Hi, 

Sorry to meet you here. It's pretty common to find calcifications, so I was told. Did they tell you if the suspected macro or micro calcifications? I went with a lump in my right breast and during the checks (mammogram) they then told me that they had found a cluster of microcalcifications. They didn't say much more at the time other than wanted a stereotactic biopsy on those microcalcifications also.  It was in my case the same breast, but it can be either from what I've read and been told by others experiences and consultants etc. 

The biopsy will enable them to know if the calcifications are benign or pre cancerous, such as DCIS as you mention.  

I know it's hard, but try not to worry the majority of calcifications statistically are benign and worst case scenario pre cancerous and therefore easily treatable. 

I hope this helps a bit. 

Sebding a virtual hug - Mickey xx ️

 

Hi Mickey,

Thanks for replying.  I phoned the clinic today and all the nurse would say was that these calcifications were 'indeterminate'.  I've taken that as being suspicious!  Didn't say if they were macro or microcalcifications although I'm suspecting micro as otherwise I wouldn't be having the biopsy which I think is next week.  I dont even know what type of biopsy, they didn't say.  I'm grateful for them being thorough but it felt like being on a treadmill of one in, one out, I was shocked how many ladies were in on the same day.  I've never seen the breast clinic so busy and I've seen a lot of it getting all my cysts checked over the last 4 years.   Did you have a biopsy, how was it, and how long did you wait for the results?

if you've been through all this too, I hope you had a good outcome.  Sending a hug back.  x

Thank you, you're so right! Google is totally my enemy!! Even reading some other stories on here has scared me! I know I shouldn't do it! I do it to try and reassure myself, then even up feeling worse!!

What is the marker? Like a physical object? Or like a drawing? And if physical, when does it come out? 
 

I think the fact that my husband can't go in with me makes me feel worse. I don't like having to do things like this on my own! I'm not even sure what kind of biopsy I'm having yet! 
 

I really hope you get good results! 
 

The surgeon said to me it would be within a week, so I think that's standard. He said I would go back to see him after the biopsy too, regardless I think. X

Totally understand your concern about type of biopsy.  I was the same and felt I should have had this explained further.  I did my own research and decided I was going to ask for a vacuum biopsy as they get a larger sample and in my mind sticking a needle into a tiny cluster of calcification was not going to be very effective!  As it turned out they did this type anyway so I was quite relieved.  They x rayed  the sample on the mammogram machine to check they had plenty of calcifications in it.  There was quite a lot of tissue there.  Nothing worse than being recalled to repeat a biopsy because they didn't get enough of a sample.  This happened to me for something else previously and it was awful.

Do phone the nurses at the breast clinic who will always phone you back.  They will be able to put your mind at rest and probably tell you what sort of biopsy will be done.

The marker is a tiny tiny little dot of a thing that they put in after the biopsy.  It marks exactly where the calcifications are.  This is useful if you need surgery later on and for later mammograms to compare.  It stays in you forever and doesn't affect airport scanners etc as it's so tiny.

A difficult week ahead waiting.  Let's hope we all get some reassuring news.

Take care and try not to worry too much!  I know how you feel, I'm the same!

xx

Oh ok! I didn't know about the marker thing! So they do that regardless?

I wish I'd have asked my mom more questions about her breast cancer. But I guess I was young and all I cared about was her getting better! I was 23 when she passed, and I've struggled so hard with it ever since. All I keep thinking about is leaving my children feeling the same as I do! And I know that she felt the same. She wasn't scared of dying, she was like a total rock. My dad even said she was when we weren't around. I wish I had her strength. 
 

I'll keep you posted. Please let me know how you get on. 
 

Lets both stay positive. Xx

Hi Linze,

I am sorry to h that you lost your mum to cancer. Even though you know that there is no genetic link, this is bound to increase your stress. I lost my own mum to cancer too, but her experience was totally different from mine. Diagnosis, treatment and after care have all improved tremendously since she had it. and I am now living with it, rather than dying with it.

