Micro-calcifications

I had a sterotactic biopsy done in May 2007 due to clustered Micro-calcifications that proved no Cancer. When should I go for my next mamo? In one year or six months?  I am  a high risk for Breast Cancer.

[DemoNurse]

If I were in your shoes I would go back in six months. And I would make sure that I went to a breast center. God Bless

[lovies]

Thank you so much for responding! I have been so worried! My Dr told me one year like I had nothing to worry about. I am in the process of changing Dr's & hospital's with my insurance. I just want someone to have another look...I will definately go to a breast center as you have suggested! Three of my aunts had breast cancer and I had clustered micro calcs, I also have Diabetes so I have too many strikes against me to just sit back and wait a whole year! Obviously she (My Dr) has never been through a sterotatic biopsy before! The only place it hurt was in my minds eye...but it hurt so bad I cried through the whole thing.

[Camposjd]

First I'd like to say hello to all the great members of this forum.  It's been a few weeks since this "abnormal breast mammogram" started for me.  Since I've had an UL and findings were palable abnormality that is a lobular anechoic lesion 1.6 cm from nipple measuring 2.4 X 1.6 X 1.2 cm. Which has a wall that measures up to 2mm thick n some areas. Lobular Anechoic Lesion with a borderline thickened wall. BIRADS IV

I go to see a surgeon on Thursday to schedule some form of biopsy (not sure what yet) I've done so much research online from definitions to actual diagrams of procedures.  The most time I've spent has been reading all of your post's how great it is to have support as you all do for each other.  I admire all of your stength.  I've also been moved to see all the honesty and true faith you share with each other and within yourselves.

I am petrified of having a "NEEDLE" biopsy..see I have a phobia of needles in any usage or fashion.  I also have extremly high blood pressure and I know I will be freakin out.  Anway I wanted to say best wishes to you all and God Bless each and every one of you.

[txgrl01]

I'm not too crazy about needles but this was just way too important.  I closed my eyes for the numbing part and then focused on the face of the doctor and tech for the rest.  I practised the old "Lamaze breathing" to keep my calmness and mellow out my blood pressure.  My doctor and the techs were very understanding and kept things pretty lighthearted.  I suspect to distract me and it did work pretty well.
I will be praying for you.  God Bless

[Broomhilda]

Hello. I'm new. I have put off looking at anything about my newly diagnosed Microcalcifications until today. I have had 2 mamograms since 8/10 and will have another 12/5 to "see if the clusters have changed". Without knowing any better, cept that a disease diagnosis opens up a process, I said NO when offered to have the suspect clusters biopsied right-away. I read all this and I am glad, and very thankful for the frank, brave and lovinh shares of all this life expeinece. I am a pt at Cal Pacifica Medical Center in California. I live alone with a daughter that is only here everyother week thru shared custody. I lost my job in June and "caught up" my mamogram (mammogram) after a few years in August just as my COBRA kicked in. Years 2004 - 2006 have been the hardest in my life, but I'm here. I know I can get through anything. I now ALSO know there is a forum of others dealing with the same sudden uncertainty I have come to know since the second look at "something suspicious". I guess it was a "magnification"? Whatever you call it, when they circled the places on the Xray that "concerned them" I spontaneously cried. Up til that point I did not honestly know how scared I was. Now I know. I will know again Dec 5 and I will take a support person.

I had my first CAD mamogram (mammogram) on 8/10. I turned 47 days later.(-- I know some of you hate August...).
Then I got this letter a few days later telling me to call and make another appt....THAT was a first. Thank God my "make up" Pap Smear postcard came back normal. I think its been 1-2-3 years since the last? Been through so much. Have lost track. Just knew that as I was being laid off I announced I needed a Pap and a Mamogram (mammogram) pronto. I had just spent the last 4 months working with a broken wrist in order to try to keep my job....single mom and all....live and learn. Health ins and Severance ONLY if I sign in agreement not to sue. Corporate America sucks.

My results were read to me by a Radiologist. I never saw a Doctor. I later wrote to my OB who did my pap and asked for her opinion too. She supported my decision NOT to get biopsied right away, and take another peek in 3 months time.

My suspect mico-calcifications are at the chest wall of my left breast. There are several normal shaped loners all over and then one clear huddle of some 3-4 ( a "cluster" means 5 or more...) and a blurry constellation of some more...so we will wait and see if they change. I have gone back and forth almost daily in my decision not to have them biopsied right away. In this moment and after reading the potential for massive anxiety I am glad I have stepped back from the "portal" for now. I am grateful that this is a choice I have today.

My mom waited until her lump was the size of a tennis ball in 2003. She had a full mastectomy at age 67, followed by about a year of chemo, followed by a few years of getting back to normal after the chemo. She was well enough for a hip replacement in 2005. She's going strong. She didn't have to have her boob removed but chose to - she said "I'm done with it at my age anyways". My daughter and I waived goodbye to it as we drove her away from the hospital at check out. Humor was everything. It still is.

This uncertainty business is the hardest, followed only by the isolation of having to deal with it as respectfully as possible to those around you. I have shared the "gate" I stand in front of with others. I also know it could be nothing, like it was for one of my best friends right after I told her about my mamogram (mammogram) re-take. She had to go back too for a calcification review. Her old mamograms confirmed the little buggers were static.

BTW, I went to my mamogram (mammogram) re-take as a new paitinet of Cal Pacific Medical Center. I had been too busy working to set up a primary doctor, and had not been with my new company 2 years, forcing the change of my OB and everything else female. Its happened a few times in the past 10 years through job changes and losses.

To guard against uncertainty and the vast expanses of time it can eat you up with I did something on my own I would suggest to others pronto: I made a point of personally collecting all of my old mamograms and bringing them with me under my arm to my mamogram (mammogram) re-take. Bad news is that none of them were CAD/computerized, so these micro-calcifications could not be seen or determined as new or old. So I go back in December and we see if they have changed, then I go abck to my annual August visit (a routine my radiologist suggested - tie it to the same month each year). Without my old mamograms in hand, I would have had to wait for Cal Pacific to request and receive and review them AFTER my mamogram (mammogram) re-take. He got to look at them side-by-side with the retake instead, and so quick decision to do another one in December. I made it easier on myself following my gut. The medical community does the best it can, and sometimes theinsurance companies actually allow them to practice good medicine! In the meantime, be sure to consult your self AND TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO for all of your life-changing decisions, so that they are DECISIONS and not reactions. Fear is the enemy, but it is also our body talking to us. Be gentle with yourselves. I say this as a reminder to myself as I "wait for the calcifications to change" between now and December - or not. Thank you for all of the love and courage and fear and Grace expressed here. I will be back. --

[Camposjd]

Thank you for your kind words.  I know no one likes needles.  I will try your techniques.  I hope all is going well for you.  Thank you for your prayers also, I will be also praying for you and all the kind members on this forum.  God Bless.