Hello Arma,

Sorry to read about your experience.  It's very similar to my own and I too was told I had areas of calcifications in my right.  These calcs can be little beggars and difficult to see resulting in another area being missed for me (which was soon picked up on another mammogram).  Thank goodness they show up really well on mammograms.  I was told that they don't show up on ultrasound.
 

Bit surprised your radiographer was so forthright.  Mine told me that very often calcifications can be benign (they are very common) and the reason for biopsy was to rule out cancer too and not just confirm it.  I suppose they all have a different approach.
 

The calcifications are graded by the radiographer.  Mine were classed as 'indeterminate' which suggested they could be a bit suspicious so a biopsy was needed.  Sometimes if they are clustered together or their shape looks suspicious, it can suggest that cancer is present.  I did my own research on this and it looks as though it can go either way about 50:50.  You could just as easily be one of the lucky 50% that are benign calcifications.

My biopsy results showed that I had zero grade DCIS and a tiny 1mm area of Grade 1 invasive in another area.  
 

I've learned that broadly speaking calcifications can suggest very early breast cancer.  This is a positive as it's usually so early it can be very much sorted.  Of course no-one wants BC, even an early stage diagnosis, but I found it helps to focus on the positives in this situation.

Take it a stage at a time.  The waiting for results is always a difficult time and it helped me to stay busy to distract myself as much as possible.

Wishing you all the best with your your results.

Thank you 

I am assuming from her response. She already thinks this is cancer. I just don't think she approached it in the right way as I'm now petrified that I have it in two areas and thus is why she didn't like it. She kept saying we won't know better what we're dealing with until we get results. So came away thinking the very worst. Although she did say both areas are small so doable. Just gutted

how did it work out with your calcifications if you don't mind me asking x 

Well I'm actually getting my post op pathology results this afternoon!  I'm not sure yet exactly what will happen but depending on the results today they will work out my treatment plan.  If all margins and nodes are clear then I won't need any more treatment other than hormone therapy.  I'll take that, but we will see later!

If your calcs do show to be low grade cancer you may be offered a lumpectomy as I was.  If you do need a lumpectomy then it's usually 5 days of radiotherapy afterwards.  Try not to jump ahead though as you just don't know yet.  
 

Once they found the second area 4cm apart and lower down, it did change things and my surgeon then agreed to do a mastectomy which is what I wanted.  It was done 10 days ago.  All fine apart from fluid build up.

 I also had my images sent to another centre for a second opinion as the first radiologist had missed the second area.  My breasts are very dense despite my being in my 50's so it makes it more difficult to spot the calcifications.

I'll know more later but all I can say is that when I went in for my biopsy results I was told that out of all the ladies in clinic that day, they were least worried about me as these calcs often suggest very early change (DCIS for example).  It is very treatable and outcomes are also very positive.

However, don't lose sight of the fact that your calcifications could still be benign.  You will feel much better when you know one way or the other.  Keep busy.

I am so pleased you received your diagnosis. Thankfully. Your journey may be coming to an end and a new one starting. Fingers crossed for today for you x 

to be fair I could deal with a mastectomy if I knew ut wasn't an aggressive cancer that will travel. Monday can't come quick enough for me 

x 

Thankyou x

Monday will be here soon.  Do take someone with you as it's difficult to remember everything that is said.

Wishing you all the best for a good result.