Breast biopsy for calcifications

[Jasmine64]

Has anyone had a routine mammogram and been recalled for calcifications? I had to have a second mammogram with a stereo-core biopsy on my left breast and now I have an appointment with a surgeon in three weeks time and the waiting is sheer torture. At the moment my anxiety is through the roof and I’m in a state of panic all day long and can hardly sleep. I’ve read a lot about this online as they say knowledge is power but I would really appreciate some personal experiences please……..

@Jasmine64 thank you

I'm seeing gynae this week to start HRT so I know where you're coming from with the anxiety

Who'd be a woman eh??

thanks for updating. Hopefully the removal of cells will be the end of it.
the whole thing is very invasive for something that might have never come to fruition.

@JustDanceAddict that's what I said to the consultant today

Every time I go they say it's good news but they always want to do one more thing

So even though everything is benign I feel like the journey still isn't over

@Jasmine64 - not on hrt but have been thinking about it / even spoke to GP - the day before my recall 🤦‍♀️
MY anxiety is generally high so you can imagine what I’m feeling!! My manager told me off for worrying so much!

I had microcalcifications - lumpectomy, cells were atypical not cancerous - no further treatment except 18 monthly mammos fo 5 years.
The waiting is terrible - constant fear - sorry don't have any advice for that sadly.

@CherryReid - the waiting is totally hideous.
Some experts don’t agree w routine mammograms, @TomAllenWife cos of this issue.

Agreed, the waiting for results is so horrific. Wish I was a chilled person who didn’t worry so much……….

I also had a recall mammogram with biopsy due to calcification. When I returned to see the consultant at my 2/3 week appointment they advised I needed a second mammogram/biopsy as they hadn't got enough tissue to be sure . The second one was quite painful as I already had a lot of bruising .

Outcome was it was benign but needed monitoring so will get a yearly routine mammogram this year . I also have one of those markers inserted .

Best of luck OP , and everyone else awaiting results .

My experience is that radiologists often have a very good idea that what they are looking at is cancer the biopsy is just for confirmation. In which case they tell you their suspicion. That happened to me and many others I know. Mine was cancer plus DCIS and calcifications.
So in your case it's clearly not obvious. Good luck. The waiting is the worst part whatever the outcome. Even if it's bad news it's easier than the not knowing. Keep manically busy.

I had microcalcifications a few years ago, and a 3-week wait for the same biopsies, your mind goes nuts in that time, and then the wait afterwards!

I’m on the jolly bus again, with an appointment tomorrow at the breast clinic. I have discharge from one duct and my gp felt ‘a firm lump’ behind the nipple. I only had my routine mammo early this year so I’m a bit confused how anything can start going on in the interim? I’m 54, so mentally know my age isn’t in my favour! Boobs eh?!

Glad it was good news!

Thanks for the advice. Trying to keep occupied but my mind keeps playing tricks!

Maybe an infection of some sort?🤞 Ha defo coming back as a man!!

Keeping busy is key! My mind starts wandering if not. One minute I’m thinking it’ll be fine and the next I’m imagining myself on the operating table for a mastectomy 🤦‍♀️
my manager told me she went through similar a few years ago and she was sick with worry. After she got the all clear she vowed never to go to that dark place again & so told me off (in a nice way) for worrying. So hard though.

hello fellow calcification-crew!

So glad I found this thread. Had biopsy yesterday for calcifications found on right breast. Results next week. Was a routine mammogram a couple of weeks ago to confirm a cyst (which it was!) but then they spotted the calcifications. Yesterday things were explained pretty well. They gave no clue on their feelings on what they’d find. Only stressed that it was very common, particularly for routine and first time mammograms, to find these calcifications. That mine wasn’t in a x or y pattern which was good and that my ultrasound was clear. But other than that it was just poker face and wait until next week… biopsy was fine though! Still got dressing on, anyone know when it can come off? I forgot to ask in my panic to get out!!

good luck one and all for those results. Im braced for all eventualities!

It’s a worrying time isn’t it, I wish I could be more positive though. I’ve never heard of a x or y, I'm intrigued, what does it mean?

After biopsy I only had a small plaster which I removed the next day, there was just a small bruise and no problems since.

Fingers crossed for all of us next week!

Pretty much all clear for me today - 2 cysts I had no clue about but all nice and innocent. Consultant wants me back in 2 months to be extra extra safe but feeling a lot more relaxed this evening!

If they didn’t get enough ‘representative’ samples they need to redo. It’s not uncommon they don’t get everything the first time-sometimes they’re looking for really subtle flecks, they can move due to anaesthetic or just be really hard to see. They can only take so much tissue each time.
I work in breast and take HRT.

Is there a reason why some ladies get calcifications and others don’t? I’ve been on Hrt for 10 years and I worry that this may be the cause and I’ll have to stop it? I’ve also had 9 breast cysts aspirated in the past and think I read somewhere that this could also be a reason?

Wonderful news! x

Calcifications are really common-most are benign, sometimes they signify cancerous change. I have never seen any specific link to calcification with HRT. Where did you see that? Fibrocystic changes often result in calcification-I’ve got them all over my breasts but used to have cysts in my 40s.

I haven’t seen it anywhere it’s just me being paranoid, although I did read somewhere that changes in the breast are usually caused by hormones, especially oestrogen. I had many cysts in my 40’s, in fact I was told that right now my right breast is full of cysts and there’s two in my left as well as calcifications………….

There are many different types of breast cancer, the most common is hormone driven.
It used to be thought that HRT increased the risk of this kind of BC but I think the risk is actually very low. The biggest risk for BC by miles is age.
I avoided HRT because of the risk and yet still got breast cancer so in hindsight I wish I had taken it for all the other benefits.

@Sellingstress
welcome to the crew! Sounds similar to my experience although they didn’t specify a pattern!
i had my biopsy on Monday afternoon and took the dressing off this morning by their instructions- all seems fine. A minute bruise on the site and that’s it. I’m going to enjoy my weekend of ‘normality’ pre-results and if they need to re-biopsy I will have to delay for a week as I can’t be out of action at all next week.

@Bunnyfuller - glad you got he all-clear.

I second that! Going to really try and have a great weekend because not sure what’s around the corner, and if I do need further treatment it’s going to have to wait until I return from hols end of July!