Calcification

In July 2010 I was diagnosed with breast Calcification primarily in my right breast. I am due to go back the end of Jan. 2011 for a follow up. What types of questions should I ask?

[zouzi]

Hi.
There isn't really much to ask your doctor until you receive your mammogram results.
Radiologists are able to identify typically benign breast calcifications depending on their form and pattern.If no suspicion is detected a biopsy is not required.
The report on your mammogram will state what is your BI-RADS score, which go from 0 to 5.
This terminology (BI-RADS) is used by radiologists to describe mammography findings.The higher the score,the more suspicious the abnormality will be.
Microcalcifications are quite normal in breast tissue and they are not harmful.  However, microcalcifications that grow in a cluster may indicate that there is abnormal growth in the area.The only way to determine if there is any cancer is to biopsy.Statistic show that 80% of breast calcification are benign in nature.
You still don't know if your calcification have changed since your last mammogram.
It could be that there are no changes at all and you will only need to have these calcification checked at a scheduled time recommended by your doctor.
Hoping that your upcoming mammogram will be just fine.
Good luck and best wishes...

[bigblue9]

Hi, you are talking about 80% bening microcalcifications, but what about microcalcification clusters? Do you know how many of them result in bening vs. not. Because they are usually more concerns with clusters, not scattered one. Thanks.