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percentage of malignancy in clustered microcalcifications in one breast only

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Posted 4/20/2012 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone been through this situation?

I was a little shell shocked when the radiologist talked to me about the needle biopsy.

Can there be tumors in a microcalcification???

I didn't know enough to ask the right questions.

Would appreciate any input from anyone who has had this issue

Thanks

Posted 4/20/2012 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Radiologists become concerned when they see clusters of microcacifications. They are sometimes, but not always, an indication of cancer, usually early stage or "in situ" cancer. More often than not, they are benign. So try not to stress too much!

If you have microcalcifications, then you should definitely have regular mammograms. Microcalcifications are one of the few things they can identify as a possible precursor to breast cancer.

Hope you get benign results!

Hugs,
BEV
Posted 4/20/2012 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
thank you Bev.

That helps me alot

 

Posted 4/23/2012 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had a lump and when looking at that, they found a few different areas of microcalcifications.
I was shocked when they said it was cancer. To give a percentage I think would be difficult. I looked at it as only "x" percentage are cancerous, but for me in my mind I obviously had a 50/50 chance of hearing the news.

I quickly had it taken care of - within two weeks I had a double mastectomy w/immediate reconstruction. I am doing well!!

They are not tumors, but rather a cluster of cells. Hopefully you're going in for a biopsy? Get it over with. I always say it's better to know what you're dealing with.

I don't think regular mammograms 'help' microcalfications. They need to be looked at. They are different from the very common calcifications that many many women have in their breasts.
Please keep us posted! Good Luck and stay strong. :)
Posted 4/23/2012 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for responding to my post. I am having my biopsy tomorrow morning; if I am lucky I will have results back by Thursday, but if they aren't back Thurs I will have to wait until Monday as the doctor does not work Fri

Just a few questions if you don't mind....
1. Did reconstruction involve implants? If not, how did they do it?
2. Do you have to take tamoxifen, and if so, what side effects are you having?
3. Any chemo or radiation involved?
4. Will mammograms continue to be useful in following you? Or do they have to do ultrasounds or something else?
Again, thanks
Posted 4/26/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, Ive been through the same. I had a lump and went in for a mammo. We found out that the lump was nothing...but there's these calcifications that are definitely a reason to be concerned.

I had 2 biopsies and found the calcifications to be high grade (comedo) DCIS that was so widespread that I could not have a lumpectomy.

I have since had a bi-lateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction via expanders. Now silicone implants that are growing to be comfortable (all this happened in Oct 2011 and implant exchange in Feb 2012).

My advice for you: Try to stay calm. I think waiting....(for doctor appts, for lab results etc) is the worst part of the whole thing. Your imagination and the wealth of information on the internet can drive you insane! Try to keep positive thoughts. Stay busy! and if by chance it does turn out to be a less than ideal situation, then know that there are many that have come before you and will stand beside you through it.

Sending you peace and positive energy,
Dietta
Posted 4/26/2012 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much1

 

Posted 5/2/2012 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
hi everyone, I am new and really scared with what I am experiencing.

I am 34 y.o., my aunt from the father side died of bc at 45 y.o. My mammo showed clustered of microcalcifications, my u/s and MRI showed abnormality and is suspicious with malignancy, with BIRADS 4.

The onco said I need to have biopsy thru open excision. I am still confused whether to do it or not. I am scared.

Please help and let me know of your thoughts.
Many thanks...
Posted 5/7/2012 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Betsy, I am so sorry that I am just now getting back to you! Wondering how your biopsy went or if you posted it somewhere else?

To answer your questions -
I had immediate resconstruction of silicone implants. I did not have the tissue expanders.

I went to one of the top oncologists in our area and found that I do not need to take Tamoxefen nor do I need chemo or radiation. Some do depending on what type of cancer, whether it has spread to lymph nodes etc.

No mammograms and that's why I chose the bi-lateral. Otherwise I would have been in there every 6 months checking the other one. My first 6 month visit is coming up soon. My surgeon said either he or someone (this will be my gynocologist) needs to do a good physical exam, feeling into collar bone and chest area.

They don't like to leave those abnormal cells in there regardless of what stage they're in now. My radiologist explained that there is A, B and C. -
A is abnormal, B is benign and C is cancerous. For everything but B, they like to do something.
Of course, everyone has their own and sometimes very different opinion. :)

Thinking of you!
Posted 5/7/2012 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Sunny -
If I were you, I'd definitely have the surgical biopsy! Would you rather have peace of mind or wondering, especially being at high risk like you are. Finding BC in the early stages is so critical and treatable!

