Microcalcifications, why now

[KR62]

Hi again and thank you for your last response. As I posted before, I am 45 yo and just had my mammogram the other day and after having all normal mammograms, now I've been told I have microcalcifications in both breasts with cluster(s) in the left which is to be biopsied 12/21. I also had an US on my right breast as I felt a painful pea size bump. The US showed I had multiple cysts--this is also "new" for me. I am not overweight, never smoked, am physically active and menses began at 14. I have 2 children 11 and 13 whom I nursed both for 6 months. The nurse at the Breast Center said the calicifications could be from "leftover milk". Is that true and if so, why wasn't this ever found before? Also, to go from a "normal" mammogram to now one with multiple calcification with cluster on one side in just one year, what is the significance of these changes now all at once? I just feel like a brick has been dropped on my head. Of course, I'm trying to be positive, but I want to prepare myself realistically.

[HazelLynn]

Hi, I am another woman with very similar symptoms as yourself, I am 47 with four young children and too am really devastated, its a terrible thing to be going through.  Have you been told what kind of microcalcifications they are?, I have been told mine are Pleomorphic - I will be biopsied on after Christmas, and have to have other tests next week.  I cannot give you any advice or knowledge with your situation/ or mine, I just wanted to wish you luck and hope that things work out well for yourself and for me.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[KR62]

Hi, thanks for dropping a note to me. We will have to keep each other posted on our biopsies etc. Plus pray for each other. I do not have my report and the nurse at the Breast Center was most UNHELPFUL and did not say anyting too much beyond "you've got alot going on in your breasts" she said I have microcalcifications in both but a cluster on the left which will need to be biopsied. If I asked her a question, she would get up and huff her way out of the room, like I was such an inconvenience to her. I had asked if any of this or the beginnings of these are seen on past reports. She came back and said the radiologist said no. In retrospect, I should have asked to speak with the radiologist, but was too blown away to think straight. Good luck on your tests next week. Not such a great time of the year to be going through this huh?
Best wishes to you as well,
Karen

[NY2007]

Hi, I am 42 need core biopsy for a cluster of microcalcification. I'm high risk - my sister had BA when she was 35. I had Fibroadenoma when I was 22. I am feeling that it's malignant, and I feel that the whole world is different now. I just started a new job...I wouldn't resign my old job and came to a new job if I knew I have to go through this...Best wishes to you all. We have to stay strong..

[HazelLynn]

Hi Karen, Thanks for your note to me too.  Yes lets keep each other posted and pray that we are all alright - poor you having such horrid medical staff, why they have to be so nasty is beyond me, especially when we need such support at this terrible time.  I am worried as my husband is sick too and is waiting for another biopsy on his kidneys after having two previous ones where the doctor hit the muscle instead and all I can think of is are my children, as I am sure you are too with yours.  What is your next step now? mine is to go in on Tuesday for an X Ray to look at the Pleomorphic calcifications - I just hope they speak English as we live in Portugal and I cannot understand the language properly.  I will let you know if I find anything out on Tuesday, fingers crossed for us both.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[HazelLynn]

Hi - when is your biopsy due? and please tell me what a core biopsy is? - I have to have a biopsy under surgery but I have no idea what that is called.  I too am high risk being an old mum - had four babies between the age of 37 - 41, so that may quadruple my risk factor, plus I lost my mum to breast cancer, so I too am panicking like crazy too.  Let me know when your biopsy is due and keep me informed - and fingers crossed for all of us.

Best wishes,
Hazel

[NY2007]

Hi Hazel,
here is a link about core needle biopsy - http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/biopsy/core.asp. mine is due 12/6/07, and I need to wait at least a week to get pathology result...My first mamogram was 11/9/07.. the waiting time is killing me, I am very anxious now. It seems you have more going on in your life than I do. I have a teenager..Will keep you informed, and fingers crossed for all of us too....I am trying to stay calm...and planning go to Christmas parties..

[riley180]

Hi.
The anxieties are unfortunately part of the process. The mammograms and ultrasounds are all preliminary - only the biopsy will give definitive proof. And the waiting is hell.

