Breast Microcalcifercation in Right Breast

I am 58 yrs old and each year I have had a mammogram done. This time my GYN doctor's nurse call me to tell me I need to have the mammogram redone because specks of microcalcification showed up on the mammogram.  I done know what that is or what it means but I am worried since this has never happen before when I have taken them.  Does this mean I have cancer or something since this has never happen before? How did I get these microcalcifications anyway?  How are they formed?  Please help me, because I am so worried!!
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[iam1butterfly]

Yes, it's very unsettling, isn't it? I felt that way when I first learned that, at the age of 49, I had multiple mirocalcification clusters in my right breast. That was 5 years ago and two biopsies later. According to the surgeon who performed my first biopsy, the calcifications, in themselves, aren't cancerous. They are, as their name suggests, calcium formations exactly like those found in Arthritis sufferers.

What concerns doctors and radiologists when they see calcifications in the breast is the activity within the surrounding breast tissue where the cals form because such activity might suggest that there is an abnormal trigger causing the formations.

Anyhow, a biopsy is the only sure way to know what cause is... or isn't. But, just so you know, statistically... the cause is rarely, if ever, of a cancerous origin.

[zouzi]

Hi,
Being called back for a spot compression mammogram is not unusual at all.This additional test will further define the area of concern.
Microcalcifications are quite normal in breast tissue and they are not harmful.
However,microcalcifications that grow in a cluster(grouped) can sometimes cluster around an abnormality.It is proper in most cases to biopsy the area of microcalcifications if the radiologist deems that they look suspicious.
Many,many biopsies done, even on clustered calcifications return a benign finding though.
I hope that your biopsy (if needed) results will be favorable too.
Best wishes and good luck....

[iam1butterfly]

Yes, it's very unsettling, isn't it? I felt that way when I first learned that, at the age of 49, I had multiple mirocalcification clusters in my right breast. That was 5 years ago and two biopsies later. According to the surgeon who performed my first biopsy, the calcifications, in themselves, aren't cancerous. They are, as their name suggests, calcium formations exactly like those found in Arthritis sufferers.

What concerns doctors and radiologists when they see calcifications in the breast is the activity within the surrounding breast tissue where the cals form because such activity might suggest that there is an abnormal trigger causing the formations.

Anyhow, a biopsy is the only sure way to know what cause is... or isn't. But, just so you know, statistically... the cause is rarely, if ever, of a cancerous origin.