I had a surgical biopsy and it was a very simple process. It was outpatient surgery. That saved my life possibly. It's what detected my Breast Cancer!
Of COURSE, it all sounds so scary and you wonder why you have to go through it. I truly thought mine was going to end up just being a big inconvenience.

I had my appt/consult with surgeon on a Thurs (I believe) and was scheduled for surgery the following Tues. They don't like you to wait and not because of emergency but because of anxiety I think. "Get it over with" was a good mentality to have.

Good Luck to you. Please keep us updated!
Posted 6/6/2012 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
betsy7122 & Sunny How did everything go ?

I am new.. found abnormal cells (ALH) but cannot have removed because of a giant hematoma left from biopsy.. was told I have to wait 2 months :(

Waiting is awful.. thinking of you both and hoping you got good news.
Heather
Posted 6/6/2012 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi c-mom. Waiting is hard. Sorry to hear about the hematoma. If the cells are cancer, then it is probably early stage, if found in the microcalcifications, and most breast cancers take years to grow. So two months, in terms of breast cancer, is not very long. Even with invasive cancers, it can often take 6 to 8 weeks just to get a surgery scheduled! Not to minimize your situation, but just want you to be assured that waiting that long won't really make much difference in terms of brca. Let us know how things go.

Hugs...
bEV
Posted 11/11/2014 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone. I just got a call today after having a routine mammogram about 2 weeks ago. I was called and told I need to come in for another mammogram with magnifications. I have mircrocalcifications in the left breast.

They of course couldn't give me interpretation over the phone but the tech said she could tell me about the imaging. That's when she told me about the clustered microcalcification in the left breast.

I have been searching and even called the Susan Komen hotline looking for percentages or statistics for these types of findings being cancerous.

From what I've read here even however it seems that more often than not they still take measures to remove the calcifications if they fall within either A or C (of course C always).

But something else I found was this: "The calcifications themselves are not cancer. They occur in disintegrated old cancer cells that were "thrown out in the garbage" but haven't yet been disposed of by the body. While they are waiting to be carted away, the old cells disintegrate and calcify."

Has anyone else been told this or read this anywhere in literature about the microcalcifications? I was feeling better about the statistics, so much says they are usually benign but can also be a precursor to breast cancer or DCIS more specifically.

I will add that I had Stage I Ovarian and have had no occurrence yet at all. I was done with treatment in 2007.

Any and all comments are appreciated please.

Thank you!
Marii
Posted 10/24/2015 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I been reading the posts and found members to be compassionate & very helpful.
My mom is a post menopause breast cancer survivor. Early detection gave her the fortunate position to have mastectomy with no chemo or radiation. No lymph nodes were affected. She did take tamoxifen for five years.
I am 50 yrs old with history of pretty much normal mammo results. Dense breasts. I recently lost 115 lbs after gastric bypass surgery. Most recent digital mammo on 10/19 showed cluster of microcalcifications. I was called back for additional images including magnified views done 10/21. Radiologist recommended stereotactic biopsy and scheduled immediately had it on 10/22. Bi-RADS 4B. I have appt with gyn next week 10/28 to get biopsy results.
The wait is pretty much unbearable. I'm short tempered & I find I cannot focus on anything.
I may be jumping the gun but does anyone know if I might be able to have bilateral mastectomy even if this may only effect my right breast?
Posted 11/12/2016 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I just read your post from a year ago, and I'm going through the same exact thing that you did. A BI-RAD 4 showed Grouping of suspicious Mirccalifications, on mammography on my yesterday and doctor recommend me to have a sterotactic-guided biopsy. I'm sick with worry!! Can you please tell me what was your outcome. Thank you.
Posted 12/20/2016 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Jojosgirl1 -- My situation almost mirrors yours identically!!

I'm 52 yrs old, going through menopause, after losing 105 lbs from gastric bypass surgery a year ago. I have dense breasts as well and recent mammo and breast US showed microcalcifications in my left breast--BiRADS 4b. I had had an excisional biopsy 5 yrs ago on that breast with benign results. I just had a sterotatic biopsy on Dec 2nd and the results came back as invasive cancer. I meet with the breast surgeon tomorrow to go over the pathology report so I have no idea what to expect.

How has your outcome been? Would love to hear more from you or mbrimatt!!
Posted 2/23/2017 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Going through similar situation right now as all of you ladies. Waiting is the
worst for sure. I am semi-confident it will not be a malignancy however
my mom passed from a rare form of breast cancer (not detectable through
mammography which is terrifying). They found hers on accident when they
thought she tore a muscle in her shoulder pec area while walking their dog.
With a history of breast cancer and being Jewish it makes it difficult to be positive
at times.
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