Suspicious breast calcifications while pregnant and awaiting biopsy results

[PaddingtonBlues]

Hi all,

I have had an appointment at the breast clinic which took me totally by surprise. I feel very irresponsible for going in unprepared and thought I was just being sensible getting a ‘lump’ checked.

I had an examination first, the breast surgeon said he wasn’t worried but would have an ultrasound done to be safe. Only a couple of minutes into the ultrasound the doctor left the room to speak to a colleague due to seeing calcification. Then I was sent for a mammogram which also showed the same. Next I had a vacuum biopsy. The doctor who did that, when prompted, did say if I was in my 50s he would be very worried by what he could see. As I’m 35 there is limited data on calcification but the mere shape of my calcifications is suspicious.

I felt I was being prepared for bad news, although they wouldn’t confirm anything without the biopsy results of course. Apparently the ‘lump’ I can feel likely isn’t a true lump but a hardening in the area of the calcifications.

The added complication is that I am 12 weeks pregnant with a very wanted pregnancy. I also am breastfeeding my young children (aged 3 and 1). I had hopes of a 4th DC in the future but feel silly for having plans like that now. I had mixed messages from two different doctors on the day about treatment options and whether I’d need to terminate my pregnancy. They wouldn’t be drawn on treatment types, maybe there’s no point without the biopsy results, but it’s just meant I’ve been left to do my own research.

I know a little about DCIS as my DM had it only a couple of years ago. The doctors believe my issue is localised to the milk ducts so perhaps a similar situation. Last night I googled DCIS in young women and am now absolutely petrified. The studies seem to suggest it’s a very different kettle of fish to have DCIS pre or post menopause?

I’m almost resigned to my fate but feel so sad for my young children and the thought that they aren’t old enough to know how much I cherish and adore them.

I was at the breast clinic twice last year and raised concerns that this breast had suddenly shrunk, although the purpose of my referral was lumps on the other side. Can’t help wondering if I’d had a mammogram at that point something may have been seen sooner, which is tough.

I don’t know why I’m posting, I know all I can do is await the biopsy results but I’m finding it so hard to function in the meantime. Thank you to anyone who got to the bottom of this post!

I understand your worry, but try not to panic, it’s likely that they are just being extra cautious because you are pregnant. Best of luck! X

I know it is difficult but try and stay positive. You should ask.if you need to ween your children now, just in case yiu need surgery.

Thank you both. Quaint I did telephone the breast care nurse today to ask about the breastfeeding. More from the perspective of being worried that I may pass something microscopic onto the children, especially if the issue is within the milk ducts? She said it was fine to carry on but I’ve asked that the question is asked of the doctor.

From a recovery point of view, I think I will sadly have to wean. The biopsy being knocked has been sore so can only imagine a surgery being a lot more tender.

Hi, I’d like to give you my very very similar POV I was in in Oct. I found a lump, doctor dismissed me but referred me to 2WW as she could see I was anxious. Seen at the BC, again due to my age and factors thought it was absolutely nothing but had a biopsy.

whilst waiting for the biopsy (2ish weeks) and within that time frame found another lump. It was and is breast cancer. I’m a 35 YO female, who at the time had a 12MO who I was breast feeding. I had to stop breast feeding when I went for a PET scan as I was radioactive so I weaned maybe 3 days prior to this.

had numerous scans, ultrasounds, appts, genetic testing, mammograms. They wanted me to start chemo quickly as was aggressive. I had options to freeze my eggs for IVF, very desperately wanted more kids, (at the time had 2 under 2), but I didn’t want to wait. I had to choose to live for the children I have, not the ones I don’t. I don’t want to be blunt, and you need to make your own decisions, and even better yet it might be nothing, but I’m giving you my experience in the hope it may help.

anyway, chemo started end of Nov, very aggressive. I’ve had scans beg of June and had a great reaction. Not the end of the road for treatment, and extremely difficult physically and mentally, but getting there.

