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microcalcifications

I just recieved the results from my biopsy and they were "normal tissue".I was told I had a Birads score of 4B due to a 1.5cm area of microcalcifications in clusters. One Dr. says I should have the area removed because it's not "normal" issue. It was just caught before the clusters decided to classify themselves. Another Dr. says I am fine and to just have a mammo again in 1 year. I am 47 years old and my 45 year old sister has already been diagnosed with breast cancer. I really don't want surgery, but I don't feel comfortable waiting either. Any suggestions?


This discussion is related to Microcalcifications.
3 Responses
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587083 tn?1327120262
Hi again,
Sorry for misreading your post.:(
I thought that you didn't have a biopsy yet.
Still, I would agree with your first doctor to have the suspicious area removed.As bluebutterfly2222 suggested it's a minor intervention and most of all it will give you peace of mind especially since your sister was diagnosed with breast cancer also.
Wishing you all the best.

Helpful - 0
962875 tn?1314210036
I'm not sure why one doctor would say it was normal tissue and another would say it was not normal, if they were reading the same pathology report. Did you ask them about that?

If the two conflicting recommendations ARE based on their differing evaluations of the same report, I would suggest you see a breast specialist as a "tie-breaker" if at all possible.

Be sure to take your images and the full pathology report from your biopsy .("Not normal" is not enough information for anyone to go by--there are many abnormalties ranging from those of minor importance  to ones that are of more serious concern and raise your risk for BC.)

If a surgical excision is recommended, it is  not very  major surgery, and you would probably feel more peace of mind, esp. given your sister's hx of breast cancer.

Another thing to consider: If there has been other close family hx of breast cancer, has your sister considered having genetic testing for the BRCA 1 and 2 mutations? If she chooses to do that and is positive, you would likely be able to be tested at a reduced cost, to determine if you also are positive and therefore have a considerably elevated risk for BC.

Not everyone wishes to go this route, but the results can provide information regarding about how aggressive a person might want to be in dealing with any breast abnormalities  detected, as well as leading   people with positive results to increase surveillance or even consider prophyllactic measures to reduce their risk.

Please let us know how things turn out if you do obtain another opinion, by adding additional comments to this same thread.

Best wishes...
Helpful - 0
587083 tn?1327120262
Hi,
Many women have breast calcification and they are very often benign in nature.Only when seen in cluster ( grouped together) they are suspicious and have to be investigated further.That's why a biopsy is often a recommended procedure to give an accurate diagnostic.If your first radiologist had advised you to have the calcification removed,I would ask him/her why removing the cluster before a biopsy is done.The first doctor will explain to you the reasoning of his/her decision.
I wouldn't follow the advice of your second doctor to wait one year for a follow up,because a BI-RADS Category 4 means that there is a possibility that something serious is going on and a biopsy is usually recommended to check the suspicious area.
If you are not sure what to do,you could seek the opinion of a third Oncologist to make sure that nothing is left unanswered.
Take care and best wishes....
Helpful - 0
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