotactic tissue biopsy is recommended.
BI-RADS 4/S Suspicious." 10-2-2012
Also have another report:
"Proceedure: AUL Oct 2 2012 11:30 AM 7912537 US BREAST RT
Reason for Exam: right breast calcifications
FULL RESULT: Right breast ultrasound:
Cliniclal indication: Persistent density on recent mammogram
Comparison Study: October 2, 2012 and September 14, 2012 mammograms
Findings:
Ultrasound of the right breast was performed from the 9 to 12:00 positions. At approximately 10 to 11:00, threre are benign-appearing 3 mm small cysts present. Ther are no additional abnormalities.
IMPRESSION:
Benign-appearing right breast cysts.
BI-RADS 2/B Benign."
I am scheduled for Stereotactic tissue biospy on Monday morning.
I don"t know if this means anything but I did have some soreness in right underarm after ultrasound was done. As I think about it... this is not the first time I've had the soreness in my underarm. I don't know if it is significant???
I tried to ask about what was going on, but I feel like I received little information. Will post again when I know more, but would appreiciate any feedback anyone can give me.
Thanks again.
I'm just glad I was able to help some. I've gotten great support and advice from the wonderful women on this site, so I try to give back a little when I can.
Good luck, stay positive and please let us know how you're doing if you wish.
Hugs,
nc
Just to add a note to "nc's"response which I agree with 100%. The terminology in the report is for a Physician ... I doubt you could search any deeper and "nc" explained the ones that do have laymans language :). Don't get too wrapped up in researching because that usually results in even more confusion. Take care and try to relax some .... your answers will come soon after your additional films are done.
Thanks for your response. You have eased my mind; at least somewhat. I don't know why I can't seem to find a place that even explains or defines wording used in this report. At least you have explained some of it to me.
I am trying not to dwell on it... I know worry never changes anything, and like you stated, I very well may be worrying about nothing. I also know; everything happens for a reason, and that God will not give me more than I can bear.
Thanks again for your support, not only to me, but for the many people I've seen you converse with on this site.
Your doctor should be the one to explain the reports completely to you and I recommend you ask him/her to go over it with you. I'm not a doctor (I'm a retired nurse) but I'll just try to explain what I know about these kinds of reports to hopefully ease your mind.
The BIRADS 2 on the first report is benign, so nothing to worry about as the microcalcifications were stable and scattered. Calcifications are very common in the breast. BIRADS 0 on the second report just means the radiologist was unable to determine that it was benign and additional views are needed. At your Oct. 2nd screening they'll take additional films that will be magnified to show the areas of concern.This would be the 11:00 location (think of your breast as a clock, with 12:00 at the top so the 11:00 position is the upper outer quadrant noted in your report)of the microcalcifications that have changed since last year. The focal asymetry at that area means it looks different from the same area on the left breast and it's about half an inch in size (2.54 cm. = 1 inch). Whenever microcalcifications change in numbers or are clustered in a certain way, the radiologist will recommend additional views, as in your case. The "ML, CC and true ML" are radiology-speak that just refer to the specific positions the views that will taken from. If these continue to show a problem, then a biopsy will be recommended. The biopsy is the only way to be 100% sure of what's going on and about 80% come back with benign findings. Please try not to get too far ahead of yourself in your mind. Take one step at a time and try not to worry about the "what ifs". Once you know "what is" whether it's nothing or not, I believe that like most womenwho've been through this, you'll be strong enough to deal with it.
Please let us know how you're doing by adding a note to this thread if you wish-we do care.
I'll be thinking of you and wishing you all the best with your followup US and mammo.
Sending you a big hug from Michigan ( ),
nc
Thanks for your quick response.Got reports (not films) from radiology. 2011 - breast tissue is heterogeneously dense - no new masses - microcalcification bilaterally - stable bilat. scattered benigh calcifications - BI-RADS Cat 2.
2012 - heterog. dense. Rgt. breast - loosely grouped calcifications at 11:00 location at posterior depth - indistinct and punctate. Microcalcifications are increased in numbers and segmentally distributed. In addition to disc microcal. there are scattered predominantly punctate, unchanged from prior study. Focal asymmetry in upper outer quadrant at middle depth of right breast measuring approx. 1.2 cm. No descrete mass on Tomosynthesis. There is anterior marginal retraction of the fibroglandular band. BI_RAIDS 0 - Incomplete. Recomend ultrasound and magnification views including ML and CC as well as true ML. Scheduled for Oct 2.
I have no idea what all this means, please help, as others state my mind is going crazy! Thanks again.
Obviously there may have been a change since your last studies. This is a very good reason to keep up with yearly Mammograms and/or Ultrasounds ... changes can occur in a years time. Calcifications often appear in the breast tissue; some are of no particular concern and some do indicate some abnormality but NOT necessarily cancer. These calcifications are sometimes seen in clusters or certain patterns that may raise suspicion and are usually biopsied to determine their true nature. A great majority of calcifications biopsied do return a benign result. The spot compression will concentrate on one particular area and the breast tissue will be compressed out to reveal a more true picture of what was seen on the screening films. Do your recommended follow-up films and get back to us with your results if you have additional concerns. Regards ....