What with your cervical cancer scare last week and now this, your anxiety is bound to  be at an all time high. Try to keep reminding yourself that "iisn't cancer until youre told that it is cancer". It is not at all unusual to develop phantom pains whilst you are waiting for a diagnosis. As you've already discovered, these usually disappear as soon as you know. Some of this may felbe due to your accident when you felwn stairs, but it could also possibly be hormonal. From what your doctor and surgeon have said, it all sounds pretty hopeful, so you could still have a good outcome. Try to take this day by day, until you know - there's enough to worry about iis world that we cannot control - besides, if it is cancer, stress will only make things worse.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine, 

I am trying to keep perspective! And take reassurance that the Dr and surgeon weren't too concerned. 
ive just had my appointment through.

It says: Upright Strero Mammogram + Vac Assist Bx Lt

It's on Thursday 27th. 
 

Is this what you had [@marywj]‍? 

hi Linze,

I am delighted to hear that you now have your appointment through and to see that it's not too far away. I hope that it all goes well and that things still look good afterwards.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks so much.

One thing I am thankful for, is that our GP and hospital seem to been doing really well with referrals! My cervical appointment was within one week, and so is this! 
I've read on other forums of people waiting weeks just to see their GP! I guess it just depends on the demand in each area. But I feel very blessed that it's all pretty quick, and I hope that that means I can put this all behind me faster! Xx

Hi Linze,

You have been very fortunate to get both appointments so quickly. Some areas have a longer wait than others as a result of Covid. We're still very fortunate, when you look at how cancer is dealt with in some other parts of the world. Thank goodness for the NHS!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Linze, yes I think so.  Def vacuum and sitting up in a chair positioned in front of the mammogram machine.  It was ok.  They numb you with local first so the worst part was first injection which stung a bit. Small cut which won't need a stitch then it gets quite a large sample out which I saw in a collecting tube.  They x ray it again to check they've got the calcifications.  Put the marker in then mammogram again.  Everything else was fine.  Three days afterwards now it is a bit achy with a small bruise but nothing much.  
 

How are you feeling?  I'm going day to day and am starting to get very anxious about Wednesday. x

Oh ok. Doesn't sound too bad! I've had the fine needle biopsy before, but that was just a cyst, which drained as they were doing it. I think I remember having a local for that too. 
I don't know if it's just in my head! It's quite possible! But I feel like my boob is a bit sore since the magnified mammogram! 
 

Will be thinking of you on Wednesday! Prayers for a good outcome.

I'm ok, having moments of panic of course, but trying to replay the positive comments over in my head and not focus on the "what ifs!" I find going for a run really helps me to feel calm. But I can only do it twice a week after work, as I have the children all the other times! 
 

I just keep praying and trying to concentrate on my breathing when I get panicked!

Look forward to hearing good news from you on Wednesday! :happy:

Xxx

Oh ok. Doesn't sound too bad! I've had the fine needle biopsy before, but that was just a cyst, which drained as they were doing it. I think I remember having a local for that too. 
I don't know if it's just in my head! It's quite possible! But I feel like my boob is a bit sore since the magnified mammogram! 
 

Will be thinking of you on Wednesday! Prayers for a good outcome.

I'm ok, having moments of panic of course, but trying to replay the positive comments over in my head and not focus on the "what ifs!" I find going for a run really helps me to feel calm. But I can only do it twice a week after work, as I have the children all the other times! 
 

I just keep praying and trying to concentrate on my breathing when I get panicked!

Look forward to hearing good news from you on Wednesday! :happy:

Xxx

Hi everyone. Much like a lot of you I imagine, I never thought, or at least hoped I'd never be discussing myself on a cancer forum. I found a strange nobbly lump at the base of my left breast about a week ago and immediately panicked, but then decided I'd imagined it the next day. Last Thursday I felt it again and knew there was no imagining it. I'm lucky enough to have private medical through my job, so called them on Friday at 8.30am and was in hospital seeing a consultant by 10.15am. After physical examination, he said there were two lumps and both felt benign, but that I should have a mammogram anyway. I'm 45 and never had one before. I had the mammogram about an hour later and then waited, only to be called back for another image of my left breast. Then I started thinking the worst. After another short while I was taken in for ultrasound and it was then I started crying with fear. I was due on my period and so emotional, fearing that the Dr doing the ultrasound could see everything on screen and wasn't saying a word to me and I convinced myself I must be riddled with cancer. He then started mentioning numbers to the nurse who then started unwrapping things and I knew he was going straight to needle biopsies. I had three in total. It felt like the most traumatic experience. I just couldn't handle that I was in this situation less than 24 hours after deciding I needed to see someone about my lump. 

