Wellness

[shoekitty]

@judy0330   so true! Taking chances, without a lot of research, statistics and outcomes isn't  healthy sometimes.  I had my lumpectomy and radiation in 2003. Get mammos around every birthday. All clear. I too found radiation not as bad as I thought. Better than the alternative, huh?   The worst part was getting up and down to radiation appt everyday at 8AM,  7 or 8 weeks. .  I decided against  TAMOXIFEN for me. I was past menopause. I did lots of research, talked with some oncologists and decided I'd pass because of side effects from other issues I had,  doctors didn't like it, but went with my decision  I took 2T ground fresh organic Flax seed everyday. Changed diet and exercise.   It worked for me. 

I cant convince women more to be their own advocate!  Research Mayo Clinic and other notable sites for info.  Challenge your Doctors if you feel something is wrong.  Or get second...third opinion if necessary. Doctors do what they can.  Some are more experienced and proactive than others.  Doctors today are bogged down with all kinds of paper work, codes and facing the insurMCE industry, who looks at the monetary bottom line. They don't know you.  I don't mean for women to ne a fanatic, just read, research and question with authentic facts. Don't be taken in by get cancer free schemes ( I have seen that as well.) just be your own advocate, and go with your gut. We are the only ones that knows ourselves best. We are just so darn lucky to have the mammograms, onocologists and surgeons we have today.  We do things today that weren't possible 30 or more years ago

[shoekitty]

@Shelbelle @judy0330  you know when I was diagnosed with breast cancer Ultra sounds were just starting to be used for breasts, and mammos. You havpd to go to Stanford though, and insurance was a bear to ok!!! Now a days Ultra sounds save lives, especially women with very dense breast tissue. 

[Squirt60]

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate taking the time to answer me. 
Not looking forward to the biopsy tomorrow but I know it's something important I have to take care of. 

[jlkz]

Over 30 years ago, the Mammo showed " something " in one area ( memory not helpful here ! ).  Could be calcium deposit so I decided I wanted it out rather than obsess over it all the time.  It was calcium.

When I woke from the brief surgical procedure, I got dressed and went home. Haven't missed a Mammo and still get an annual one at the same place.  Am 81....

[cindyNC]

I would get the biopsy done also.  There was a spot on my mammogram two years ago.  The radiologist recommended a biopsy, the one who came in to do it said it probably wasn't anything and didn't want to do it.  

She referred me for a stereotactic biopsy....."A stereotactic (often called stereotypic) breast biopsy is a safe, X-ray-guided procedure used to take tiny tissue samples from abnormal calcium spots or small lumps found on a mammogram. It helps doctors find out if a spot is cancer or a harmless change without needing open surgery. "

The xray tech and doctor did the biopsy, then the doctor came running back into the room to say they biopsied the wrong site and had to do it over again.  Turned out it was cancerous, very tiny, had surgery, radiation and on estrogtion supporession therapy for 5 years now. 

[wagirl]

Oh yes--I went thru all that years ago too. Was going back every 6 months for mammos. Got the works done--- ultrasounds, MRI ones and biopsies too. But then I was dx with breast cancer and went thru all that too. Am just fine now and my cancer was due to the hormones I took for menopause a few years before--this was in  2012 and not due to the calcifications at all. Had  top knotch breast cancer people perform the biopsies---was not painful. was  easy and quick. Was sore afterwards but  during the process  I felt nothing. My DD goes for mammos and MRI's every 6 months now too.

[beckyb1012]

Back in 2005, I was in my early '40's and a mamo showed clarcification's.  So they had me do another mamo with same results.  Then just a couple of weeks later had a sonar scan which confirmed they were claciification's and nothing to be concerned about.  As not come up since and definitely no biopsy. 

[shoesnbags]

I've had calcifications since my first mammogram at 40. But when I was 51 my annual mammogram showed a cluster of calcifications that usually indicates cancer. I had a stereotactic needle biopsy. They removed 5 calcifications and each one of them was cancerous - DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). I was treated and all has been well since, thank God and my wonderful doctors. 

All of the rest of my calcifications are scattered but I would never hesitate to have another biopsy in the future if there's any question about any of the others. 

[elizapt]

In January of 2020, I had to go back for a repeat mammo because they found an asymmetry. The second mammo found the same asymmetry but two different ultrasounds that day could not find anything. The doctor said that since he could not find anything with the US, he felt compelled to recommend a biopsy. I asked what I would do if not a biopsy. He said I would have to come in for a mammo every 6 months. I did not want to do that so I had a biopsy. Yup, IDC, stage 1A. We all know what happened in March of 2020....I started radiation right after the world shut down and I am so glad I had that biopsy because otherwise further mammos and any treatment would have been delayed for quite a while and who knows what kind of battle I would have had on my hands then....early detection is crucial and I am just fine. Good luck. Concrete anwers are good.

[Estates]

@shoekitty I,too,rejected taking tamoxifen. TOO many side effects. I have a history of heart disease in my family so I didn't need to take anything that creates blood clots. 

I opted to take DIM supplements and have  continued since 2012.I put flax seed on my yogurt each day. I wasn't aware of its value as a replacement.