It is not surprising that you had previous mammograms which were normal, and now are suspicious - the test improves its detection rate as you grow older. It is difficult to say that all the microcalcifications suddenly appeared within the span of a year, it may only be a function of an improved detection of the mammo.

The "left-over milk" actually refers to the development of sacs which are designed to produce milk. The structures persist, not the milk per se.

Stay positive and stay on course.  I lost my foster mom to breast cancer, she never had a mammogram and was diagnosed too late. You are facing the threat of the disease at its earliest stage, you have more going for you than you think.

[KR62]

Thank you for your response. Yes, I do have to keep in mind IF it is something it is early on and treatments are available. Yes, the waiting is the most stressful of all. I wish they could have just done the biopsy then and there instead of having to wait 3 weeks and let my mind keep racing. I am very sorry on the loss of your foster Mom.
I do hope that with the advancements of technologies and testing equipment many more can be caught earlier to allow for immediate treatment/cure.Thanks for bringing this up, as a potential answer to why it was not noted before.
Thanks again,
Karen

[KR62]

I am sorry to hear you are not only facing some testing on yourself, but also on your husband. My husband actually had kidney cancer 6 yers ago. His was an encapsulated tumor on his right kidney, so his treatment was to remove the kidney. Painful surgery to go through, but I am happy to say he is fine now--still gets scanned every 6 months, so I am happy he is being watched.
Good luck on Tuesday with your Xray. My biopsy isn't until 12/21--I'll keep you all posted and I hope you will keep me posted on your course as well.
Is there an interpreter service available to you in Portugal at the medical center? If they do not have this available, see if there is a telephone number available through the phone service there that can handle the interpretation for you. We have this service available in the U.S., I'm not sure if it international or not---I will try to look into this for you and let you know.
Prayers to all,
Karen

[KR62]

I'm wishing you positive thoughts and prayers on your biopsy on 12/6. Please keep us posted on this.
Best Wishes,
Karen

[HazelLynn]

Hi, thanks for the site for the core biopsy - I had a look at it and understand more about it now. Best wishes,
Hazel

[HazelLynn]

Hi Karen,

Thanks for your post back, sorry that your husband had been sick too, but great news that hes fine now - My husband should have been right by now if the doctor had successfully performed the biopsy first time around.  I will check out at the hospital if they have an interpretor if I get chance, otherwise I will have to muddle through in pidgeon Portuguese, its going to be a rush as we have to be there by 7.30 am, then my husband has to get the children back for school and then return to me.
Will be in touch soon.  It really helps having you to post - thanks.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[HazelLynn]

Hi,  I just wanted to let you know that I had my biopsy on the left on a lump and on the right the doctor did a biopsy to remove the Pleomorphic Calcifications, I was told that they were different from the last mammogram - more round, so that was a good sign (I think), the doctor said that the surgeon will probably remove them after Christmas instead of monitoring them as with me being high risk there is no benefit waiting for them to develop into anything.  The results will come back in about ten days - my husband also had his kidney biopsy yesterday,so will receive the results about the same time as me - so hopefully by Christmas we will be on a road to successful treatments.  The biopsies were not bad at all, its the waiting thats going to be the hardest.  Luckily the doctor spoke English and was absolutely fantastic.  Hope all goes well for you all.
Best wishes Hazel

[NY2007]

Hello all, I just had my biopsey, it took longer than I thought because the MD doing the biopsey is under a instruction/direction of another radiologist. Hope my breast tissue didn't get any damage than it suppose to be. Wish I could refuse the new MD to do the biopsey for me. But I was told that the staff radiologist is retiring, so he has to direct the new MD to do the procedure. Well this add more stress on me. I was told that the procedure was a well down. Now I have to wait for a week to get the verdict...Best wishes to you all... No matter the result is good or bad, I believe I will appreciate my life more each day...

[HazelLynn]

Fingers crossed for you, me and everyone else going through the same thing that things come out in our favour.  

