Breast Microcalcification surgery

My mom had a biopy on her left breast and they found the microcalcifications are in the first stage of cancer.  She is booked to see a surgeon but is terrified not knowing whats going to happen.  Is the surgery a long procedure and very painful? what happens now?


This discussion is related to Microcalcifications.

[zouzi]

Hi,
Your mom was probably diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer,which means DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ).This type of breast cancer is confined in the duct and is not invasive.
Depending on your mom's full biopsy report,the usual treatment for DCIS, would be lumpectomy,which is the complete removal of the area of concern and making sure to obtain clear margins, plus radiation.Radiotherapy is added to the lumpectomy because it decreases local recurrence rates by 50% compared to lumpectomy alone.Also some medication could be added to the treatment if the Surgeon recommends it.
However,lumpectomy alone, without radiation could also be considered if the DCIS is considered to have a "low risk" of recurrence.The risk of recurrence depends on certain factors such as size, grade, age of patient and status of surgical margins.
This type of breast cancer is very common and very curable.The surgery is not complicated and since your mom will be given anesthesia before the procedure,it will be painless and the recovery time will be short with not much discomfort.
The Surgeon will explain in detail everything your mom needs to know and it would be a good idea if you could go with her.An extra pair of ears is always better to understand and remember what the Surgeon has said.
Your mom shouldn't be scared,because her cancer was found very early.If a person has breast cancer,this type is the least worrisome one and as I said before highly curable...almost 100%.
Good luck and best wishes to both you and your mom.

[shirlrae]

The surgeon will discuss the options to your Mom, usually lumpectomy. Your Mom may opt for a mastectomy with reconstruction, depending on family history. Lumpectony requires radiation and chemo as well as Arimidex or Tamoxifen. Mastectomy does not require radiation and chemo. Treatment is Arimidex or Tamoxifen depending if your Mom is postmenopausal or not. Think good thoughts.

[Miss_Annie_M]

May I ask what kind of microcalcifications your mom had and how were they classified in her mammo report?

[countrylady132]

I have been diagnosed with benign calcifications.  Did you get an answer to your question about how the microcalcifications her mom had and how they were classified?