Do not want biopsy if can be avoided

[robinsonf2]

I am 49 years old and have had normal mammograms untils recently.  I was told after having diagnostic mammograms in May and November that there were 4 small microcalcifications on my left breast.  I was told to see a surgeon to discuss biopsy.  I have no history of breast cancer in my family and have no symptoms at all. I have absolutely no interest in having a marker or whatever it is called left in my breast with the stereo..... mammogram.  What are my options please!

Thanks.  

[LMT3]

I am 57, post-menopasal, no family history of BC either but yes to other kinds of cancer [I just had 4 pre-cancerous polyps removed in September which was a first for me too] and get yearly mammograms which have always been clear. This year is the first time they used the digital mammography, [digital is better for seeing through dense breast tissue (which I happen to have)] and this time it showed up "abnormalities". I was called back for a second look with magnification and was told at that time about the "multiple clusters" of califications with a recommendation to have a biopsy. The radiologist sent the report to my gyn and my regular doctor. They both called me back that same day and they also said get a biopsy done. So I called my surgeon and scheduled a consultation. I got nervous and I finally got smart and got a copy of the radiologist findings because I hated not knowing what the heck was going on. That report said the calcifications were suspicious of malignancy. That in itself is what made me determined to have the biopsy, better safe than sorry.

I have a bad case of reflux that makes me lying on my stomach impossible so I elected to have the surgical procedure done under a local [this is called a wire loc w/mammogram placement] it is also the gold star method of biopsy procedures. When they gave me the numbing medicine before placing the wire they said it would sting, I didn't feel anything [I learned how to do self hypnosis years ago when I sustained a back injury and I did do this before going in for that procedure which relaxed me]. A friend of mine said they gave her a Valium before her sterotatic biopsy. I had very little pain after the biopsy (bruising but no pain) and only took Tylenol for that even though they gave me a prescription for pain meds.

I was lucky, even though my biopsy came back with a positive reading for DCIS it also showed we caught it in the very early stages. They scheduled me for a lumpectomy 2 days after I got the biopsy results.  That surgery went even easier than the biopsy. The first day I had a little pinching feeling but no pain and no more bruising. The time frame for the biopsy to the lumpectomy was all done from 11/12 thru 11/21. I do have 4 little clips in my breast to mark where all this activity took place so that on my mammograms (which I will have to have every 6 months for the next 2 years) shows up.

I am not sorry I had the biopsy, nor that I now carry those 4 little clips in my breast because I have peace of mind. You have to decide what is best for you but I didn't want to chance it. Good luck.

[marydenise]

In my view, your options are to either have the biopsy now, or continue to wait and see. It sounds like you've already elected the "wait and see" approach, if the docs noted the calcs in both May and November. It sounds like you elected in May, to wait. But they were still seen, in November. So, now, as trixie567 said,  they're recommending the stereotactic biopsy, again. Is that right?

Has there been any change in the 4 calcs, between May and November? If there's been a change, for sure, get the stereotactic biopsy. But if there hasn't been a change? The suspicious calcs are still the same, between May and November?

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't have the sterotactic biopsy. I'd continue to "wait and see."

But just be sure to have another diagnostic mammo in April, 2008. With this suspicious finding, the calcs, you need to be monitored.

And again, just my opinion, I wouldn't let the fact that they place the biopsy marker in your breast, after the stereotactic biopsy, to prevent you from having the procedure. THAT is the least of your problems.

Just think about what you want, and your comfort level.

[trixie567]

I recently had a stereotactic biopsy about 4 weeks ago and I really didn't want to do it either but I thought, What if I don't ? and it turns out to be cancerous and I had decided to leave it only to get worse, believe me I threw up every road block I could think of as to not go through with it. I too had microcalcifications about 8 of them clustered together & needed to be biopsied...I had no pain, could not feel them and they just happen to show up with a few other things on my very first mammogram, unfortunately the only way anyone can tell 100% whether it's cancer or not is by biopsy, I guess you could wait and do another mammo in 3-6 months but if you still have those calc's they will probably still recommend biopsy again.

I have no family history either & thankfully my biopsy came back benign & I would do it again in a heartbeat! Are you afraid of the biopsy itself  or is it something else ?

[often]

I don't know what the options are...treatment has changed so since I had mine 6 years ago.

I do know that 80% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.  And I wonder what symptoms you would expect to have.  Most of us have no "symptoms"...we just find out we have BC.  

Maybe some of the others here can advise on other options, and you can discuss with the surgeon when you see him.  But don't think you are immune because of history and "symptoms".  You are not.