Calcifications

Hi Isbelle , what a horrible time you’ve had, no wonder you don’t know what to do. And you’ve had so long not knowing whether you might have cancer or not, with a very difficult ending, as it’s still not a definite sign off. I’ve had some of the conditions you’ve mentioned but they’ve never presented themselves all at the same time! I don’t know whether hearing about my fibroadenoma, cysts and calcifications will help and I’m a bit of a rambler, but here goes! 

Over a period of around 30 years I’ve had a few breast clinic referrals. I’ll only mention the most recent - in my 40s, a lump which the consultant thought was ‘very suspicious’. Needle biopsy and core biopsy came back as atypical but inconclusive. It was evicted (lumpectomy) and turned out to be a fibroadenoma. Phew. A few years later, lumps in the other breast. Inconclusive mammogram but an ultrasound some weeks later showed just cysts. They were left alone as not bothersome. Then at 59, I found ‘thickening’ which was cancer. They told me straight away at the clinic after mammogram and ultrasound, thankfully all on the same day as it’s now a one stop shop, instead of having to wait for lots of different appointments often at different hospitals! I’m now over 6 years post diagnosis, so far, so good. It has been mentioned that I’ve got calcifications, possibly in both breasts, but they compare each mammogram with the previous one and they seem to be stable and not of concern. I had annual mammograms for 5 years but am back on routine monitoring now. 

So, I’m going to hope that, in your case, the things that needed identifying have been, and that the micro calcifications turn out to be of no concern. I am guessing that you will feel anxious, though, and very understandably, until you hear back from the MDT. Then somehow, if you’re on a 6 month recall, you’ll get through that time and it will hopefully be further reassurance. Keep posting here, if it’s helpful. It’s a very supportive forum, a great place to offload and ask questions. Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

Thank you for your reply HappyFeet1 please don’t worry about rambling as I do it too and reading other people’s experiences does help so much.

Im so sorry about your cancer diagnosis but pleased that 6 years on things (touch wood) are going well for you. You have certainly had your fair share of visits to the breast clinic! And been through so much over the years.

It has been an awful time especially with such a long period of tests without an answer. And, like you say, no definitive sign off either way. That’s what I’m really struggling with, the not being able to biopsy and no answer. I question what I would feel like if in 6 months the cells have grown. I read that 80% of women with M3 calcifications biopsied are benign but I keep thinking what if I’m in that 20% especially as I’m already in a really low number of women who they cannot biopsy. I keep trying to stick to the positive but feel like I’m wrestling with the accepting the unknown.

Its all been a big shock and unnerved me, going for one lump that was a cyst (thank goodness) but then finding these other problems that I had no idea about. But, also it was my first mammogram. I’m thankful that it was done as I wouldn’t have been entitled to screening for another 6 years. I know the hospital have done everything they can, including an MRI.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. You much love and a hug too