Re: Has Anyone Had Problems With Microcalcificatio... - Page 3

sockmonkey · ‎06-26-2010

On 6/8/2014 earth1st said:
Yes, I have had this experience and kind of a double whammy. In Dec. I had a routine mammogram and almost simultaneously noticed a growing nodule in my groin. This was getting bigger and bigger and was sent to a surgeon for a biopsy. This turned out to be lymphoma and began seeing an oncologist. This is at a stage where it is very treatable and he routinely checks my blood and so far, I am at a point where it is watch and wait, so no chemo as of yet and keep my fingers crossed this was be the status quo. However on my routine Mammo there were some calcifications that needed a work up and I kind of delayed it while dealing with the lymphoma. I did have a biopsy and as another poster commented, I have DCIS which is the best form of breast cancer one can hope for. The biopsy itself was not bad and my results came back very fast. I opted to see the same surgeon who did the inguinal biopsy and now more decisions needed to be made. Option 1 was a lumpectomy which would have to be followed by radiation therapy and Option 2 was a simple mastectomy with no radiation needed. I had decided I did not want to go thru radiation therapy as it takes a big toll on the body, so I am now scheduled for a mastectomy on June 24th. I was offered reconstruction and also declined that. I am going thru this pretty much alone and just trying to be an informed patient. So I read a lot and want to get back to a more "normal" life. The bottom line is without the biopsy, there is no way of knowing whether or not the calcifications are malignant. Also, there are financial considerations as treatments can be extremely costly and I do not have deep pockets.

So my best advice is to get the biopsy and deal with whatever the outcome is in the most proactive way you can.

Good luck to you.

earth1st,

First, let me wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery and a full recovery, thereafter.

I hate to intrude into your decision about whether to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy but wanted to share my experience with radiation after surgery because I was surprised to read that you said you heard it took a toll on the body.

To be honest, the worst part was the drive every day! It did not take a physical toll, at all. I had 19 treatments - 14 plus the last 5 were "boosts". I didn't even have any kind of burn from the radiation, just a really, really itchy rash afterwards. There were a few kind of lengthy "set up" appointments but, for the actual therapy, each treatment lasted maybe 2 to 3 minutes and there was absolutely no pain or discomfort. They said I might be tired during the treatment phase but, I really didn't even notice that.

Again, wishing you the best of luck with everything!

Wolfpack Fan · ‎03-12-2010

I have had calcium deposits for years. In 2003, the doctor said that they were in a certain pattern that showed that I probably had breast cancer, and a biopsy showed that I did. A few years after that, I had more calcium deposits in two areas that needed to be biopsied. One area was so far back that I had to be put to sleep to have the biopsy. Those areas were benign, but the surgeon cut out the whole big area. I said something to him about how much breast tissue he had removed, and he just replied, "At least the calcium deposits are gone." I then had more suspicious calcium deposits in 2012. Both times (in 2003 and 2012), I had DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ, and had lumpectomies and radiation. DCIS may not turn into cancer that spreads, but I would be afraid to take a chance. If this is what you have, corvettesandy, you will be fine. I had the first surgery and threw up a bunch like I always do after outpatient surgery, and then was 100% back to normal. After the second surgery, my husband's sister and her husband who live in another city were in our area and came by to visit us right around noon. I hadn't told them I was having the surgery. While they were here, I mentioned the surgery. My SIL asked when I had the lumpectomy, and I told her, "This morning." I did better the second time because the surgeon knew I always threw up after surgery and had the anesthesiologist not give me any gas.

motherinlaw · ‎03-09-2010

Sometimes you just get a bad tech. Last year, after many years of mammos, I got a bad tech. Knew it from the moment I saw her.

Long story....she did more pics initially. I was called the next day to come back for more. Two weeks later and the same tech....not a good idea but not my fault.....the new pics were fine. She said "everything went away." She was a weird woman. It is now on my record NOT to ever have this tech again.

This year, back for my normal annual mammo. Told the tech this year what happened last year and told her "just do your job." She did and everything is fine as usual.

Moral of the story here....if you are not comfortable with the tech you have that day and your radar goes up....walk out and reschedule. It was a wrinkle per se but no one would even give me that little bit of assurance while I waited for the next exam two weeks later. No one even took responsibility for a possible error on their part....silence is what I got. So I am now seriously considering switching doctors at least. She seemed impartial to what I told her about this incident and just kept saying my breasts are dense and there is calcification as well but that is a normal part of aging and nursing babies.

Everyone is so busy trying to keep their butts covered that the simpliest answers are not even discussed but cloaked in mystery. Such a shame what patients are now put thru. Can't make $$$ for the medical machine if you don't have people coming back for additional tests.