I sobbed when I went back to see the original consultant. He said that they discovered a cluster of calcification in the upper part of my breast and that it is classed as suspicious. All I could think was I don't want to die. It was awful. Especially as only a few hours earlier he had said he thought the lumps were benign. He told me that I did the right thing checking it out, that we simply did not know until the results were back, but that he had to be factual with me. I'm getting my results on Tuesday. I never thought I'd get through this weekend let alone until Tuesday, but like many people have said, keeping busy has helped enormously. I'm grateful I've just found this chat too. Just wanted to share what I'm going through qith others who understand. Xx

Oh and sorry, I actually wanted to say that out of everything, the needle biopsies were the least traumatic! I was numbed and didn't feel a thing. I just closed my eyes and got on with it. The Dr explained at every stage what was about to happen and the sound of the clicky thing that happened when they extract the sample. So please don't worry about the biopsies. Xx

Hi, I'm sorry to read your post and find you here. I was in the same position, as in I went with a lump to be told they also found a cluster of micro calcifications. It's such a shock. I'm really pleased that you will get your results so quickly. As I said earlier in this thread a lot of calcifications do turn out to be benign, so I'm hoping that is the case for you too.  If they are pre-cancerous or early cancer the good news is that it is so treatable now. I know that might sound scarey - but you will feel better when you know and either way, you will deal with this and there's as much or little support here for you as you want. 
Sending virtual hugs Mickey xx ️

Bless you Vicki!! I went in for a lump that turned out to be nothing, in my right breast. After a bit of persuasion, I had a mammogram. I was adement I only wanted the ultrasound! The calcification is on the left. Well actually there's some in both, which is why the dr said she wasn't too worried. But the bigger one is in the left. 
I'm now having pains on the left one, and armpit, etc. But I have major health anxiety. So could be psychological! 
I hope you come back here with good news on Tuesday! Xxx

Thanks both. The waiting is just awful. I'm such an emotional person at the best of times. I've a 6 year old son who is my world and I've had to hold it together all weekend and as soon as I dropped him at school this morning I burst out crying. Your mind just wanders to thinking I don't want to die. It is just awful. Xxx

Totally understand, it's a rollercoaster for sure. Fingers crossed for you that it's benign - but just have to say that you are not facing death. The mind wonders to dark places, but even the dark is followed by light. Sending hugs Mickey xx ️

Sorry to read you are going through this too.  I went in for a suspected breast cyst on the left and turns out that's all fine and they spotted a cluster of calcifications on the right.  Mine are in the upper part of the breast too, quite high up and near to where I had another large cyst drained last year.  This has worried me as they've checked me out so much with cysts, but these calcifications appeared in 2 years and apparently weren't on my last mammogram or on an ultrasound I had a year ago.   I'd never heard of calcifications before so this is all new.   The last two weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions, so totally get how you're feeling.  Just wanted to wish you all the best for Tuesday when you get your results.  I get my biopsy results on Wednesday!  Thinking of you x

Mickey thank you so much. You are so kind to reply. I've just spoken to the consultant's secretary to request a phone call for my results of the biopsy. He only does evening clinics Monday to Thursday and I can't go because I don't have childcare. I don't think I can handle waiting until Friday for a face to face. Xxx

Thank you. It is an awful rollercoaster of emotions. Am empty lonely feeling too. Even though I know that so many women across the world have to face this every single day. I keep replaying everything that happened on Friday, second guessing things that were said and reading things into everything. Driving myself mad basically! I wish you the best of luck also and pray that we and all of us are OK. Xxx

Yes it is a very lonely time.  I've been so anxious that I virtually diagnosed myself and thought that's it, I've got breast cancer.  That's just me, I'm a panicker with health issues and always have been. The forum has helped me so much to keep things in perspective and not jump ahead until we really know.  Even if it's bad news that lots can be done too, as I've been told my wonderful inspirational women on here that have got through it.  Xx