My Breast calcifications "shape" indicative of possible malignancy?

[eternalrose3]

Hello,
I am a 40 year olf female who 5 days ago was sent for further imaging after a suspicious mammogram. The right breast was cleared of any problems other than very dense breast tissue. However the left breast even on the better more involved type mammogram showed calcifications that the radiologist said that she didnt like the "shape" of them. And I am skippping sonogram and going straight for biopsy. I have no breast cancer history whatsover in either side of my family back that we know of ever. My question is this, because the radiologist at the breast imaging center that I went to did not like the shape of them, does that mean that it is possible cancer or can the shape be not to her liking, can I still be in the 80% benign category? I am worried so much that I am making myself sick, and the wait for the biopsy is hard as well as the wait for the biopsy results will be even harder. Just wondering even with her not liking the 'shape" or pattern has nayone else been told this? As well as if the doctors opinion here thinks I have a good chance it could still be benign? Thanks so much and blessings to all of you.

[eternalrose3]

I get it done May 11th.

[zouzi]

Hi there,when the imagery on mammograms shows that calcification is in cluster (grouped like a bunch of grapes, so to speak) it becomes suspicious and a biopsy is necessary to determine the nature of the lesion.I don't know what is the score of your BIRADS but I presume that it could be a 4 since a biopsy was ordered.I've read in this Forum that many women who had the same problem as you have, were happy to know that the result of their biopsy was negative for cancer.Radiologists are usually very good in interpreting the images shown on mammograms, they certainly can see if something is suspicious,but they can never know what it really is.Only a biopsy can tell for sure if something is right or not.We all went through the same stressful time you are experiencing now...this is unavoidable All I can tell you is to be patient and not to dwell too much about what it could be.The waiting is so unpleasant and our minds will makes us think about the worst...but,.this is not what usually happens,a high percentage of biopsies are good findings and that's what you should concentrate your thoughts on.I wish you the best and I hope that your biopsy will give you a favorable result.Take care...

[justme731]

I am having a biopsy on the 12th for the same thing. I am 26 and they told me that they did not like the shape of the calcifications. I have been trying to focus on the 80% benign part! I have no history of breast cancer in my6 family either. I will be praying for you and I hope you get good results.

[eternalrose3]

Dear Zouzi and Justme,
Thank you both so much for your replies. They never mentioned anything about a BIRAD score. What does a BIRAD score mean and should I ask them before they begin the biopsy if they have given me a score? I have one more question about calcifications... are they a tumor or are they cancer theirselves. (IF there is a cancer I guess I am trying to ask if the calcifications in themselves ARE the cancer? I dont know a better way to put it?) Thanks for your prayers and well wishes and I will look back on here for your answers and also definately keep you posted on the oiutcome after the 11th. They said it will take 2 days to get the results back. They did say it was small but they just didnt like the "shape'. Hugs, thanks, and prayers to both of you. Carol

[zouzi]

BIRADS is a score that radiologist use to rate mammograms and ultrasounds tests .The scores go from 0 to 5. A score of 2 is a benign condition,a 3 is also benign but has to be monitored every 6 or 12 months.BIRAD 4 is  suspicious and a biopsy is recommended.A score of 5, means that the it is highly suspicious and of course it also has to be biopsied.Calcifications are little calcium deposits scattered around the breast tissue,many women have this condition and they are not cancerous.When they are in cluster (Grouped) then they become suspicious and usually a biopsy is ordered to rule out cancer.A lot of biopsied done on calcifications that are clustered and have a BIRAD score of 4, are found to be of benign nature.You can call your doctor or radiologist to inquire about your BIRAD score.Take care now and try not to worry too much..and thanks for your prayers,we all need that.

[eternalrose3]

Thank you so much for replying back. My radiologost who read my images is also going to be the one to perform the biopsy. She was very impersonal. I wanted to ask her things like why only one breast had them (which I am glad only one did) and also why and how calcifications are in your breasts besides being cancerous and what they are made of. She didnt give me the time of day she just said she will be sending my results and her recomendation for the biopsy to a doctor that I dont even know who I found out was the attending doctor over my GYN who ordered my age 40 old mammo. I had a mammo about 4 years ago and they wanted that to compare it to but just my luck they could not locate the films anywhere in their system. No doctor has yet to talk to me. I find that disturbing to say the very least. I will call my doctor tomorrow and ask them to look up that BIRAD score. Do you know what BIRAD stands for? Also I am just curious... are you a breast cancer survivor or one that was benign when biopsied? You are welcome for teh prayers and tons of them are going up for everyone on here and elsewhere who is going through this. I feel blessed to have found this website, and I thank you also for your prayers. Your reply makes me feel less anxious and has given me some encouragement and I thank you for that as well. Blessings.......

[zouzi]

BIRADS means Breast Imaging Reporting And Data System.This system was created by radiologist to classify the imagery in mammograms and Ultrasounds.So they use it to rate the mammograms as I explained to you in my previous comment.Yes I am a cancer survivor. My BIRADS score was a 5 and that meant that it was highly suspicious of malignancy.I didn't have any calcifications but only a tiny cancerous tumor (8mm) that was caught very early.I had surgery,followed by 4 weeks of radiotherapy and now I am taking Arimidex,because my tumor was estrogen receptive.and the purpose of this medication is to eliminate the estrogen from the body to prevent a recurrence.Now I am doing quite well and I'll always be thankful to all the wonderful people in this Forum( in particular Japdip) who encouraged and helped me through it all.I thank you so much for your prayers...even though I am feeling very well now,I never forget to pray for everyone in this community.Feel free to ask any question you want and if I can help you I will.By the way,calcification are like tiny dots scattered around the breast and they are not cancerous and many women have them .Only when they are grouped and form a certain pattern,then they have to be further investigated.Hope that I have helped you a little bit.Please take care and keep us posted.Bless you too.