Just my rant but it needs to be said. Much of this today is to keep lawsuits at bay. Yes, we all want the best tests done is the most accurate way but when does common sense come in or more importantly....when did it go out? Thanks for listening and I hope this has helped someone else out there if they have had a similar experience.

judy0330 · ‎01-03-2011

On 6/8/2014 sockmonkey said:
On 6/8/2014 earth1st said:
Yes, I have had this experience and kind of a double whammy. In Dec. I had a routine mammogram and almost simultaneously noticed a growing nodule in my groin. This was getting bigger and bigger and was sent to a surgeon for a biopsy. This turned out to be lymphoma and began seeing an oncologist. This is at a stage where it is very treatable and he routinely checks my blood and so far, I am at a point where it is watch and wait, so no chemo as of yet and keep my fingers crossed this was be the status quo. However on my routine Mammo there were some calcifications that needed a work up and I kind of delayed it while dealing with the lymphoma. I did have a biopsy and as another poster commented, I have DCIS which is the best form of breast cancer one can hope for. The biopsy itself was not bad and my results came back very fast. I opted to see the same surgeon who did the inguinal biopsy and now more decisions needed to be made. Option 1 was a lumpectomy which would have to be followed by radiation therapy and Option 2 was a simple mastectomy with no radiation needed. I had decided I did not want to go thru radiation therapy as it takes a big toll on the body, so I am now scheduled for a mastectomy on June 24th. I was offered reconstruction and also declined that. I am going thru this pretty much alone and just trying to be an informed patient. So I read a lot and want to get back to a more "normal" life. The bottom line is without the biopsy, there is no way of knowing whether or not the calcifications are malignant. Also, there are financial considerations as treatments can be extremely costly and I do not have deep pockets.

So my best advice is to get the biopsy and deal with whatever the outcome is in the most proactive way you can.

Good luck to you.

earth1st,

First, let me wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery and a full recovery, thereafter.

I hate to intrude into your decision about whether to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy but wanted to share my experience with radiation after surgery because I was surprised to read that you said you heard it took a toll on the body.

To be honest, the worst part was the drive every day! It did not take a physical toll, at all. I had 19 treatments - 14 plus the last 5 were "boosts". I didn't even have any kind of burn from the radiation, just a really, really itchy rash afterwards. There were a few kind of lengthy "set up" appointments but, for the actual therapy, each treatment lasted maybe 2 to 3 minutes and there was absolutely no pain or discomfort. They said I might be tired during the treatment phase but, I really didn't even notice that.

Again, wishing you the best of luck with everything!

I am glad that you posted this because I too was surprised at the comment about radiation taking a toll on the body. I could not agree with you more. I had DCIS. I had a lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments. The way I always describe the radiation to people who ask is that it was nothing. Two friends who have had radiation for breast cancer since I did didn't believe me (just as I didn't believe the woman who told me) and ended up having the same experience. I used an excellent cream called Miaderm and didn't have any radiation burn. I went every day at 8:15 a.m. and was back in my car at 8:30. Then I did my errands and went about my life. I feel extremely fortunate that if it had to be something it was DCIS. I have completed 3 years of Tamoxifen. Two more -- and done!

NYwoman · ‎03-09-2010

On 6/8/2014 motherinlaw said:
Sometimes you just get a bad tech. Last year, after many years of mammos, I got a bad tech. Knew it from the moment I saw her.

Long story....she did more pics initially. I was called the next day to come back for more. Two weeks later and the same tech....not a good idea but not my fault.....the new pics were fine. She said "everything went away." She was a weird woman. It is now on my record NOT to ever have this tech again.

This year, back for my normal annual mammo. Told the tech this year what happened last year and told her "just do your job." She did and everything is fine as usual.

Moral of the story here....if you are not comfortable with the tech you have that day and your radar goes up....walk out and reschedule. It was a wrinkle per se but no one would even give me that little bit of assurance while I waited for the next exam two weeks later. No one even took responsibility for a possible error on their part....silence is what I got. So I am now seriously considering switching doctors at least. She seemed impartial to what I told her about this incident and just kept saying my breasts are dense and there is calcification as well but that is a normal part of aging and nursing babies.

Everyone is so busy trying to keep their butts covered that the simpliest answers are not even discussed but cloaked in mystery. Such a shame what patients are now put thru. Can't make $$$ for the medical machine if you don't have people coming back for additional tests.

Just my rant but it needs to be said. Much of this today is to keep lawsuits at bay. Yes, we all want the best tests done is the most accurate way but when does common sense come in or more importantly....when did it go out? Thanks for listening and I hope this has helped someone else out there if they have had a similar experience.

