Hi tbt76

Welcome to the forum. You are correct, biopsy results are the only way to diagnose what the calciifications are. Calcifications are seen in a lot of women and can be normal for that women. However, like myself, who was diagnosed over two tears ago, my calcifications were abnormal and I was diagnosed with DCIS. My DCIS was high grade and had to be removed. The good news is DCIS carries 100% survival rate so I wasn't too distressed but post op the pathology came back showing some invasive cancer. The new diagnosis did not change my treatment plan.

So calcifications can be benign (majority are) or DCIS (low/medium/high grade). Try not to worry, hopefully yours will come back benign. Let us know how you get on x

Hi TBT76,

Welcome to our forum. With 2 young children, you are bound to be getting concerned. Calcifications can be micro or widespread and, the outcome can vary accordingly. Have you been told when the date is to get your biopsy results? I hope that it won’t take too long.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for a favourable result.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.  

They said 5-10 days.  The team meet at the breast clinic to discuss results etc every Friday and so the length of time depends whether your results have made it back by the Friday or whether they arrive back on say a mon/tue, then they wont get looked at until the Fri.

I had read up about DCIS and seen that calcifications can sometimes be associated with it, amongst other benign things, and had sort of just thought they were to do with the old fibroadenoma but after yesterday and her telling me the calcifications were mixed in with something and therefore not typical to fibroadenoma, my mind is now all over the place and I wish I had asked her again to explain to me what it was it was mixed with.

My mum had stage 1 breast cancer 5 yrs ago and so i am hoping my results come back ok.

Thank you again for your reply x x 

Hi  

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis and what followed post op and hope that you are now doing well.

I have had fab care so far and cannot fault the NHS.  Like anything, it's the waiting around isn't it.  I've been feeling quite nauseous and at this stage, I've not had any results so it may be nothing but my brain is running wild all over the place.

Wish I had asked her to confirm again what the calcifications were mixed with but my head wasn't in full gear of you know what I mean.

I will keep you posted and thank you again.  Appreciate your reply x x 

Hi

Waiting is horrible but sadly we all have to do it. I would keep myself busy and aviod thinking about it, which helped. I don't understand why the consultant would say what she said, yes calcifications can be judge to be normal or abnormal by their shape but to suggest something else was in there as well is beyond me. They will know very little until the biopsy results come back so try not to read too much into a throwaway remark x

Thank you. 

Yes I'm definitely more anxious after the consultants comment, as you say, not sure why she said it... but have tried today to not think about it and get back into my working from home.  What will be will be as they say x 

Hi

Your referral is different from mine, I had my mammogram in one hospital but was referred to a breast surgeon in another hospital but I had the biopsy results prior to meeting the surgeon. So from biopsy results to seeing a surgeon was 5 days but I wouldn't worry about the speed as it all depends on the availability of the surgeon and given no screening is taking place due to covid and very few are going to see their GPs, I imagine a lot of surgeons are twiddling their thumbs.

As I was looking at a DCIS diagnosis, an oncolgist was not required at the begining as surgery was the cure so didn't see an oncologist until it was time to be referred for radiotherapy. Therefore, I guess one would see an oncolgist early in the process if chemo was required. Although you're seeing a surgeon its usual for that surgeon to be the clinical lead and will refer to different disciplines if/when necessary. 

Try not to panic, you will feel better once you know what it is you're dealing with and what the treatment plan will be, at least then you'll have some control over it. Its the not knowing that feeds anxiety/fear.

I know its hard but try and relax this weekend, I always look in on the chat forum every day so if you need to talk don't hesitiate to post. x

Hi and thanks for taking the time to reply again- much appreciated.

I think you are right in that although he is a surgeon, he is also just taking the lead at this particular time.  He is part of the breast team and so would have been involved in yesterdays meeting so I gather, to discuss patients and therefore he just happens to be the one relaying the results. 

I just assumed it would be say a nurse and the consultant who has seen me on the 2 previous occasions and who did the biopsy giving me the results.

I am trying to look at positives and therefore being seen quickly also means that hopefully I will have some answers on monday rather than having to wait say a week more.  It's just a shame that with covid, no one can go into the appointment with me so I feel a bit vulnerable there.  Someone is driving me and waiting for me outside but it would have been nice to have a 2nd pair of ears listening to the results.....

Thanks again

XX

I think all previous referral pathways are out the window in covid world. The people you saw for your biopsies etc are in Radiology, its not their job to tell you of the results, a report is sent to the clinical lead and its their job to tell you and discuss the results and any treatment that may be nescesary. Its a shame no one will be with you, I went alone for my results but then I had a pretty good idea what my results would be and I was right so no surprises and no tears, I'm not the kind of person that likes crying in public.

When I saw my surgeon there was a nurse there to reiterate what the surgeon said and to take any questions I had so there will be a nurse with you when you recieve the results, I know its not the same as having a relative/friend with you but you won't be alone. x