Growing microcalcifications

plavky
plavky Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

Has anyone had experience with microcalcifications showing up on mammogram as benign and later turning into cancer?

HAd a biopsy done 5 years ago and showed benign but new mammogram shows growth of microcalcifications.  Could these benign results change over time?

Scheduled for ultra sound and special mammogram next week.

 

Thanks!

Comments

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    edited February 2017 #2
    Ask the docs

    The reason you're being called back for ultrasound and special mammo is they want to be sure about those microcalcifications.   It sounds like this is a concern and the concern needs to be ruled out or confirmed.  I have no explantion for you unfortunately and did not have microcalcifications, I had a mass.  I know how stressful it is to be called back for a better look after a mammogram.  Good luck next week.  Of course, they're not going to be able to tell you a thing at this point other than what they've already told you.  Ask lots of questions when you go back.  When I have been called back (serveral times), the radiologist always talks to me after.  If you're unsure about this, ask the mammography tech if you can speak with the radiologist after and get your questions answered. 

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    edited February 2017 #3
    I agree with Suzanne -

    make sure you have a one-one with doctor - get all your questions answered .   I would also get copies of your scans and X-ray // start a file at home with scans - nice to have a point of reference in case of a move or new doctor's office. 

    Best if luck.. Vicki Sam

  • cati0314
    cati0314 Member Posts: 203
    #4
    microcalcifications

    I did originally have microcalcifications which were biopsied and negative for cancer.  My doctor told me she had to keep a close eye on me.  She did not.  Within 2 years I had a 6cm IDC.  When I asked her why she had me down to every 6 months check up she said that was protocol and a tumor that size could develop in that length of time.  I fired her and went to MD Andersen.  They did more tests and found that I was BRCA1.  Had bilateral and hysterectomy.  6 yrs later I'm still here but have physical problems that frighten me.  Must contact my onc for consultation.  Stay on top of this.  I wonder if some docs do a mastectomy because of microcalcifications.  Best to you, Sharon

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #5
    microcalcifications

    I had several of these that kept showing up and one mammogram they had grown but the radiologist said nothing to worry about.  My primary said the same thing.  I asked his nurse what would she do, she said get a second opinion.  First off my sister is a 14 year survivor of triple negative breast cancer so yes I was scared.  I had already seen a breast doctor several years before that for a second opinion which turned out to be nothing.  So I made my appointment and went to see the breast doctor.  She said she wasn't too concerned with the  microcalcifications (several of them) but was more concerned about a mass that had been growing and couldn't understand why the radiologist said nothing about that.  She did a biopsy on everything and thankfully everything was normal.  She has been following me yearly now after a six month check up following the biopsy.  I also had an ultrasound and the breast doctor even did one in her office.  I can say that the biopsy was no fun and still have problems with pain occasionally but my sister said that is normal.  Guess I was worrying a lot because of my sister and I had just lost my husband to cancer.

    Wishing you the best.

  • Webblock
    Webblock Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2017 #6
    cati0314 said:

    microcalcifications

    I did originally have microcalcifications which were biopsied and negative for cancer.  My doctor told me she had to keep a close eye on me.  She did not.  Within 2 years I had a 6cm IDC.  When I asked her why she had me down to every 6 months check up she said that was protocol and a tumor that size could develop in that length of time.  I fired her and went to MD Andersen.  They did more tests and found that I was BRCA1.  Had bilateral and hysterectomy.  6 yrs later I'm still here but have physical problems that frighten me.  Must contact my onc for consultation.  Stay on top of this.  I wonder if some docs do a mastectomy because of microcalcifications.  Best to you, Sharon

    microcalcifications

    My doctor wants to me to have a mastectomy because of microcalcifications. There's no lump but I've had 3 biopsies and she says they're cancer and there's a lot of them taking up a large portion of the front area of my breast. It's still considered stage0 DCIS. Tomorrow I have an appt with a plastic surgeon about reconstruction.  Suz

  • Bippy68
    Bippy68 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2017 #7
    Waiting for results

    Hi,

         It has been 3 years and 2 months since I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer on my left breast. It was stage II, 2.5 centimeters, so I had a lumpectomy, 34 radiation treatments and was put on Arimidex. Because I have Muscular Dystrophy I was unable to tolerate the hormonal drugs but for only 18 months. Last week I had my regular mammogram and was sent a letter saying, "Suspicious calcifications," in the other breast. I spoke with the surgeon yesterday who said to me, "It could be something," but it will be small if it is. He couldn't feel anything but there was a clump of microcalcifications that showed on the mammogram. He did a steriotactic biopsy, and I will know in 3 days the results. The waiting is really difficult, but I know all of you have been there. Thanks for your input. Bippy

  • Kats2
    Kats2 Member Posts: 126
    #8
    Hi Bippy...