Hey, i.dont know if this helps as I do have cancer. My lump was cancerous. However, they thought my other breast also had cancer due to 2 suspicious calcification. Both biopsied and neither cancer! Have hope. I appreciate baby is much wanted but a baby needs a live mumma. You can freeze eggs. Hopefully it doesnt come to that xx

Waiting for results is torture, your mind goes to the darkest places. Many lumps turn out not to be cancer so don’t assume anything until you have the results.

I wish you all the best.

Just want to give you my experience as Ive been investigated twice for calcification. I was pre menopausal both times although I was not pregnant.

Both times waiting for the biopsy results was dreadful, however I was constantly reassured both times that calcification and any cancer I might have, was the very first stage of cancer, almost a “pre cancer”.
Now obviously this was just my experience but maybe you could speak to someone at the clinic and ask for facts around cancer associated with calcification?
As an aside I’m really cross for you that your Dr said he would be “very worried” if he saw that calcification in an older person, there was no need for him to say it like that.

Thank you for all of your kind and supportive messages. I’m sorry that you’ve all had similar anxious and stressful times. It’s helpful to hear from people who know the feeling.

Wishing you the best with your ongoing treatment Bangersndmash , so sorry you’re having such a tough time of it.

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis Arthurnewyorkcity and thank you for sharing your experience with calcifications.

Thank you WatieKatie , the waiting really does feel like a form of slow torture.

Thank you for your message and sharing your experience LizzieSiddal and yes that comment did (and does) make my heart thud.

My latest rabbit hole of worry is the fact that most people’s DCIS seems to be measured in MMs. Obviously I haven’t had a diagnosis but the doctor who did the biopsy mentioned it being in my milk ducts. My lump/ hardening is far bigger, I’d guess around 10cm. So feeling very silly and upset with myself for not noticing it sooner.

@PaddingtonBlues esdier said than done but please try and not over think for now, it could be nothing. As I said, I was bf my 12MO 48 hrs before my pet scan and my milk ducts looked enlarged and they said it might be something might be nothing. The milk ducts resolved and indeed were just enlarged from BF, I obviously did end up having breast cancer but it wasn’t the milk ducts.

Thank you, do you mind me asking how you got on weaning in such a short space of time? I’ve been continuously breastfeeding since I had my first DC, including through pregnancy, so have never weaned completely before. My eldest DC still tries their luck but mostly accepts just a bedtime feed. My 1 year old feeds regularly through the day and it’s my method of getting him to sleep for naps and bedtime. It’s a real help in parenting and I have no idea how to stop.

I know I don’t have results yet, but I’m fully expecting some sort of intervention for this large lump. I think I’d like to prepare by cutting back on feeding now in preparation. Just no idea where to begin without ending up with mastitis.

So I had DCIS at 35 years, treated with a mastectomy- no chemo or radio because I was very fortunate that no invasive cancer. My boob was very speckled on the scan - it was all over everywhere. Hence mastectomy. No chance of lumpectomy.

They found every type of bad DCIS cell when they biopsied my removed breast. The report says something about them doing intensive sampling as I think they were sure they’d find invasive cancer. But it’s about 12 years later and so far so good.

I had the other one whipped off after too. As it was such a mismatch , and my health insurance convered it. I was quite happy to be rid.

it’s been a bit of a journey to come to terms with being betrayed by my body ! Not quite the right words, but hopefully you know what I mean. But I’m still here, watching my kids grow up, and feeling grateful for every day.

the cancer threads on here were great btw, def tap into them. Lots of strong lovely people on there.

@PeonyPanda well, firstly, I didn’t have any option so I just had to do it. I weened my first much like my second; like pulling off a plaster. One day I was feeding; the next day I said no more now and offered milk from a bottle. Boobs were really full and sore for 2 days then it slowly dissipated and by the end of the week fine. My (then) 12MO didn’t really drink much milk from a bottle but now I ply them with “babychinnos” 😉 and they love it.

much like you; I used BF like a crutch to get my LO to sleep and its a huge adjustment physically and mentally but you both get there and usually within a week everyone’s found their feet. Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for your message PeonyPanda , particularly as it sounds very similar to my situation. The calcifications are covering a large area of my breast, there would be barely anything left if I just have the ‘lump’ removed. It’s giving me the fear as DCIS seems so often to be talked about in mms not cms like mine.

