microcalcifications what are they

kmf0318
kmf0318 Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have just been told I have microcalcifications on both breasts but my left breast is benign. They are concerned about my right breast of which I have had 2 mammograms. I am now going to a breast specialist. I am 44 years old and will be 45 in a couple of weeks. If I don't have a lump how can this be cancer? I am a little confused. I have had cancer when i was young in my thyroid, I have been cancer free for over 30 years. I just don't understand why the concern over the microcalcifications and I have never heard about them until I had this mammogram a week ago. I had not had a mammogram in over 4 years, which I know was stupid on my part. Please explain to me what this is all about and should I be concerned that they want me to go to this breast specialist. Thank you Kathy
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Comments

  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #2
    I hope I get this right
    There are a couple of types of calcifications. Macro which are not worrisome. It's like they are old cell debris. Then there are microcalcificaltions which can be worrisome. Some micros are also regular cell debris and not cancerous. They are usually spread out like little grains in the breast. The ones that are a problem and what they are probably looking at are a cluster of microcalcifications. These can indicate that they are being sluffed off by a cancer. So they probably saw that the benign breast was not clustered and the other is. Even a cluster of microcalcifications does not always mean a cancer but it means that it needs to be looked at and analysed. I hope I got this right and that it makes sense. Please ladies, jump in and correct me if I'm wrong or just add more information. I had a cluster many years ago and it was benign. My cancer was in a different area and was a small lump and there were no calcifications. The two were not related. Please let us know what is determined and know that we are here for you.
    Stef
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #3
    fauxma said:

    I hope I get this right
    There are a couple of types of calcifications. Macro which are not worrisome. It's like they are old cell debris. Then there are microcalcificaltions which can be worrisome. Some micros are also regular cell debris and not cancerous. They are usually spread out like little grains in the breast. The ones that are a problem and what they are probably looking at are a cluster of microcalcifications. These can indicate that they are being sluffed off by a cancer. So they probably saw that the benign breast was not clustered and the other is. Even a cluster of microcalcifications does not always mean a cancer but it means that it needs to be looked at and analysed. I hope I got this right and that it makes sense. Please ladies, jump in and correct me if I'm wrong or just add more information. I had a cluster many years ago and it was benign. My cancer was in a different area and was a small lump and there were no calcifications. The two were not related. Please let us know what is determined and know that we are here for you.
    Stef

    microcalcifications
    I had microcalcifications since I was 40. When I was 56 the mammogram showed a different configuration that had to be biopsied. I had a choice of surgical or stereotactic and chose stereotactic which came out negative, but the site tested was a little distant from the area of concern. A year later, I went and talked to my surgeon, but she said not to worry. Little did I know that the radiologist who read my annual mammo that year saw shadows but attributed them to the biopsy. It wasn't until 2 years later, that I was dx'd. It had been cancer all along for those 2 years.

    So don't let microcalcifications spook you. Many are benign. But if you have a feeling something is wrong, be assertive about it and have it checked out.

    Lynn
  • kmf0318
    kmf0318 Member Posts: 11
    #4
    fauxma said:

    I hope I get this right
    There are a couple of types of calcifications. Macro which are not worrisome. It's like they are old cell debris. Then there are microcalcificaltions which can be worrisome. Some micros are also regular cell debris and not cancerous. They are usually spread out like little grains in the breast. The ones that are a problem and what they are probably looking at are a cluster of microcalcifications. These can indicate that they are being sluffed off by a cancer. So they probably saw that the benign breast was not clustered and the other is. Even a cluster of microcalcifications does not always mean a cancer but it means that it needs to be looked at and analysed. I hope I got this right and that it makes sense. Please ladies, jump in and correct me if I'm wrong or just add more information. I had a cluster many years ago and it was benign. My cancer was in a different area and was a small lump and there were no calcifications. The two were not related. Please let us know what is determined and know that we are here for you.
    Stef

    thank you that was a great
    thank you that was a great help.
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #5
    Hi and welcome. I too had

    Hi and welcome. I too had microcalcifications and a biopsy was recommended. The radiologist that did the biopsy didn't think it was necessary but we did it any way and I was diagnosised with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). I had a lumpectomy last week and will have radiation treatment but no chemotherapy. There is a school of thought that feels these are small and "precancerous" and there is some evidence that the body will take care of them on their own. I didn't want to take that chance. I am 55 BTW.

    I would recommend a biopsy and then you can go on after you get the results but that is between you and your doctor. Feel free to ask questions, this board is a tremendous source of information and support.