    I have Invasive Lobular BC. It's the sneaky one! There are no lumps to be felt with it. Sometimes there's just a thickening of the skin. Lobular is an understudied subset of BC. It's very hard to detect on mammography and also hard to see on CT scans, etc. It looks nothing like ductal BC. 3-D Mammograms are recommended for us followed by an ultrasound scan.

    I had microcalcifications  a good number of years and no radiologist thought much of it until finally the little dots presented a certain pattern which might indicate breast cancer. I had a biopsy and bingo! it WAS Invasive breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation and then was put on Arimidex. The thing was that it had already metasticised to my bones. I'm being treated for that now and doing well. But Lobular BC is nothing to second guess about!

    The very first International Symposium on Invasive Lobular BC was held in Sept of 2016 in Pittsburg, PA. The second one will be held in Boston in 2018. The medical profession must be kept better informed on what tests to use in detecting this type of BC and how to follow up on it. Too many radiologists can't recognize it on mammograms and then write a letter saying that your mammogram was normal. That's what happened to me and I went faithfully every year for my mammos.

    So, to anyone who has Lobular BC, my advice is to be super on top of things! I'm glad that more is being learned about our BC with these conferences,etc.  Good luck!    Kats2

  • Judimike
    Judimike Member Posts: 2
    #9
    Same with me

    I had gotten a letter saying my ammo was normal for several years. Found a lump 9 months after last screening, and it is invasive ductal carcinoma. Estrogen and progesterone positive. HER 2 negative. Had a lumpectomy,stage 2a idc.  First I heard the microcalcification term was when I met with the radiation oncologist. He assumed my Dr had been watching it and I knew about it. I see medical oncologist this week for the rest of the story. 

    Be glad your doc is paying attention. I had discomfort from the biopsy, but not severe pain. Ditto with the lumpectomy and sentinel lymph removal. Did not use pain meds, back to work in a week. 

    It is Mazing what can be done today, but ask lots of questions, take someone to appts for the extra ears.

  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441 Member
    #10
    microcalcs - I had good news even after a recurrence!

    I had many years of normal mammograms.  They showed scattered round individual calcifications that werre deemed to be benign.  When a "cluster" of "micro"calcifications showed up, they wanted to biopsy them.  Turns out is was DCIS (otherwise known as stage 0).  Nothing was invasive, just a lot of dead, rapidly multiplying, abnormal looking cells blocking a duct.  So I had a lumpectomy.  Because the grade of the cells was "high", meaning they were very abnormal (but not invasive...), I went ahead and had radiation.  That was in 2009.  These days some doctors see radiation as possibly unnecessary.  I took a follow-up pill for 1.5 years out of the recommended 5.  In 2015 I had another cluster of microcalcifications show up, same duct area.  Somehow surgery and radiation missed a couple, the docs guess... So I had another lumpectomy.  The diffrerence in treatment was that I had a genetic test (Oncotype Dx) done on the 2015 biopsy tissue and it was found that my cancer's genes weren't very aggressive and so my score was low.  That meant I could probably do without radiation this second time.  So here it is 2017, 2 years since my second diagnosis, and I am taking a different follow-up pill for 5 years (4 to go).  Please don't rush into having surgery.  You have lots of time.  There is a great deal of controversy over whether or not women with DCIS are being "overtreated" (fear of being sued, lack of knowledge about "watchful waiting").  Please Google: Overtreatment of DCIS    DCIS is not one kind of abnormality; everybody's is different.  Some become invasive, some NEVER do.  How do we know which yours is?  After the biopsy, ask for the Oncotype Dx test!  It gives you lots of information.

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