Breast lump and calcifications

Hi Mickey I think I am in a similar position to yourself.  I had mammograms, ultrasound and biopsies taken on 30th September.  At that appointment I was told I had 2cm calcification with a 1.8 lump attached to it which looked suspicious in my right breast.  The clinic then made me an appointment for 7 October for the results.  So yesterday the  Consultant confirmed it is cancer which he thinks is Hormone Receptor Positive and he has already booked me in for surgery in November and asked me to start taking Letrozole. BUT he then said he is still waiting for results of another biopsy which may take another two weeks incase my cancer turns out to be HER2 and then I would  need chemo for six months before surgery.  Like you I have been left feeling very confused and anxious as I have another possible two week wait for biopsy result before knowing which treatment path I will be going down.  I really hope you find out all your results very soon.

Just looked up mucinous breast cancer on Breastcancer.org, the US site. It said it was very rare but less likely to invade the lymph nodes like other forms of invasive breast cancer, and that it responds well to treatment.

Thank you Jayne, I really appreciate your insight and swift reply.  I still don’t actually understand why I have to have biopsies on the  microcalcifications. They already know that’s dcis in a different part of the same breast and I forgot she also said they’d found a clear wider area of pre-cancer behind - seems to be there will be no choice but to do mastectomy- so im not really sure why I have to do this next more painful biopsy xx But im sure they wouldn’t be doing it unless was necessary to my treatment plan and so im putting my trust in them to come up with the right treatment plan like you say xx 

thank you for your support Jayne xx 

Thank you so much for looking it up Anabrock. I don’t know if having dcis as well will make a difference. I also don’t know how I got it I’m not over 60 and not through menopause yet, but the breast care nurse said she’d chat with me after my stereotactic biopsy on Tuesday and give me some leaflets - it’s not a cancer I had come across in my ‘stupid mad searches’ that’s for sure xx thank you sooo much xx 

Hi Mickey,

I think they want to find out if they need to remove the califcations.If you are having a maesectomy then they told me no need to biopsy as they are going . Yes they will be putting in the best plan for you. It's a worrying time isn't it? 

Look after yourself and don't worry about a mastectomy it not very painful just emotional stuff X 

Jayne 

Hi Sunflower, the cluster of microcalcifications in a separate area of my breast around and above my nipple (lump is bottom right) are 40mm I’m told - but also a clear wider area behind it (it being the lump) lump is 16mm. 

is hormone receptor positive the Same as oestrogen receptor positive like I was told? I get confused x I was told I need anti oestrogen tablets asap. What’s letrozole? X 

dud you have stereotactic biopsy on the microcalcifications? Mines Tuesday so circa three weeks wait for any treatment plan, it’s hard to know what difference it might make to both of our treatments - fingers crossed for us both. I only know definitely surgery and anti oestrogen tablets so far, rest like you, is all up in the air? 

Thanks so much for the reply and letting me know if our shared experience - it really helps - so much to digest - I know that I did know it was cancer, but still a shock to hear the words xx 

please keep me posted with your results and I’ll do the same xx 

Mickey xx 

Thanks Jayne, I kind of thought they were sucking a lot of them out with the stereotactic vac assist biopsy on Tuesday - sorry trying to see the light side of it xx 

thanks so much for the insight and your experience shared - strangely I’m more scared of this biopsy on Tuesday (embarrassed face) xx emotional stuff - it’s such a rollercoaster hey - so glad for your understanding and support - friends just don’t know what to say and I don’t want to try to explain how I feel, it’s too hard xx 

It is  hard Mickey ,

It will get better it just such a shock and all so much information that if you like me didn't want to know about in the first place.

I know too much about all this now . It will get sorted you will come to terms with it ,you will have the surgery and if you need more treatment you will do it.

Think to yourself that next year this will be almost over. By next spring and summer you will be back to your old self but , this is going to change you if it hasn't already? It can be a good change . Doesn't feel like that now but it's going to get better . You are now  in the worst time the not knowing once you have a plan you can lace up 

those boxing gloves and get down to it ! Bring it on you going to bounce back like so many of us will.  Keep strong , keep going , 

Jayne X 

Thank you Jayne, that’s so honest and comforting xx really appreciated and I know you do so much to help everyone - thank you for being there - hope I can help others the way you do xx 

If course you can help others,  get better soon and then  you will be out there supporting others .  We going to get this horrible disease beaten in our life time so our children don't need to go through this . Just now I was thinking if my anesthesiologist can keep me alive for 8 hours whilst my surgeon spends 7 and a half hours trying to save my life I can go get 4 cycle's of chemotherapy . Surely I can do that? Seems fair to  me what you think? 

Jayne X