Trying to get up to speed - Need Info

Hi folks,

I've been looking all over the last few days and this seems to be the best breast board (BBB) around.

A little history. I was diagnosed with kidney cancer ('03) and thyroid cancer ('04). Been NED in both cases since then.

The first part of March, my husband and I were both sick with some sort of flu-like deal. As I was lying in bed, my right hand rest on the very top left of my left breast and I felt, plain as a day, a line of "lumps". My husband felt it as well. I seems to have a propensity for developing lipomas, so I thought that might be what it was, but I called my IM doctor and got in right away. (As an aside, my right breast has gotten decidedly bigger over the last few years - you can even tell from behind and it hurts sometimes, but I assume it's because of the heaviness. No nipply discharges or anything.)

She felt it and immediately sent me, orders in hand, to the local radiology folks, for a diagnostic mammo. On the orders, she wrote, "palpable, elongated mass", so surely that should get their attention. I had the mammo done, just the normal two views each breast and then an ultrasound. I left the radiology place (what do you call it??) with a sheet of paper that said basically, "no cancer". A week or so later, I got a letter from the radiology place that said, "no cancer". The palpable mass was not seen on either scan. I got a copy of my films and could see differences in my breasts. (I'm such a dork - I have my own lightbox.) This was mid-March.

Last Thursday, I'm sitting at work in a meeting and the phone rings. I recognized my IM's number and assumed she was calling to confirm my appointment for tomorrow to check my BP since it was sky-high when I was there with the mass.

WELL! It wasn't. She got the radiology report and said they recommended further evaluation? What the hell????? Didn't I get *TWO* documents saying all was good?? On Friday, I got ANOTHER letter from the hospital saying that I needed more followup.

I told her I would get it all scheduled and would see her for my appointment on Monday. She said she had already sent the order over to the radiology place.

After I collected my thoughts, I called and had the rad folks send me a copy of the radiologist's report. It says:

"There is a cluster of calcifications identified in the left breast upper outer quadrant central third for which magnification mammography is recommended for further evaluation. In the right breast, there is a large cluster of calcifications upper outer quadrant and a smaller cluster of calcifications slightly more anteriorly. Magnification views of the right breast is also recommended for further characterization of these calcifications."

So, my questions/comments/concerns are disconnected and I'm not even sure they're reasonable yet. All I know is that I want to go in there tomorrow in control with at least the outlines of a plan.

1. The word "clustered" seems to indicate possible trouble. Is that right?
2. There's a difference between calcifications and microcalcifications, with micro being the "scarier" of the two.
3. Having said that, is it correct that 85% of the time even the microcalcifications are benign?
4. Regardless of what they say tomorrow, if they should say it's benign, should I insist of biopsies anyway? If so, what type of biopsy?

Is there anything else I should be considering?

I've already decided that if it turns out to be a bad deal, both Lila and Lola are GONE! I would prefer to avoid chemo and radiation if possible. Hubster agrees with this as well.

I know it may seem like I'm jumping the gun, and I surely am, but I've got to go in with a plan.

After getting 2 "clear" letters and then a "need for more evaluation" letter, I'm a bit pissed and plan to go to the Radiology administration and complain. I may even write a letter to the state medical board.

Thanks for any help folks. I know you are a great bunch of folks, but I *really* don't want to join this club.

Best,
Donna