[eternalrose3]

Ok thanks for letting me know what it meant. (I was just curious) I had clear fluid come out of my right and sode when compressed and none out of the left. She said the clear fluid was normal in most people and she sees that alot. But when none came out of the left side it made me wonder if the calcifications were blocking the left side  ducts where the problem was. The calcifications must be clustered and I remember when they showed me the films they looked like they were and as I said before she didnt like the shape so I guess it time to even though they are, and she made that statement to pray for the best because I still have hopes of being in that 80% which from what you and just me said is still possible. Yesterday my regular medical doctor felt my lymph nodes in and around my armpit and didnt feel any that were enlarged. Have a wonderful day. Praying for all and wishing you blessings, Carol

[justme731]

I was just curious if you have heard of a link between breast and ovarian cancer. I am having an u/s done of my ovaries today because I have a cyst on the right. It has been there for awhile but they want to make sure that there are no changes to it in light of the problems with the breast. It is encouraging to hear that some BIRAD 4 have a chance of being benign, its encouraging!

Eternalrose3 -
I am still praying and hope that you get benign results, let me know how the biopsy went, I am nervous about mine!

[zouzi]

I am afraid I cannot give you an answer about that...I heard that maybe there is something related to this, but I cannot venture to give you any information that is erroneous.If you post your question anew I am sure that you'll have an answer for what you are asking.Best wishes to you and eternalrose3.

[eternalrose3]

Dear Justme and Zouzi,
I havent heard of any connection between the two so I cannot specualte. Did you get your biopsy results and ovary check results back yet? I got my biopsy done and it was not as bad as I thought the procedure would be and my results did in fact come back benign, I want to thank you all for your well wishes and prayers! Now I want to share something with you and ask you and anyone who reads this a question. After my results I felt the weight of the world come off of me. This next part I have to share with you all though. Not before or even during the biopsy, which was the same kind that everyone described having, did they ever mention to me before or during the procedure that they were putting a titanium microchip into my breast to mark the spot where they took the breast tissue out that was biopsied for any future films done. Did any of you have a microchip inserted as well? Has anyone ever heard about this being done here on the forum or anywhere? Would they not have been required by law to discuss this with me first? Please give me your thoughts on the microchip. Thanks and have a Happy Memorial Day weekend.
Blessings, Carol

[iam1butterfly]

I had the titanium mircochip inserted during my 2007 stereotactic biopsy. And, it's true, it serves as a marker for future diagnostic comparisons. In fact, during this year's mammogram, the technician who was giving me my mammogram noted that she could, indeed, see the mircochip.
As to being told anything about the use of the chip, prior to the procedure... yes, I was shown an example of the micro chip and it was explained to me as to why it was being placed. It never occurred to decline having it inserted; and, understanding its function, it's comforting to know that I have it.

P.S. glad to hear of your favorable outcome.

[zouzi]

Very glad to know that your biopsy results came back benign.Congratulations...this is indeed very good news!!!

[eternalrose3]

Thank you, I guess I just had a bad doc and nurse. I wasnt explained anything until after the biopsy when they walked me to get a mammo afterwards and I asked why because I only had the steri strips across the inscision and I was afraid that when they put me in the mammo they would come loose. Well thats when I was told they had to mammo me to see if the chip was in place and I was like what chip? flattening me for the mammo caused me to have a hematoma that she squished back out of me and re-steri stripped me. I am glad to know that you have good thoughts on the chip that makes me feel better about having it myself now since they didnt tell me at thing. Can you feel any scar tissue forming? I sure can. Blessings, Carol

[jendfly]

I saw my marker under the magnification screen and it looks like a ribbon. How cool is that? I was told that it was placed for future mammograms so that the next radiologist will know that the site has already been biopsied. It's very strange they didn't tell you about it though.
I had a lumpectomy in April and 5 weeks later had to have another one at the radio oncologist's insistence. They found more microcalcifications in the tumor bed. They tried to do a wire loc to do surgery, but I was still too swollen. I go back in tomorrow for another try at it and surgery on Wednesday if they can complete the wire loc. The first doc who did the mammo saw the mc and showed my husband and me. The doc that was supposed to do the wire loc couldn't see them and then two days later I talked to another doctor at the imaging center who said she could see them. She is doing my wire loc tomorrow. It has been a long time since surgery and I really want to get all the treatment out of the way, but I feel like this is taking forever.

[behr156]

geezzz i m going through this as we speak...i  just had my biospy and  i m scared to death i  had my ovries removed two years ago because of a spot...now this ..i have  non hodgkins lymphoma for t 8 years now but this is scary for me right now....whay do Dr. say stuff like that to  us...the one who recommened the biospy for me said from a scale from 1 top 10  he was worried about a 9...what the heck does  that do for me... i should know something by friday...please...be fast...