    Maureen
  • kmf0318
    kmf0318 Member Posts: 11
    #6
    lynn1950 said:

    microcalcifications
    I had microcalcifications since I was 40. When I was 56 the mammogram showed a different configuration that had to be biopsied. I had a choice of surgical or stereotactic and chose stereotactic which came out negative, but the site tested was a little distant from the area of concern. A year later, I went and talked to my surgeon, but she said not to worry. Little did I know that the radiologist who read my annual mammo that year saw shadows but attributed them to the biopsy. It wasn't until 2 years later, that I was dx'd. It had been cancer all along for those 2 years.

    So don't let microcalcifications spook you. Many are benign. But if you have a feeling something is wrong, be assertive about it and have it checked out.

    Lynn

    thank you that was a great
    thank you that was a great help
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #7
    Mamogram
    Hey...Don't beat yourself up about not having this awful stuff done to you at 45.........every time I go for a check up there are all these big notices.............. "OVER 50? MAKE SURE YOU BOOK IN TODAY FOR A MAMOGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"........They never mention UNDER 50s.....and there is obviously a BIG problem there too! It is the medical so called 'profession' who has it wrong..........not you. Big Hairy Hug...Tash
  • kmf0318
    kmf0318 Member Posts: 11
    #8
    tasha_111 said:

    Mamogram
    Hey...Don't beat yourself up about not having this awful stuff done to you at 45.........every time I go for a check up there are all these big notices.............. "OVER 50? MAKE SURE YOU BOOK IN TODAY FOR A MAMOGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"........They never mention UNDER 50s.....and there is obviously a BIG problem there too! It is the medical so called 'profession' who has it wrong..........not you. Big Hairy Hug...Tash

    Isnt that the truth. Thanks
    Isnt that the truth. Thanks This site is wonderful. Everyone is so helpful. I feel so much better about this. I am hoping that this will not be cancer. Thank you
  • anitag6012
    anitag6012 Member Posts: 2
    #9
    EveningStar2 said:

    Hi and welcome. I too had

    Hi and welcome. I too had microcalcifications and a biopsy was recommended. The radiologist that did the biopsy didn't think it was necessary but we did it any way and I was diagnosised with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). I had a lumpectomy last week and will have radiation treatment but no chemotherapy. There is a school of thought that feels these are small and "precancerous" and there is some evidence that the body will take care of them on their own. I didn't want to take that chance. I am 55 BTW.

    I would recommend a biopsy and then you can go on after you get the results but that is between you and your doctor. Feel free to ask questions, this board is a tremendous source of information and support.

    Maureen

    Hi, first time for me
    Hi,

    I too had microcalcifications for many years and then all of a sudden they multiplied. Had a biopsy done and got the news have stage 0 ductal carcinoma. I was floored. I had a lumpectomy done this past Wednesday. Actually have had no pain at all just discomfort. The anesthesia was the worse part for me. I had severe migraines for 2-3 days after and then broke out with what I thought was a rash but turned out to be hives. All this is gone now. I did get the results back yesterday. When she did the lumpectomy she took out some other gritty fibrous tissue, which she didn't like, well it did have cancer cells in it. According to the doctor though they did get it all. Now I have to go for radiation. Going for my post-op appointment tomorrow. I have been scared since I first found out and I guess I always will be. Nothing showed up in the MRI at all, so now I wonder about my other breast. Its a very strange feeling, anybody have the MRI with nothing showing?

    Thanks, Anita
  • kmf0318
    kmf0318 Member Posts: 11
    #10
    anitag6012 said:

    Hi, first time for me
    Hi,

    I too had microcalcifications for many years and then all of a sudden they multiplied. Had a biopsy done and got the news have stage 0 ductal carcinoma. I was floored. I had a lumpectomy done this past Wednesday. Actually have had no pain at all just discomfort. The anesthesia was the worse part for me. I had severe migraines for 2-3 days after and then broke out with what I thought was a rash but turned out to be hives. All this is gone now. I did get the results back yesterday. When she did the lumpectomy she took out some other gritty fibrous tissue, which she didn't like, well it did have cancer cells in it. According to the doctor though they did get it all. Now I have to go for radiation. Going for my post-op appointment tomorrow. I have been scared since I first found out and I guess I always will be. Nothing showed up in the MRI at all, so now I wonder about my other breast. Its a very strange feeling, anybody have the MRI with nothing showing?