So pleased you still have a good outcome over a decade later, and have been able to enjoy life since.

I know exactly what you mean, I’ve felt let down by my body in a few ways over the years but have had a good feeling about my breasts as they’ve worked hard for my children. Certainly feeling betrayed by them (or rather, it) now. Thank you for sharing and so pleased to hear you are doing well.

Thank you, it’s useful to hear how you managed it. My DM managed to get my youngest to sleep for his nap today while I was in another room so that gave me a bit of hope!

I remember going for the punch biopsy, and the staff put a blue paper towel like thing on my front, and said it was in case I leaked. I was all naive and, “oh no i won’t leak, I finished breast feeding 18 months ago”. And she just looked at me and said, it’s to catch blood 🫣🤦‍♀️. (She said it really nicely, I’m paraphrasing. But that’s the essence!).

the other sad boob related thing was having my son sit in my lap to read a book afterwards. And the silicon boobs are much harder than the post breast feeding sags of skin I had. He was trying to push them out the way because they weren’t comfortable to lean against. That made me wince with sadness. But you know what, you have no choice. So you mustn’t ever feel guilt about that type of thing (like not being able to breast feed).

(plus if you’re only having one removed, is there an option to tandem feed and mix it up with formula?).

I have grown to love my turbo boobs. I rarely wear a bra. T-shirts etc look great. I didn’t bother with fake nipples or any of that, as the way I see it my boobs had done their job. No point pretending.

i also had a couple of acquaintances diagnosed with breast cancer after me. And I was wheeled out a few times to show people what silicon reconstruction looks like. (That’s another thing - as there was no chemo / radio, I had the reconstruction done at the same time as mastectomy and didn’t have to wait. Which was great as less time away from kids.).

I'm so sorry you’re facing this, but DCIS is definitely a least bad diagnosis, so I hope you will be able to take comfort from that as you move through this xxx

I’m sorry it’s taken me a few days to reply Peony - I ended up with an infection from the biopsy, just my luck!

I had a similar thing at my biopsy, when I said to the nurse I would just unbutton my white dress and she encouraged me to take it off instead. She was right and my dress would have been ruined!

Your comment about guilt when I have no choice - I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I’ve already got lots of guilt in anticipation of ending breast feeding my youngest now, knowing he wouldn’t choose to wean now. Then also if I’m able to continue with the pregnancy, not knowing how feeding will pan out, and if I’ll be able to get that baby off to the good start my other two have enjoyed. I’ll try to hold onto what you’ve said.

Your son trying to get comfortable really pulled on my heartstrings. Cuddling my toddler today I can well imagine how it changes. I’m pleased to hear you’re come to be happy with your turbo boobs (love that). I haven’t been able to go braless since my teens so that would be new!

I was told my results appointment would be cancelled if the outcome was benign and that hasn’t happened. So, dreading my appointment, but also ready to be out of the limbo of not knowing what’s happening.

Thank you again for your supportive words 💐

When is your appointment due? When I had mine they only phoned me and cancelled the afternoon before the appt was due.

Hi again Lizzie their MDT meetings are held on Tuesdays and my appt is booked for Friday morning.

Don’t get ahead of yourself. One step at a time, and let us know how you get on tomorrow. X

All the best for tomorrow @PaddingtonBlues

Thank you both for your support. The biopsy showed widespread DCIS meaning my only option is a mastectomy. They are hoping that would be the total treatment, but the biopsy is only a small sample of a large area so won’t know for sure until the whole breast is sent for testing.

They said surgery needs to be in the second trimester onwards which I’m just coming in to, and they want to do this when I’m 20 weeks. I wondered afterwards if they are waiting until the pregnancy is viable?

They want to keep the anaesthetic short while I’m pregnant but I can look to have some sort of reconstruction once baby is delivered.

Surgery is booked for early September which seems like a lifetime away. Lots of emotions and feelings.

Just looked it up and a pregnancy is viable from 24 weeks so not sure of the significance of them selecting 20 weeks to operate.