[KR62]

I'm glad to hear your biopsies went well!!! Happier to hear the shape of the cells sounding better. I of course will keep you in my prayers and hope the results in 10 days are negative!! I'm also hoping the same for your husband's biopsy as well. How difficult for you both to be going through something like this right now. At least with being so busy with Christmas shopping and gatherings, it does help to keep you mind off things at times. I am happy you had a doctor who spoke English and could explain things for you.
Take care and keep in touch,
Karen  

[KR62]

I of course will keep my fingers crossed for you and everyone else. Your positive attitude about the results is a great one, and is very comforting to hear. Thank you for that. I'm sure the new doctor did a fine job, or the supervising doctor would have jumped right in. Keep us posted on the results, I'm praying they will be negative. Keep in mind 85% of biopsies are negative---it's the waiting and worrying that affects 100% of us. Keep your positive outlook--it's contagious!!
Best Wished
Karen

[HazelLynn]

Hi Karen and everyone, hope you are all getting through this time as best as possible - its dreadful waiting itsnt it, I keep getting heat by waves of fear and panic and then it passes and I try to be normal, I am forever on the computer still trying to read more into the reports than is there, but like us all, all we can do is wait for the results from the doctor.  My husbands biopsy report came through, he has a kidney disease FSGS which he thinks he started with as a child, so we are still continuously running to and fro to the same hospital, hopefully the treatment will help him.  Fingers crossed for a better New Year for us all, and for our children.
Best wishes,
Hazel

[KR62]

Nice to hear from you. I'll have to look up the condition your husband has. Is there treatment that can be done to help it? Hope so!!  I'm sure you must be pretty crazy at this point waiting for those results. I'm praying and keeping everything crossed the biopsy will be negative. I have one more week to wait for my biopsy(not being done until next Friday) and then I'm sure I'll be experiencing the waves you are now. I've just been trying to keep myself busy getting everything ll set for Christmas, so that does help pass the time some. Let me know of your results when you get them. Take care and God Bless you and your family.
Karen

[HazelLynn]

Hi Karen,

By now you have probably had your biopsy, I do hope things turn out well for you and that you get your results quickly and that they are good ones.  I had my biopsies on the 6th and am still waiting, even though I have tried to rush things up.  You asked what my husband had - its FOCUL SEGMENTAL GLOBULARSCLEROSIS - seems there isnt a cure, just treatment for the symptoms, he thinks he started with it as a child.  Please let me know how you get on, I am gunning for you and all the other brave ladies on this site and for myself and family.  MERRY CHRISTMAS when it comes.  
Hazel

[KR62]

Hi I was just thinking about you and had hoped you had gotten your results back--still got the fingers crossed for good news!! I did have my stereotactic biopsy this past Friday (21st). With a little Ativan on board, I was very relaxed for the procedure. Other than the quick pinch of the needle for the lidocaine followed by less than 10 second burning sensation, I didn't feel a thing. Certainly much better than anticipated!!! Now the wait is on again. I will have a follow up mammogram on Thursday 12/28---as they couldn't do after my procedure because of a hematoma--then meet with the doctor on Friday. Not sure if I'll get the results because of the Christmas holiday--pathology most likely closed until Wednesday. Hoping and praying for you, me and everyone on this site for good news and the strength to handle whatever lies ahead. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.

[HazelLynn]

Hi,  Just wanted to wish you all the best for Christmas and to say that I hope things will be better for you in 2008.  Best wishes to everyone on this site
Hazel

[NY2007]

Thanks Hazel, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. My breast surgeon said I have to do an excitional biopsy in mid-January, another long wait again, but I have scheduled with another breast surgeon for a 2nd opinion before the procedure...

[HazelLynn]

Hi,  Thanks NY - hope you are doing ok. According to my specialist and biopsy doctor - I too will have an excitional biopsy about the same time as you - but as yet I havent had my results, so I dont know whats going on.  I keep ringing and ringing for some answers but have heard nothing yet -been waiting 20 days - just hope I can keep my exasperation under control.  Keep the posts going so that we know how you get on and good for you getting a second opinion.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hazel