    Thanks, Anita

    My thoughts are with you. I
    My thoughts are with you. I wish you the best. Did you also have a birad score. I just got mine and it is a 4. I am scared. I have to wait to see the breast specialist till 2/13. I am so nervouse about. Well best to you. Thank you Kathy
  • anitag6012
    anitag6012 Member Posts: 2
    #11
    kmf0318 said:

    My thoughts are with you. I
    My thoughts are with you. I wish you the best. Did you also have a birad score. I just got mine and it is a 4. I am scared. I have to wait to see the breast specialist till 2/13. I am so nervouse about. Well best to you. Thank you Kathy

    birad score
    Hi Kathy,

    Not sure what the birad score is at all. After my mammogram I saw a breast specialist within a week. Everything has happened so fast, in some ways its kind of nice though. Not too much time to think about everything. I can't blame you for being scared, I've been scared since I first found out, and to be quite honest I think that I will be for quite a while yet. Good luck to you and I will keep you in my thoughts
    Anita
  • corey50
    corey50 Member Posts: 111
    #12
    hi kathy,
    if i may add my 2
    hi kathy,
    if i may add my 2 cents. calcifications can be pre-cancer or a sign that cancer is present. or if they're benign they are just a normal aging of tissue like hardening of the arteries. most calcifications are benign by the way so don't worry just yet. i don't mean to make you more scared but how do they know the left breast is benign? i would have further testing on both breasts. bring this up to your breast specialist and see what they think. 3 months before i was dx with invasive breast cancer i also had a scare with micro calcs. i was all set up to have a stereotactic biopsy but the radiologist couldn't do it because the calcs were in a blood vessel so therefore not cancer. 3 months later i found a lump in the same spot this did not show up on my mammo but did on an ultrasound. when i had my surgery and my surgeon removed the clear margin he did say those were benign calcs. because i always wondered if they missed something earlier. when i went for my first 6 mos. follow up mammo after treatment they found calcs. in my other breast. i asked for an ultrasound that day because i remembered my cancer did not show on the mammo. thankfully there was no lump on the ultrasound but they still wanted to do a biopsy with my history. i had the stereotactic biopsy which they usually do with calcs. and after the longest week of my life found out they were benign. thank God. long story short both times my calcs turned out to be benign, but you are doing the right thing going to a breast specialist you should never just let something go.if he doesn't think you need a biopsy at least ask for the ultrasound. i'm sure everything will turn out fine the hard part is waiting to find out. good luck to you.
  • corey50
    corey50 Member Posts: 111
    #13
    anitag6012 said:

    Hi, first time for me
    Hi,

    I too had microcalcifications for many years and then all of a sudden they multiplied. Had a biopsy done and got the news have stage 0 ductal carcinoma. I was floored. I had a lumpectomy done this past Wednesday. Actually have had no pain at all just discomfort. The anesthesia was the worse part for me. I had severe migraines for 2-3 days after and then broke out with what I thought was a rash but turned out to be hives. All this is gone now. I did get the results back yesterday. When she did the lumpectomy she took out some other gritty fibrous tissue, which she didn't like, well it did have cancer cells in it. According to the doctor though they did get it all. Now I have to go for radiation. Going for my post-op appointment tomorrow. I have been scared since I first found out and I guess I always will be. Nothing showed up in the MRI at all, so now I wonder about my other breast. Its a very strange feeling, anybody have the MRI with nothing showing?

    Thanks, Anita

    this is why MRI can't
    this is why MRI can't completely take the place of mammograms. calcifications do not usually show up on MRI. this is what i was told and have read it. this is why even if you have an MRI you have to keep up your mammo too. they are both good at seeing different things earlier.
    good luck to you it sounds like they found it very early.
  • dbs1673
    dbs1673 Member Posts: 203
    #14
    corey50 said:

    hi kathy,
    if i may add my 2
    hi kathy,
    if i may add my 2 cents. calcifications can be pre-cancer or a sign that cancer is present. or if they're benign they are just a normal aging of tissue like hardening of the arteries. most calcifications are benign by the way so don't worry just yet. i don't mean to make you more scared but how do they know the left breast is benign? i would have further testing on both breasts. bring this up to your breast specialist and see what they think. 3 months before i was dx with invasive breast cancer i also had a scare with micro calcs. i was all set up to have a stereotactic biopsy but the radiologist couldn't do it because the calcs were in a blood vessel so therefore not cancer. 3 months later i found a lump in the same spot this did not show up on my mammo but did on an ultrasound. when i had my surgery and my surgeon removed the clear margin he did say those were benign calcs. because i always wondered if they missed something earlier. when i went for my first 6 mos. follow up mammo after treatment they found calcs. in my other breast. i asked for an ultrasound that day because i remembered my cancer did not show on the mammo. thankfully there was no lump on the ultrasound but they still wanted to do a biopsy with my history. i had the stereotactic biopsy which they usually do with calcs. and after the longest week of my life found out they were benign. thank God. long story short both times my calcs turned out to be benign, but you are doing the right thing going to a breast specialist you should never just let something go.if he doesn't think you need a biopsy at least ask for the ultrasound. i'm sure everything will turn out fine the hard part is waiting to find out. good luck to you.

