Lump and microcalcifications - pre-diagnosis - HELP

Hi, so I found a hard lump under my breast and got referred on - had all the usual tests early this week and three biopsies from the lump via ultrasound when they also put in a metal marker. Was told it would be 1-2 weeks for biopsy results by person doing them.  Then saw consultant and was told my mammogram showed microcalcifications in the same breast that weren't there in my previous mammogram in 2017 (strangely no mention of the mammogram I had Oct 2020).  Anyway then told they need to do stereotactic biopsy on the microcalcifications under mammogram and couldn't do that on the day - up to two week wait. When I asked about the results of biopsies on lump, I was told that I won't get any results or info until they have results of both biopsies circa 6 week.  I can't find any info on having a lump and microcalcifications anywhere. I am the sort of person who needs to face possibilities and I feel very much in the dark and afraid. 
 

Has anyone heard of or experienced this please?

Parents
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    Hi MickeyM,

    A very warm welcome to our forum. 

    Stereotactic biopsy will give your team the chance to look at your breast in more detail. This doesn't always signify bad news, but is a good sign that your care team is being thorough. It is impossible to find out much until the results of your biopsy come back and you know exactly what you are dealing with. You should find some information about DCIS and calcifications on the Cancer Research Website. Try to avoid consulting Dr Google, as much of his information is out of date, poorly researched and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This will only serve to worry you further.

    There is a lady called Karen1971 on the forum. She has been posting under the title ‘Waiting on breast biopsy results.’ If you do a search for her, you may be able to help one another through this.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Thank you Jolamine, your reply was really helpful and appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time xx 

  • Hi Jolamine, I guess that's some progress that at least your husband will definitely get a phone consultation next month. I really hope that then starts to move things forward for him so that he starts having a better quality of movement and life. 
    Thank you for your support, I really did feel like I was going back to square one.  As per your experience (thank you for sharing), I feel a bit emotionally raw and overwhelmed with it all now. I will stick to my guns though, I realise that their agenda is totally different to mine and I keep telling myself that I have to live with what happens next. 
    The BCN has said she'll make some enquiries and get back to me tomorrow evening - I do know she'll do her best. 
    I'll keep you posted, thanks again Mickey xx  

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    Hi Mickey,

    It is so disheartening when you have an experience such as you've had. It is awful when you feel that your life is being taken over by others, albeit in a well meaning way and you don't have any control of it. I found this very difficult and, had to change surgeons after 11 months, as I had absolutely no faith in my consultant. That was the best thing that I ever did. You are quite right that it is your body and you have to live with the consequences, so why shouldn't you have a say?  These were my thoughts too, but I didn't make myself popular by voicing them.

    I hope that the BCN will get back to you tomorrow evening with some positive news. I am always here for you Mickey. If I miss a post don't hesitate to contact me again, as I tend to dot around the forum and can easily miss a post when I'm on another thread.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

  • Thank you Jolamine for your kind words and for sharing your experience with me. I will keep you posted and re-post if necessary, thank you Jolamine. Have a good day abs I will update you after I have spoken to the BCN. Mickey xx 

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    Hi Mickey,

    How are things going - have you heard any more from your BCN yet?

    Regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Morning Jolamine, Thank you for checking in with me. Friday was good news, I have a provisional surgery date for 14/12, subject to CT scan showing adequate blood vessels and no higher priority case suddenly coming in - fingers crossed.   Also as I was in the same part of hospital that I had a CT scan booked for Sunday evening. I went with my letter as I had a query about it and they very kindly said they’d do it for me after my apt and so was a bit woozy from whatever they put in my arm cannula but very pleased they did that for me then.

    Still unsure about my lymph node biopsy/removal and an email was sent about this Friday. Strangely I still haven't heard back from my usual BCN!! 
     

    Fingers, toes and everything else crossed. 
     

    Has your husband got a firm date for the phone assessment on December? 

    Mickey xx 

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    Hi Mickey,

    You will feel happy to have a date at last. Here's hoping that no higher priority cases come in the the meantime. I'm glad to hear that you have managed to get your CT out of the way earlier than expected. They may wait to remove a sample of your lymph nodes atthe time of surgery. That's what they did with me on both occasions.