Hi @PaddingtonBlues I was thinking of you hoping you would get a nicer result, I am sorry you are in this club.

I think when embryos are in 2nd tri it means they can withstand certain things, which they can’t do in first tri. I don’t think it’s anything about being “viable”. But alas, I am not a doctor, I have however read that information before. Hence why the short surgery anaesthetic time, as they don’t want to put you under longer than ness.

I have just had a double masc with reconstruction and was discharged 2 weeks ago this weekend. I’m glad that they have come to a conclusion for you. Have they talked about chemo after birth, is mastectomy the extend of your treatment? What is your due date?

I was sadly going to start trying for a baby before it happened to me. I’m so sorry you’re going through this whilst pregnant.

Thank you Bangers

Yes I suppose it does make sense that different trimesters influence what they can or are willing to do. How are you feeling in your recovery? The nurse said the mastectomy is 2-3 weeks of no heavy lifting and more like 6 weeks for reconstruction. I wish I could just have both done at once but understand their logic with the anaesthetic.

Although I wasn’t surprised by what the surgeon said, I’m taken aback at how upset I feel when it’s what I was expecting deep down. Then again being sad isn’t going to change the situation I’m in, so I’ll need to pick myself up again at some point. Weirdly I didn’t get upset at all at hospital, but lost my composure when coming home to my DC. I’m not usually a crier, so annoyed at myself for getting upset infront of the DC.

They haven’t talked about further treatment except to say they are hoping the mastectomy will be the treatment by itself. With the caveat that we don’t know what else could be lurking until the breast is tested in full. They have done genetic testing today and I’m hoping very much that the results are back before the operation date, as it seems this could change the treatment plan again.

Despite it being widespread I’m not being sent for any other investigations. Didn’t occur to me to ask why this is when I was there this morning.

So sorry it has scuppered your plans for your family. It’s an extra insult to injury. I have a number of fertility problems so it feels very perverse to have mixed feelings about this pregnancy now. I did ask about termination and they didn’t think it was necessary, but I can’t help feeling I’m rolling the dice. I don’t want to fail my existing DC.

So the sampling they’ll do now will just be to double check no invasive cancer. And if none is found, I’m pretty certain recommendation is still no chemo etc. I found I trusted the surgeon because I met him, but having to put my faith in a faceless lab science person who I never met was much harder ! I felt I wanted to meet them so I could argue my case and really make sure they had done extensive sampling. Felt like a bit of a gamble not to have had chemo or radio. Just something you have to get your head around.

they’ll probably whip out some lymph nodes during the surgery, and it’s those that make the recovery a bit longer. (As I had second boob removed without lymph node removal, and recovery was slightly quicker). They’ll check those lymph nodes too (during the surgery), just to be sure (at least, that’s what they did with me). Sentinnel node.

I remember walking my 3 year old home from preschool just after operation and I still had the drains in. She was tired and just wanted to be carried and I couldn’t pick her up. Should never have left the pushchair at home. Lesson learned.

this may well change your mindset for quite a long time. Someone explained to me that it’s like you’ve been shown an alternative path that no one wants to take. An even though dcis is definitely least bad, and the odds are hugely in your favour, it’s still a frightening path and you’ll still worry in those moments before you go to sleep. After surgery and all clears, you can’t just forget that the path exists. It’s like the gate is still there even though you didn’t go through it. All I can say is that time will help.

I can’t help with the pregnancy questions but get into the cancer support threads on here. It used to be called the tamoxigang, but is now all types of cancer. And there are women on there who’ll have more recent knowledge and possibly have gone through diagnosis while pregnant too.

NHS is brilliant at this.

also, another bit of advice. I didn’t tell anyone except family til after my operation, and I kept it totally secret from my kids. Just told them I had a sore bit, that dr would remove. I didn’t want anyone tilting their head and asking sympathetic questions in front of the children. Tbf, as it was dcis it didn’t feel like it was okay to even call it cancer as had two friends going through the full thing with chemo etc. my kids were teenagers before I told them. Just felt they didn’t need the worry.

xxx