    the more info the better
    I was diagnosed with DCIS only after having an MRI. I have a history of abnormal mammograms and have had several biopsies done in the past for calcifications that were negative. My Dr felt strongly that having an added MRI was important. He actually argued and appealed to my insurance company to have this done. Only after having the MRI was there a detection. The previous mammogram was negative. I also have had areas checked on ultrasound that weren't noted in the mammogram. There is a lot of techonology, I say use it all to get the information.
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #15
    What microcalcifications are
    Microcalcifications are just what they sound like. Micro means tiny. Calcifications mean calcium deposits. Calcium is a mineral. It is not cancer. However, sometimes there are tiny calcium deposits (microcalcifications) near fast growing cells. If there is just one solitary microcalcification speck, the radiologist usually considers it to be harmless. But when the specks appear to be in a cluster, there may be a bunch of cancer cells nearby. The radiologist gets particularly worried when the specks look like a teacup on the mammogram. That probably means that the duct has filled with some fast growing cells which are probably cancer in the very early stages. The good thing about cancer found this way, is that it tends to be found VERY early-actually before it is big enough to make a lump you could feel or find on a mammogram. This can be life-saving.Finding cancer early at stage 0 or stage 1 means you have lots more options when it comes to treatment.

    Going to a breast specialist to see if your microcalcifications need exploring with a biopsy is a great idea. Sometimes the specks of calcium are actually macrocalcifications. Macro means large. This kind of calcium deposit can form when you have arthritis of the breast. These do not need a biopsy since they don't signal fast growing (possibly cancer) cells in the area. A relative of a relative of mine had the macrocalcifications and found out from the breast specialist that she had undergone a needless biopsy and certainly did not need further surgery. She is doing fine 10 years later. Me, I had the microcalcifications. No lump, but there most certainly was cancer where each of my microcalcifications had formed. So see your specialist and do whatever they recommend. If they suggest watchful waiting, don't miss your followup mammograms. If they suggest biopsies, go for that. Don't panic either way. It isn't cancer until they check it under a microscope. Good luck!

    C. Abbott
  • mercjall
    mercjall Member Posts: 11
    #16
    I agree with the previous
    I agree with the previous posters. I had microcalcifications in clusters on my left b last Feb 2008. I had a streotactic biopsy and it was benign. A year later, found lump on the same side which turned out to be invasive ductal c. I have a strong feeling that the calcifications were related to that even though they came out benign. Definitely have followup checks after your test.
  • fachem
    fachem Member Posts: 16
    #17
    microcalcifications
    hi all..i am a newbie...need help..i am a watch and wait person..had first mammo this feb 2009 called back for diagnostic bcause they found loosely clustered microcals in left breast at 12 oclock......written report first said right so at that point i was really worried about validity of report........well i had diagnostic...birads 4 calcifications 13mm linearly grouped.........ok so here i am a nurse 30+ yrs...55 yrs old....still a watch and wait..they had no other films to compare so they rec a biopsy sterotatct vacumn...went for second opinion at another breast ctr.....now i had indeterminate microcalcifications and they told me i had a 80 % chance benign....i asked question from the second ctr.....if i had had a mamo from one yr ago and it read the same as this one in 2/09 woulld i need a biopsy..they said no not if there were no changes.....well now i am totally not confident in breast ctrs and radiologist subjective findings and interpretations....i made an appt with a surgeon on 4/14/09...to ask his opinion...you see... in reading the reports there are so many different versions of what i have..loosely clusterred to linearly grouped to microcals to cals that are indeterminate...and some many revised reports..its scarry to think they reccomend a biopsy when i may not need it........help any feedback?????thanks so much
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #18
    Microcalcifications are what
    Microcalcifications are what showed up on my mammogram. It looked like someone had spilt salt on that area...little white specs all over. It is a sign that something is going on. So, they did a core biopsy on me..it turned out to be dcis cancer...caught early..thanks to the mammogram and the biopsy. I had an MRI to look for more cancer...they injected me with that stuff that if there is more cancer in you..it does show up. It showed up nothing..thank goodness. I had a lumpectomy and am now in radiation treatments. I think you should probably have a biopsy of some kind..needle or core to be sure. You can't take chances.

