Calcifications

[Hydro4681]

I had a my first mammogram about a year and a half ago and they were watching them. Now there are more and it looks suspicious. I am having a biopsy done on April 2nd but done by surgery with a wire or something like that because of a small amount of breast tissue and implants. The CalcificationsI are near the nipple in the areola. I am nervous! I also have surgery on th 5th to have my left ovary out and a mass that they think is not cancer because there is no vascular flow. I also have had thyroid cancer. Can thyroid cancer go to the breasts? The Calcifications are in a cluster.

[limomel98]

I am sooooo happy for you!!! I know you are relieved. I am a 31 yrs old and had my first baseline mammo done on monday 4/9/12. I got the call back today and i was sick!!!!! Mind you my mom died of breast cancer four years ago, thats why they are starting me early. Then when i turn 35 its  mammo once a year. Also my mom was the only one in our family with that. Anyway clld my GYN since the ppl from the breast center had no info for me. And the GYN  office told me that they found two nodules one in each breast. Mind you last week my GYN didnt feel anything during my clinical exam. So while im crying on the phone, the nurse kept reading the report and said, malignancy RULED OUT. I made sure I had her repeat that and she said it again, i felt better, but im still nervous about going in the morning. I guess they are giving me an ultrasound, to get the size and exact  location, who knows. from what I read, these are very common, esspecially around the time of your period and women my age,and my period is due right about now. Im hoping all goes well.....im so sad, i have kids and thats making me sadder...i will come back tomorrow with the final results

[zouzi]

Congratulations!!!!
I am sincerely sooo happy for you!
Thank you so much for letting us know..This is wonderful news!!
Wishing you happiness and a long healthy life! :)

[Hydro4681]

Got my biopsy results and it's benign!!!! :) I'm so relieved!

[zouzi]

Thanks for the update and I hope you are feeling fine after your biopsy procedure.
Don't worry,the results can take 4 to 7 days to reach your doctor,depending on how busy the institution is.
Hang in there..we are waiting with you,keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully we'll get good news!
Good luck!

[Hydro4681]

I had my biopsy on Monday and am still waiting for the results. The doctor said they should be in today, but they're not. I hope this isn't meaning bad things! Hopefully tomorrow we'll get an answer.

[zouzi]

Excellent information bb,
I am so glad you posted it so that 'hydro4681" and other members can be fully informed about certain risk.
Thank you !! :)

[Hydro4681]

Thanks for the info. All the information I can gain is very helpful. I will keep you all posted in how everything turns out. I just want to be prepared as much as I can in case the results are cancer. Thanks!

[Hydro4681]

Thank you!

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi,

I want to join zouzi in wishing you well with your biopsy; I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for benign results!

Meanwhile, for those who may be interested, here is a fuller explanation of the influence of family history on risk for breast cancer:

First, only 5%-15% of cases of BC diagnosed are viewed as primarily due to family history/genetic causation. What this means is that people WITHOUT a family history should never become  complacent or feel they are "safe," because the vast majority of cases (85%-95%) occur in people without a family history.

On the other hand, those people who DO have a family history are at considerably higher risk. (And the genes from both the mother and father's side of the family need to be taken into account.)

Here is a simple chart that may be helpful:
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Family history and the risk of breast cancer:

Any woman=12 of 100 (Number likely to get breast cancer in their lifetimes)

With one close relative=24 of 100

With  2 or more close relatives=60 of 100

With BRCA gene=Up to 85 of 100

To summarize, on average, 12 out of 100 women will get breast cancer. If someone in your family has had breast cancer, your chances of getting it may be higher than average. The more relatives you have with breast cancer, the more your chances go up.

Sometimes a very strong family history of breast cancer is caused by a mutated gene that runs in the family. The gene is called a BRCA gene. Women who inherit this gene change are much more likely to get breast or ovarian cancer.

Another source describes the increased risk as follows:

"The relative risk of patients with an affected first-degree relative is 1.5-2 times higher when compared to controls without affected family members. Even more significantly, having two first-degree relatives affected (female or male) increases relative risk by more than 4-6 times when compared to patients without this risk factor.  Finally, bilateral cancer in a first-degree relative may increase risk by more than 6 times."

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I do not include this information with the intention of scaring anyone, but rather to emphasize the fact that women with OR without a family history of breast cancer need to be screened regularly, and  those who DO have a family history need to be especially vigilant.

Depending on the TYPE of family history, and after consulting with their doctors, they may want to consider taking special steps ranging  from those recommended for people with some additional risk to those with very high risk such as being BRCA1 or BRCA 2 positive:

Extra checkups and testing. Having checkups and testing more often may help find the cancer earlier, when it's easier to treat.

Medicines. Taking certain anti-cancer drugs may help some women prevent breast cancer.

Surgery to remove both breasts. This operation helps prevent most breast cancer.

Surgery to remove the ovaries. This operation helps prevent both ovarian and breast cancer.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

prayers are with you

[zouzi]

Yes, I also sincerely hope that things will turn up just fine ..My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Having a family history of breast cancer does put women slightly at a higher risk, (About 10 to 15%) but only if the mother or sister have or had this disease in the past.
So try your best not to jump to any conclusion by thinking of the worst... but instead keep a positive attitude,which can help a lot in the long run okay? :)
Take care and God Bless you...

[Hydro4681]

Thanks for the reply. I did have the RAI treatment for the thyroid cancer, so that ***** it increases my chances. I guess I'm more concerned because I have two aunts on my dad's side that had breast cancer. One was in her thirties when diagnosed and died at 38. The other had a complete mastectomy in her early forties. I am turning 31 on April 6th.  I guess the only thing to do is hope and pray that it all comes back fine and if it doesn't to know that we've caught it early is always good! Thanks!

[zouzi]

Hi,
Calcifications that grow in a cluster are suspicious because they sometimes cluster around a mass.The appearance of clustered calcification on x-ray, gives clues to the radiologist,but not definite answers,so it is standard procedure in most cases to biopsy the area because it's the only way to obtain a correct diagnosis.
If you have been treated with radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer,you would just be at an increased risk, but not necessarily have breast cancer ..
Keep in mind that most often biopsies done on clustered calcifications return a benign findings, but if unfortunately it does not,then the cancer would be at a very early stage and highly curable.
I hope that your biopsy results will state benign findings and that your upcoming ovarian surgery will also be successful and uneventful.
Wishing you all the best and good luck!...