    I'm surprised that you haven't heard back from your BCN. They are usually quick to respond. Yes, hubby now has a date for 8th December, so here's hoping that he gets to see someone soon after that.

    Keeping everything crossed that things start to move for you at last and hoping that it all goes well.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, fingers and toes are crossed. I think you may be right about the lymph node removal as no-one is getting back to me about it. 
     

    That's good news re finally getting a phone apt for hubby. Hoping that as you say he gets to see someone soon after. 
     

    Mickey xx

  • Morning Jolamine, thanks for checking in on the other thread, really appreciated. Quick update: Interesting just had had my ultrasound on my 'frozen shoulder' and I've been told that that is caused by calcifications in my tendons - hmmmmmm wondering if there a link, very strange I have calcifications in my breast and arm/shoulder.... no comment made when I expressed that though !!! 
    ️xx

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    Hi Mickey,

    Thanks for the update. I am not a doctor, but I doubt that the two lots of calcifications are related. We all get bony calcifications with arthritic changes in joints. It sounds as if this is what you have. Here's hoping that your doctor can confirm this for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Thanks Jolamine for coming back to me. I will be sure to mention it anyway - I need to try to ascertain why I have so much calcium I guess also! 

    Not long now til your hubby's phone apt next week and so I'll be hoping he gets some help and support to go forward  then. 
    Many thanks Mickey xx ️

Reply
  • Thanks Jolamine for coming back to me. I will be sure to mention it anyway - I need to try to ascertain why I have so much calcium I guess also! 

    Not long now til your hubby's phone apt next week and so I'll be hoping he gets some help and support to go forward  then. 
    Many thanks Mickey xx ️

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    Ho Mickey,

    Write down any questions that come to mind and take them along with you. It is all too easy to forget something important i you don't do this.

     Yes, we are hoping that we might get a bit further towards improving hubby's mobility next week.

    Jolamine  xx

  • Thank you Jolamine, I will, you're totally right whenever I don't, I forget. 

    I hope so too for you both. 


    ps: I think I forgot to say that they definitely are doing my sentinel node(s) at the time of the op. I have to go in the day before for the dye to be injected into my breast. 
    Mickey xx ️

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    Hi Mickey,

    It is good to hear that your sentinel node biopsy will be done at the same time as your op. It is normal to get the dye injected the day before.

    Any news from your CT scan yet?

    Regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, thanks for that - oh yes, sorry, only because I asked but I was told it was fine - assume adequate blood vessels then - fingers crossed xx ️

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    Hi Mickey,

    This all sounds like good news. Time is marching on and it won't be too long for you now.

    Regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • I'll keep you posted Jolamine, thank you xx ️

  • Morning (just about) Jolamine, 

    Im just back from my bloods and other pre-op usual checks. Hopefully all ok.  I meant to post before I left this morning, sorry, in the rush I didn't.  I really hope that hubby's phone assessment today goes/went well and you have a way forward now/today. 
     

    Much love Mickey xx ️

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    Hi Mickey,

    I'm glad to hear that all pre-op checks seem to have gone well. Hubby had his telephone consultation this morning and, after ahalf an hour discussion has gone away to see if she can arrange a home visit for him. What a waste of time. Think of how many extra patients could be treated instead of wasting all this time talking - still, hopefully we're moving in the right direction. Not long for you to wait now - I hope that this week fyls by for you.

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, thank you, hopefully the results should be fine. 
     

    I'm glad hubby got his phone call at least.  It's positive they were prepared to look at a home visit, but did they give any timescale for getting back to him. I'm wondering whether the new restrictions might hinder them doing this now, I sincerely hope not.  I just hope that you're not both left hanging again and that you get a clear direction forward and timescales for this very soon. Please keep me posted. Sending positivity your way. 
     

    Mickey xx ️

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    Hi Mickey,

    No time scale and the girl was not even sure if she could arrange a home visit. She was talking about us having to travel for treatment. Unfortunately, as hubby is not allowed to drive any more, this will involve me too, in order to get him to his appointments. The annoying thing is that we are right next door to a large physio unit and 5 minutes away from our local hospital, which also has a large physio unit. 

    Still, he'll be grateful for any treatment that he can get.

    Jolamine xx