    Good Luck!
  • fachem
    fachem Member Posts: 16
    #19
    Jeanne D said:

    Microcalcifications are what
    Microcalcifications are what showed up on my mammogram. It looked like someone had spilt salt on that area...little white specs all over. It is a sign that something is going on. So, they did a core biopsy on me..it turned out to be dcis cancer...caught early..thanks to the mammogram and the biopsy. I had an MRI to look for more cancer...they injected me with that stuff that if there is more cancer in you..it does show up. It showed up nothing..thank goodness. I had a lumpectomy and am now in radiation treatments. I think you should probably have a biopsy of some kind..needle or core to be sure. You can't take chances.

    Good Luck!

    MICROCALCS
    jeanne...thanks so much for the feedback...wow ...u made a good choice......smart woman......i am leaning toward biopsy...will see surgeon on 4/14/2009 who is a specialist in brast cancer surgery and looks at this stuff everyday....i feel much better seeing him because hearing it from him is a more sound opinion.....not sure with the radiologist because they are not sure what they are looking at...i talked to the nurse in the surgeons office and again with my doctor and physician assistant....they both concured that if the radiologists thought it was cancer"at first sight" then they would have referred me to surgeon asap........everyone is saying i have some time...lets hope..............seeing the surgeon and then th ebiopsy make me feel secure....again..thanks for the feedback.........question....do you know if 13 mm is large...friend had 15 mm linear grouped microcalcs turned out they took a less aggressive treatment and re mamo in 6 months...in six months they were gone...had three opinions another rad, oncologist rad and surgeon all were gone...strange........their thoughts were that cancer can heal itself...i am a nurse never heard that..kind of scarry...will pray for you jeanne that the radiation is ok an dyou as well....thanks
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #20
    fachem said:

    MICROCALCS
    jeanne...thanks so much for the feedback...wow ...u made a good choice......smart woman......i am leaning toward biopsy...will see surgeon on 4/14/2009 who is a specialist in brast cancer surgery and looks at this stuff everyday....i feel much better seeing him because hearing it from him is a more sound opinion.....not sure with the radiologist because they are not sure what they are looking at...i talked to the nurse in the surgeons office and again with my doctor and physician assistant....they both concured that if the radiologists thought it was cancer"at first sight" then they would have referred me to surgeon asap........everyone is saying i have some time...lets hope..............seeing the surgeon and then th ebiopsy make me feel secure....again..thanks for the feedback.........question....do you know if 13 mm is large...friend had 15 mm linear grouped microcalcs turned out they took a less aggressive treatment and re mamo in 6 months...in six months they were gone...had three opinions another rad, oncologist rad and surgeon all were gone...strange........their thoughts were that cancer can heal itself...i am a nurse never heard that..kind of scarry...will pray for you jeanne that the radiation is ok an dyou as well....thanks

    Thank you fachem!
    I appreciate your prayers...I can use all that I can get! Just be sure and get a biopsy..some kind. Needle, core..just something to be sure. I am sure the specialist you see will encourage it too. You don't want to take any chances. The hospital where I got my first mammogram from called me in at first to do more intense mammograms. After that, when the radiologist saw the microcalicifications in more detail, they recommended the core biopsy and ultrasound, which showed the DCIS cancer. Besides the DCIS, I also have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I have #10 radiation Monday. Only 27 to go...:( I will pray for you too. I hope it turns out to be nothing for you! Keep us updated!
  • fachem
    fachem Member Posts: 16
    #21
    Jeanne D said:

    Thank you fachem!
    I appreciate your prayers...I can use all that I can get! Just be sure and get a biopsy..some kind. Needle, core..just something to be sure. I am sure the specialist you see will encourage it too. You don't want to take any chances. The hospital where I got my first mammogram from called me in at first to do more intense mammograms. After that, when the radiologist saw the microcalicifications in more detail, they recommended the core biopsy and ultrasound, which showed the DCIS cancer. Besides the DCIS, I also have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I have #10 radiation Monday. Only 27 to go...:( I will pray for you too. I hope it turns out to be nothing for you! Keep us updated!

    microcalcifications
    jeanne...hi ...thanks for the prayers ..need them...and will keep praying for you too......my son said....the lord does answer "KNEE MAILS"....so i will bend at the knee for all.....i am leaning towards the biopsy...strongly.......somewhat in denial i guess right now....but i think the surgeon will shed the light on my issues..........wish you the best with the radiation treatments.........i will keep you posted...thanks for answering back...means alot to me...take care and will keep in touch.....trish (fachem)

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