I have been having mammograms from a couple of decades now. In Seattle, I would have them done and wait till the X ray DOCTOR OK'd them. If there were any questions about the films, you would know then and there and do them again. I even was asked for a sonogram once. You wait in a room would a few other women waiting for the same thing and meet some really fantastic women.

In New York, I was made to come back in and asked to bring in previous films. This was inconvenient, and just plain sloppy medicine. And they can request digital images more easily themselves! I also ask for digital mammos because of the cystic breasts I have.

Well, I learned that if your doctor writes a prescription for the mammo, then a radiologist will look them over when they are taken. I let the radiology center know, in no uncertain terms what I want. I have experienced professionalism in this field and want no less.

BTW my friend is a medical transcriptionist who works with radiologists who do nothing but look at mammograms from all over the US. Some of them are bipolar (admitted by them) or in other altered states when reading these films. Sorry, not for me.....

earth1st · ‎01-16-2013

Many thanks to all who shared their stories on this thread. It is encouraging to hear from others who have been down this road and are doing well.

Also, I am grateful for your well wishes and I send the same back to all of you.

Hope everyone has a happy and memorable day.

Take care.......

Ibby114 · ‎03-10-2010

On 5/31/2014 Mary Bailey said:
On 5/31/2014 Katrin B said:
My partner had the same calcification issue. Mammography / MRI every 6 months for a while. After 2 years of this she insisted on a lumpectomy and it turned out to be Breast Cancer. She is doing fine. The most peculiar thing that stuck with me is something an oncologist told us :" The calcifications are a shadow of something else going on."

Hope all of you are diligent with the follow-ups and fortunate in never being diagnosed with anything worrisome.

I will call next week.

Between what you said & what shoekitty said, I'm a little concerned.

My drs have never told me this! More often than not I show calcifications with my mammograms. I was told it was due to the digital equipment showing everything and anything. Each time they follow up with an ultrasound and find it's nothing.

Katrin B · ‎03-27-2010

Hello Everybody,

First and foremost I'm sending healing energy all around. Just dealing with the worrying and waiting is enough to drive one to drink ( or shop). It is also my understanding, that a digital mammogram shows more things, especially the first one might produce more call backs then the old x-ray ones. I just had my first digital mammogram, and the tech was very thoughtful in pointing this out to me.

Re radiation vs mastectomy Neither one is a great choice to have to make. Let's all support each other whichever route was chosen. No decision has been made hastily or lightheartedly. I want to throw out there another form of radiation therapy,that now is also used to treat Breast Cancer. It's called Brachy Therapy. It might be an alternative for somebody out there. It allowed my partner not to have a mastectomy, which she was happy about. Regular radiation was not an option for her due to prior treatments.

corvettesandy · ‎04-01-2011

Hi ladies, first I would like to thank everyone who answered my question regarding breast microcalcifications. I had my biopsy on Monday and a call today from the radiologists hat they want me to see a surgeon because I have been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ dcis. Has anyone heard of this or has had it. I understand it is the early stage of cancer in the milk duct. I will keep you informed on how I am doing. God bless you all.

CalMom · ‎04-30-2013

Last week, I had my Diagnostic Mammogram with An Ultrasound Afterwards. If you all have had problems, you all should get DIAGNOSTIC mammograms not routine mammograms. With diagnostic mammograms, some extra shots are taken and the radiologist views the mammogram while you wait.

It turns out, during my mammogram last week, I had calcifications in my right breast. So the doctor wanted to do a biopsy which turned out negative. I was told if they do not get all the calcifications, that I might need surgery to remove them all.

This and couple with the fact that I found out I had the BRCA gene 2 1/2 years ago, makes me consider a double mastectomy. I just don't want to put myself through something that might become problematic. I guess I was reading horror stories last week on the interest and I was not encouraged by what I read.

I have an appointment with an oncologist and then want to speak to at least two breast surgeons. So this is what I need to focus on.

I just wanted to point out that I had a negative biopsy in 1995 and DCIS surgery in 2002. I now get diagnostic mammograms followed with an ultra sound each year and at the 6 month point, I get a MRI. I used to get MRIs every 6 months but then it was changed to a year. However, 2 1/2 years ago, I had to switch to Kaiser insurance (from Aetna) and before this current appointment for my mammogram, Kaiser didn't want to approve a mammogram of any kind because I had an MRI 6 months ago. I pushed for it with my oncologist got the referral approved. ......And then calcifications appeared on my right breast. I've wondered if this is my wake up call. Last time, I had a negative biopsy and then a few years later DCIS. I am just wondering if this will happed again. That is why I am considering a double mastectomy and obviously having the BRCA mutation is more the reason to push forward.

Good Luck to everyone.