DCIS or ?

[neobix]

I recently was called back in for a diagnostic mammogram.  I am 54 with a history of fibrocystic disease so I have often been told I have dense breast tissue.  This time around, the first thing the technician said was how "busy" they are.   Anyway, they found a microcalcification that the doctor has scheduled a biopsy for next week.  The radiologist said that he couldn't really tell what it was because it had benign characteristics but also some of the "branching" characteristics seen with malignancies.  So I am really scared, but would feel better if someone could tell me if this does do turn out to be cancer, is this type of microcalcification ever found in an advanced stage of breast cancer or would it most likely be at stage 0 (DCIS) ?  They didn't tell me anything about a mass being involved, but I also read that sometimes mammograms don't pick up masses.  It is located right behind the nipple and it is "very small" the doctor said less than half a centimeter (which doesn't seem that small to me, but maybe I misunderstood that part).

[zouzi]

By the way, less than half a centimeter is less than 1/4  inch and your Doctor is right that it's very small.

[zouzi]

Hi,
Calcifications can be cause by many benign conditions such as calcifications in a dilated milk duct,cysts,fibroadenomas etc..and not necessarily indicative of something more serious.
The appearance of suspicious 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 rule out cancer.
Try not to worry too much because very often biopsies done on suspicious calcification return a benign finding, but if unfortunately it does not,then the cancer would be at a very early stage and almost 100%  curable.
I hope that your biopsy results will state benign findings.
Best wishes and good luck!...