wondering

I was told I need a biospy done on my right breast due to a cluster of 7 calcifications in my right breast.  I see others here who have the same thing I have going on and not only wish you all good luck, but also to help alleviate my own fears.  I missed 4 mammograms (I know, I was dumb) and now fear I have had these for awhile. I also had a benign tumor removed from the same breast in 2002.   My appointment just to speak to the breast surgeon is 6 weeks away.  The radiologist told me that since my mom (82 years old and a 5 year survivor of DCIS with lymph node removal) had breast cancer and that I had a strong possibilty of these being cancerous too.  In fact, he said that the chance is 50/50.  That sounds high to me.  I would love some reassurance so I don't drive myself nuts with worry.  Thanks for your help in understanding this...I am new at it :-)

[blueann1]

Greetings Tallgirl511
One thing I wished I had done was to go ahead and have my biospy ASAP.  The hospital wanted to do a needed biospy that day but my doctor wanted me to see a breast surgeon which took weeks.  I was upset because I could not just mail my results to the surgeon, because the first visit all he did was to look at the film and say yes you need a needle biospy.  It was a lot of time waiting.  My calcifications were malignancy but I had tons of them and they were clustered and this is I think is a bad sign.  I had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago and now I'm told I"m cancer free.  I say all of that to say I really wished I had just had the hospital do a biospy even if it meant getting another type of biospy later by the surgeon.

[iam1butterfly]

Family history is a definate factor... I have extensive family history of Cancer particularly, Breast and Ovarian Cancer. So, any abnormality sends alarm bells!
But, I don't know about that 50/50 chance that the radiologist told you. He's no doubt looking at your family history along with your own, and drawing his conclusions based on that. When my 2005 mammogram revealed calcifications, the radiologist almost "freaked out" when I told him that I have 2 aunts (on my mom's side) with Breast Cancer and both my sister and a first cousin have had Ovarian Cancer. I was also given the 50/50 odds. Thankfully, I don't; nor have I had Cancer, even though more calcifications appeared in my 2007 mammogram. I too have been inclined to "miss" or put off having the mammograms on a timely basis (largley, for fear of learning that I have yet, another abnormality)... silly, I know because not knowing is worse! By the way, the results of my last diagnostic mammogram (2 weeks ago) stated that my calcifications have been determined to have a 95% chance of being benign. So, you just never know. Best wishes to you and good luck!

[japdip]

I agree that 6 weeks seems like quite a long time to wait for the appnt. with the Surgeon; you might give them a call and tell them that you would be willing to come anytime if they have a cancellation. Where cancer is concerned 6 weeks doesn't mean a lot though ... there is often that much of a delay betweeen testing, biopsy and further surgery if necessary. I'm not in any way saying that your biopsy will be positive for cancer cells ... many biopsies for calcifications come back benign. I think the 50/50 thing would be true with or without family history. I had no family history but did have cancer .... family history does increase the risk but so do many other factors. Just a thought ... is that the only Surgeon in your area ????     Regards ..